Stumbled on this by accident. Was not sure if it was real or a send up. What a corny situation.

Could not make up my mind whether it was a Monty Python "help the world" skit or simply a candidate for Pseud's corner (If you don't get it it, it is because you are a culturally backward American)

Suggestion: take down the website so as not to stop making a fool of yourselves and your silly glitterati. Michael Eisner and Madeline Albright solving world problems. I ask you.

I would be so happy if McCain were to be elected President in 2008 because he is so relastic about how this country should be ran. Jim

I have been an insurance agent for over
25 years and some of my best clients are immigrants or the children of immigrants.

In fact immigrants who often give up everything, family, friends, assets, to come here know that as many problems as we have in the USA, a person with "no things" can work hard, save, invest and even start their own business.

That freedom, the basic economic freedom which many Americans take for granted is very uncommon in the rest of the world.

In fact I can tell you from a recent first hand experience that the reason the Mexican people risk their lives to come here is for the chance to achieve the American Dream of owning their own home, raising their family in a safe environment and having the opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

And probably most importantly having the dignity that comes from Free choice
in a mostly free society.

I will call my new client Jose, (not his name) About 50 years ago he came to California as a migrant worker to
harvest crops in Central California
12 to 14 hours a day. He was a teenager, and the youngest of 10 kids from central Mexico, so far in the country that he later told me he had not heard his first radio or seen his first moving vehicle until he came to California. Well, on his second trip here to California he escaped one night(migrant workers have guards to make sure that they do not escape) from Central California, hid with friends and shirt tail relatives, in South San Francisco, which has a large Mexican American population. (hitch hiked about
200 miles)

He eventually got his green card, learned to speak some English, Got his Social Security Card and brought his village sweetheart up to California from Central Mexico and has been married to her for over 40 years. He never earned more then $40,000 in his life and he worked in the shipping departments of several large firms located south of San Francisco.

But he saved his money and he bought a three bedroom home in a quite working class/middle class neighborhood with all of life's savings of $20,000 down payment in 1980.

Today, he is retired and although not
rich, his net worth is over $1 Million.
He is also proud to be a naturalized
American citizen.

He has some safe assets and some cash
in banks and although not wealthy, from
a dirt farmer, to owning his home free and clear, He has achieved the American
Dream and he is an example of why Mexican people risk their lives to come here.

I could tell you the same of clients I have had from China, Thialand, even one small business owner whose father moved up here from Mexico to San Francisco when he was 5.

So, yes, we have massive challenges and
as the Chinese would say crisis in Our Medical Establishment and Retirement System both of which are broken and
transportation, pollution, even our
basic freedoms and the bill of rights
have been challenged, but if you question that America is still the first choice among, immigrants world wide, Talk to your Korean or Chinese
Dry Cleaner, Or Talk to your handyman
from whereever. Often the immigrants
will save almost 1/2 of what they earn
and will start their own business as soon as they are able.

American still has new job growth every year that we are not in a recession and Europe has had zero new
job growth for over 10 years.

So yes, we have crisis, and yes China
will or appears to be bypassing the USA
in terms of manufacturing and probably
even GNP soon, but crisis is a duel symbol as are most Chinese characters
and it means danger and opportunity as
any Chinese person would confirm to you.

So, we American's just need to smarten up and get back to the Business of being Americans which is business and
free enterprise.

So ends my immigrant rant.

God Bless America and the rest of the
World, for we all need it.

Have a Glorious 4th of July!

Winston Hoose San Francisco, California