Western Union's $10 MILLION Empowerment Fund for Immigration

Western Union New Force in Migrant Debate

All you eBay sellers who used to use Bidpay and wondered why it went away, let's take a closer look at some recent news and ponder. But first - a bit of needed background.

First Data (or FirstData) was the parent company of Bidpay, which has since been sold. First Data is still the parent company of Western Union - but not for long, as Western Union will soon be spun off, into a seperate, standalone company.

"In Western Union, investors will get a stake in a company that analysts estimate could be worth over $20 billion. Mr. Duques said he expected the spun-off company to increase revenue and earnings around 15 percent over the next few years."

My - $20 BILLION dollars - with expected increases in revenues/earnings of 15 percent for the next few years? Can we say "pre-release hype"? Sure we can - still, its possible.

Okay eBay sellers - here is (imho) a troubling article which relates to First Data and Western Union. Let's take a close look at the linked-article, shall we? Maybe we can find something in there to help explain the failure of Bidpay:

"In recent years, Denver-based First Data has openly campaigned for immigration reform and created a $10 MILLION "Empowerment Fund" for the same purpose."

Did any eBay seller realize their Bidpay fees, and the fees of their buyers, were potentially pouring into a $10 MILLION dollar fund for the purpose of Immigration Reform?

Huh - more like duh, its no wonder Bidpay went under - excuse me, was being prepped for sale, eventually to Cybersource.

You don't suppose a $10 MILLION dollar shot in the IT arm of Bidpay 'might' have made BidPay a more viable organization - do you? Gosh - now I'm really curious, aren't you? Did Bidpay fees flow into the $10 MILLION fund? We'll probably never know.

But what exactly has First Data done with their $10 MILLION fund? Well, you may find this interesting:

It (FirstData) has held seminars on migration law, published how-to guides for migrants, sponsored English classes, given money to a charity that helps Mexican women whose husbands are in the United States, and showered immigrant-sending communities with aid.

It (FirstData) also fought Arizona's Proposition 200, an initiative to limit public services to illegal immigrants that voters approved last year, a First Data official told the Mexican Senate.(emp.mine)

What's sort of funny about this, especially the last paragraph, is Arizona is stuffed to the gills with Western Union facilities - something like 200 in Tuscon alone. "Arizona" is Mexican for "American Mexican" I guess.

FirstData desires to be the number one choice of Mexican citizens in the transfer of cash money into Mexico, so desperately it seems - it actually spoke before the Mexican Senate? It (First Data) told them "We Fought AGAINST IT". Whew - that's impressive - no doubt where their loyalty lies, is there?

"They (FirstData) do support immigration reform for instrumental reasons - or you can use a more crude word, for opportunistic reasons," said Manuel Orozco, an expert on remittances at the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank.

"But there is also a genuine reality: The money-transfer companies work face to face with migrants, and they understand their needs. (First Data feels) that they have to have a position on this, and it would be hypocritical to stay quiet and let things happen."

Don't you just love 'American' corporations deeply involving themselves in the American "issues of the day" because they don't want to be hypocritical? I prefer the more 'crude' (or is it simplistic, Manuel Orozco?) word - MONEY, or PROFIT.

Besides, 'opportunisitc reasons' is actually two words, far evolved above the words 'instrumental reasons', sort of like icing as compared to the cake.

And sadly, the wheels roll on... and over...