..but that's a painful tale for another day.

I'll go in reverse order here...

Catholicism.

All religions understood early the value of practitioners of the faith. If your tribe is weak and unfruitful it will be conquered by the next village with more children and a "stronger" God.

Catholics understood the value of large families and thus birth control was a natural for the "sin" list. When the explorers brought Catholicism via missionaries to new lands - they knew they would strengthen the religion and fill the coffers.

Catholicism's legacy in Mexico is huge families living in poverty and in squalor with little hope for supporting or feeding or caring for so many mouths. Crossing the border illegally for US dollars becomes an almost mandatory ritual for anyone who wants to feed their large extended families.

[H]ow can wanting to survive and feed your family be wrong?

It's not wrong. It's how you go about doing it that becomes an issue. Sneaking illegally into another country isn't a way to foster good moral development. By breaking one law - one slips down a mental slope whereby it is easier to break another...and yet another. Soon one is full fledged criminal who pays no heed to any laws and is justifying all one's illegal actions.

Not many follow down this path, but enough do to see the results, on Mexican culture and crime rates from the lowliest mugger to the top Honcho executive kidnappers. Crime is a large part of life in Mexico. The runs on the border contribute to shaping of the criminal element.

When the offspring want to validate their own existence and parents actions - they will almost never condemn an illegal border crossing - only criticize the American immigration policy that doesn't let all Mexico into the US freely. If US-born they will be able to vote to elect folks who share or become enablers for this destructive mindset.

Felons and restoring voting rights.

If one shows such poor judgment as to commit a felony - a crime against society - I see no reason why these folks should be allowed to vote. Creating such a permissive environment would be counter-productive to fostering a society that is averse to breaking laws because of lasting repercussions. If a fine and time is all you have to do - all too many are willing to pay that price. Taking away the right to vote gives a lasting impression and stigma that illustrates how much society frowns upon committing a felony. Being a "political outcast for life" is the smallest price to pay for such serious crimes.

ZOGBY

I didn't follow through and check the methodology, but I assume that the polls views are pretty mainstream.

SDAI-Tech1