Despite the fact that there is published proof to the contrary, the critics continue to push their propaganda over the air and in the print media.

I’m sitting here this morning listening to Bubba Bo ramble on about the Mexicans and pushing the misinformation.

1. Mexican drivers ARE NOT being given a free pass nor a work visa. Unlike the Canadians who can enter and leave our country at will, Mexicans, truckers, tourists and citizens alike, are forced to PROVE to the U.S. authorities that they have reason to return to Mexico before they are given an I-94 Entry/Exit Visa which allows them access to the U.S. for up to 180 days. It allows for multiple entries and exits without restriction. This is the exact same thing as Mexico issues to tourists and American truckers for entry into the interior of Mexico. The Mexican equivalent is the FM-T.

Put this is about, “The will of the People” being igored. Who are the “People”. The United States. The estimated population of the United States as of July 2007 was

301,139,947

These are “We, the People”

As of 2004, according to CDLIS, there were 11,400,000 CDL holders

OOIDA boasts a membership of 156,109

The National Brotherhood of Teamsters says they have 1.4 members but these numbers do not reflect solely those in the trucking industry

The little website shutdown2007.com which is advocating a nationwide shutdown on September 12, says they have 1763 “concerned” American drivers. Concerned about what? The anticipated 550 Mexican trucks who will eventually participate in the program?

So those who claim that 99% of the American public and 99% of the American truck drivers are opposed to this program are simply blowing smoke up your ass!

Oh, and while I am thinking about it. It was reported that there were protests at the Laredo and Otay Mesa border crossings the other day, but strangely enough, none in El Paso. We discovered the reason. The business agent for the Teamsters stated, “We have not received instructions from National headquarters to mount a protest”.

So, Teamsters who participated in the protests were there because they were to to be there, whatever their feelings on the project. Along with the usual assortment of anti illegal immigration, anti hispanic, anti Mexican assortment of crack pots who usually show at these events. Not surprisingly, the “protests’ only lasted a couple of hours and have not reoccurred.

Now, this weekend, I am sitting at home in Nuevo Laredo. When I was at the office yesterday, there were a hundred or more trucks and truckers hanging out at the three truckstops north of town, recouping hours, waiting for trailers to cross. Company drivers waiting their turn on the turn out lists. If this issue is so damned important to 99% of American truckers, why were these guys not lining up transportation to take them to the bridges to mount their own protests? Instead, many of them were waiting for the limo services to haul them across to Boystown for a night of partying. And the chatter on the CB? Nothing much about Mexican trucks. The usual banter. Insulting one another; hollering for whores and “party supplies” (drugs) and bitching about the new T/A having the audacity to charge for parking. A normal day on the border.