I also tend to escape to the warm, sunny beaches of Mexico as much as possible. When on those trips, we’ll often rent a car and venture out in search of another beach, a Mayan ruin … or a bargain price on margaritas.

Over the years of my somewhat limited travel experience, I’ve developed a driving 10-point danger scale that starts at 1 (Ballard, Washington) to 5 (the entire State of California) up to the ultimate in gambling with your life, 10 (San Juan, Puerto Rico). Where does Mexico fall?  It’s a solid 9.

Imagine tour busses, chock full of touristas, careening down jungle highways at 85 mph, passing on the left and not yielding for all but the most stubborn donkey. And that’s the safe way to travel. The bonus is that the driver sells you Coronas for a buck each to take the edge off.

Mexican truck drivers, with much heavier payloads, attend the same driving schools.

Back to my confession: American truckers run the gambit. Most are true professionals and some fit the stereotype. All are required to pass safety inspection for their tractor and trailer. All are required to piss in a cup.

No testing is foolproof, but I’ll take a redneck from Oklahoma over a Mexican trucker any day.

Now, in its infinite wisdom, the Bush Administration is launching another assault on working-class Americans by opening the borders to no fewer than 1,000 Mexican trucking companies.

How do you feel about untested Mexican drivers in uninspected rigs with Jalisco license plates speeding through your neighborhood, past all the closed mom & pop shops on their way to Wal-Mart?

To rub salt in the wound, the Bushies wanted the new open-border policy to take effect on … get this … Labor Day.  Fortunately, the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals delayed the latest effort to tear another seam from the American fabric – until at least September 6th.

Thank the Teamsters Union for their strong opposition. “Dangerous trucks should not be driving all the way from Mexico to Maine and Minnesota,” Union Boss James Hoffa said in a statement. “The American people understand that, Congress understands that and the Teamsters understand that. What is it about safety and national security that George Bush doesn’t understand?”

“I will continue to fight like hell to prevent Mexican trucks from endangering lives throughout the United States,” Hoffa said. “I’m confident the court will side with the Teamsters and with the American people by blocking this program before it starts next week.”

The heart of the trucking industry runs through the heart of Bush country – from Alabama to Iowa, from Utah to Tennessee. These are the people who will either see their trucking industry jobs outsourced or their wages drop below poverty levels. Their friends and family will be in danger each time they drive to church to learn more about hating gay people.

So Red-Staters … still proud of your vote?

Well then, what if your Mexican truckers were gay?  Now there’s an argument with Red State traction!