That sentiment isn't all that rare in Mexico. For example, Baja California was always so rebellious that it was not even granted Mexican statehood until the 1980's (as two Mexican States: Baja Norte and Sur) The usual main agenda of the Baja Rebels? Union with California and the US!
In my CA days, I had many an a debate with prospective residents of their dreamed concept of Aztlan. My argument always was that if, "Mexicans had held on to their Northern Provinces, today those states would be in the same state of acute lawlessness, poverty, disorganization, and underdevelopment as the other states of Northern Mexico."
The long range conjectures are fascinating. Make no mistake about it, Mexicans of the Fox team definitely see Mexico returning to the world stage in 100 years with the return of the Territories. Other, apparently less megalomaniac Mexicans have not given up the idea of Federation with the US.
The biggest handicaps facing individual Americans is, imho, an incredible ignorance of the world, based on cultural and historical isolation and an ever-worsening educational system. Officially we are players on the world stage. Man for man in the small towns, we are getting to be a seriously dumbed-down bunch of Clymers who don't know what is in the alley behind Main Street, never mind the history of this country or any other.
This is why Republican leadership is content to leave this the racial issue of the truly stupid, rather than address the policies of a foreign government which are at the very least, not designed with our best interests in mind.
What is in the alley behind Main Street in Everytown, USA? Large numbers of illegally present Mexicans living 15 to an apartment, sending money home, and working their behinds off to survive ... and probably unbeknownest to them, executing major Mexican Government Policy.
Ther Mexican Government's major challenge is to survive without a revolution. Their major technique in working toward this goal is shipping as many campesinos as they can North by fair means and mostly foul. That way, the campesinos are on our payroll, send $Billions home, and most important of all, are not bloody likely to riot in the streets of Guadalajara when they are living in Wichita Falls and have to shape up at the meat-packing plant at 7:00 AM the next morning.
There are many historical antecedents. When the Brits cleared the Highlands, they sent Scotsmen fleeing around the world so they wouldn't be in the way of the sheep. The difference is numbers and style. The Scotsmen numbered a few hundred thousand and had to be smart enough to finesse a 4-month sea voyage across 3500 miles of Atlantic Ocean. The Mexicans have easily another 20 Million campesinos ready to ramble, with more in the wings every day, and all they have to be is smart and strong enough to walk North.
Attention: GWB, we do not have to co-operate.