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"Mexifornia," to quote the author, "is about the nature of a new California and what it means for America - a reflection upon the strange society that is emerging as the result of a demographic and a cultural revolution like no other in our times." Thus Victor Davis Hanson opens his close examination of what is going on in his home state. He suggests, too, that there are other "states of becoming", like "Mexizona", "Mexichusetts", and more.

He points out in several ways that although there's heavy duty immigration going there's not a whole lot of integration taking place. For instance, even legal immigrants from Mexico rarely become citizens. Of all those admitted legally to the U.S. since 1982, only 20 per cent had taken the trouble to become citizens.

For the campesino from Mexico there is little physical amputation from Mexico, simply because of the physical proximity of Mexico. Unlike immigrants from places like China, Korea, Spain and the Punjab the Mexican can easily return to his roots. Thus, he or she rarely fully embraces the U.S. as the new "home".

At the heart of the problem with the U.S. is that Mexican elites rely on immigration to the U.S. as a way of getting rid of potential critics and malcontents and avoiding domestic reform. Market capitalism, constitutional government, the creation of a middle-class ethic or an independent judiciary stand little chance of coming to Mexico as long as there is this northward exodus. The mass outflow is simply a 'safety valve' for the maintenance of the status quo.

Another factor - one that is financially beneficial for the Mexican government -

In my humble O: It's a wonderful book for provoking some good heated discussions.

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