It disturbs me that Mexican President Vicente Fox is pleased that the U.S. is working on passing the closest thing to amnesty as they can for illegal Mexican immigrants. According to the Associated Press:

Mexican President Vicente Fox said the vote was the result of five years of work dating to the start of his presidential term in 2000, and puts Mexico one step closer toward the government’s goal of “legalization for everyone” who works in the United States.

“My recognition and respect for all the Hispanics and all the Mexicans who have made their voice heard,” Fox said. “We saw them turn out this weekend all across the United States, and that’s going to count for a lot as we move forward.”

Doesn’t it bother him that conditions in his country are so bad that millions of its citizens are fleeing across the border to the U.S.? Instead of working for five years to make it easier for them to leave, wouldn’t it be better if he spent his time trying to improve conditions in Mexico so people weren’t so compelled to get the heck out of there?

A more provocative question: has the idea of Manifest Destiny been vindicated? That is, has the U.S. proved its economic and political superiority, thus justifying its territorial expansion?  Would Mexicans be better off if the U.S. annexed Mexico (peacefully, of course)?