They're baaaaaaaaaaaack . . . .

You may remember the blog we posted a few months back about Mexican big rigs being given the green light (literally!) by the Bush administration to deliver goods all over the continental US, not just within the 20-mile commercial zone adjacent to the Mexican border. Critics (which included us, more or less) pointed out the potential perils of security lapses, drug and immigrant smuggling, vehicle and highway safety, job displacement and other complications, and needless to say, while the program has been limited in scope, it doesn’t appear to have been a huge hit with Americans. We can't imagine why.

Well now, our wise men of Washington (the House of Reps) have voted to scrap the program, not long after some administration dudes announced plans to continue the program for two more years (ouch!). Now, the bill moves to the Senate, but already the Mexican government is threatening trade reprisals and/or boycotts if the plan is cancelled (pork and other agricultural products have been identified as potential targets), and President Bush has already promised to veto the legislation if it should cross his desk.

So, what’s the answer? Stick to our guns, and insist on keeping American roads safe for American motorists and American jobs? On the other hand, as the country is literally going broke before our very eyes this week, can we afford to alienate one of our biggest and most-profitable trading partnerships? When you scratch beneath the surface, it’s likely a tougher call than it might’ve been a couple of years ago. Beggars can't be choosers, right? Or can they?

Source: Politico.