). Recently, Bush has proposed a "guest worker" program which will provide for the identification and taxing of immigrant workers while establishing limits on the length of time these non-citizens can remain within the United States; the Bush plan is a significant step toward a more beneficial economic relationship with Mexico and while it possesses flaws, is a significant improvement on the current lack of regulation which characterize the political economy between these two nations.
In short, Bush's proposal encourages Mexican immigrants to pursue jobs that American employers are already offering them: unskilled positions that are left unfilled by American workers. When these jobs exist, a government blessing on hiring an immigrant for the position would be obtained, and the ensuing benefits for both governments involved would mean more documentation of work history, taxes paid on wages to fund government benefit programs, and an easier shift between countries for individuals who find it more economically salient to work in a country which is not their nation of origin (Bush 2004).
Bush's plan addresses many of the underlying economic issues that plague employers in the United States today; the primary difficulty often being wages demanded by American citizens. Employers, influenced by market forces as opposed to political ones, desire the best production for the best price, and the fact of the American labor market is that many are overqualified and unwilling to fill low-paying, unskilled positions. As an additional disincentive for American employees to accept these positions, as citizens, they can participate in a significant entitlement program for unemployed, disabled, or otherwise limited workers. By contrast, the Mexican entitlement system is nowhere near as comprehensive or thorough as that available in the States, meaning that unemployed workers in Mexico might not have the safety nets of insurance, governmental support, or other benefits enjoyed by American workers.
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