Many conservatives in the United States like to channel Ronald Reagan as the image of the America First doctrine and true U.S.-centric conservatism. This narrative is part of the fiction that is driving today’s far right-wing conservatism that put Donald Trump into office. The problem, though, is that it is all based on a lie. Ronald Reagan dreamt of a future where Canada, México and the United States not only shared a common market to challenge the rest of the world, but also open borders between all three countries. In short, Ronald Reagan wanted open borders between México and the United States.
As the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations reach a conclusion it is important to remember what Octavio Paz said, “the precedent of European integration is very important for the future of our region.” Much as been debated about the erosion of cultural identity as three north American countries begin to look forward to closer economic ties. One of the biggest pools of labor live next to the biggest consumer market in the world. It is easy to believe that the free trade agreement is between countries when it is about people. Paz added that México and the United States are “condemned to live together, the past and the future side by side.” The obvious next step is bridging the gap between cultures in the hopes that some day we me reach across the border and offer each other an abrazo, instead of a hesitant handshake between friends.
