Wake up and smell the cafe

Now people are renting their Social Security numbers? I must admit, I've never heard of that. But I guess it beats buying a fake social security card from someone on the corner (and those can cost a lot of money). Plus, working with a name linked to a number recognized by Social Security - even if it is just borrowed or leased - avoids problems (like getting fired).

According to the New York Times, each year, Social Security receives millions of W-2 earning statements with names or numbers that do not match its records. Nine million were reported in 2002, many of them just simple mistakes. In response the agency sends hundreds of thousands of letters asking employers to correct the information.

"It's the safest way," said Mario Avalos, a Stockton accountant who every year does tax returns for dozens of illegal immigrants. "If you are going to work in a company with strict requirements, you know they won't let you in without good papers."

Once again, people are doing whatever they can to work in the United States. And why?

Is Mexican President Vicente Fox doing anything about this?!?! Seems to me that the higher ups in Mexico need to wake up and smell the cafe.