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Originally Posted by pjohns
I would certainly agree that "[a]n $11 billion showpiece isn't wise." But I remain unconvinced that a fence, properly built, could not be effective. And I believe that majority opinion in the US ought to inform our national policies, of any sort whatever; and since the majority supports the building of a fence, according to all the polls I have seen, we should have a fence.
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It could certainly be
part of the solution, unfortunately many people seem to think that a fence, or even a massive Great Wall, is ALL we need.
Majority opinion's great and all, but the majority doesn't live near the border, to see what's going on, here, every day. What the hell do people in Pocatello know? It's obvious no Congrefsman spends any time out in the desert, watching the drug mule trains, all day long. Fences are great, but I'm tellin' ya, it's only about 5% of a solution.
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This begs the question: Why are so many Mexican citizens "desperate"? Answer: The Mexican economic tradition does not seem congenial--for some inexplicable reason or combination of reasons--to the creation of a robust economy; and it has demonstrated this fact over a period of centuries, far antedating NAFTA. So why should it be the responsibility of the US to address this glaring deficiency on the part of Mexico?
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I get where you're coming from, but indignantly passing responsibility around doesn't get anything accomplished. They are passing their problems directly to us, therefore it becomes
our issue. Doctors, lawyers and engineers don't come over, it's the unskilled poor. The Mexican government obviously sees it as a nice deal for them, so why in the world would they want to change....to make US happy? What's in it for them, you know? It's just so messed up.....
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I would be in favor of our positioning the Border Patrol near the border fence, in many (constantly, but not predictably) rotating places.
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We do that. About 1,000 underpaid, under-equipped men patrol 2,000 miles. It's ridiculous. The money's not being put where the mouths are, and Washington's 2,000 miles away, and focused elsewhere. And that stupidly expensive concept of "electronic fencing" has been a pathetic boondoggle from the get-go.
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And I would also favor our placing razor wire atop the fences (yes, plural; as I mentioned previously, I would like to see a double fence). Those who might wish to compare such an edifice to the infamous Berlin Wall are, of course, free to do so. But sensible people should be easily able to discern the difference between a structure that was intended to keep local citizens in (in order to avoid a "brain drain") and one that is intended to keep intruders out.
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I'm telling you, no matter how studly that fence is, that, alone is NOT going to solve this. Wanna put cement or steel 1,000 feet down, to prevent tunnels, too?
(Ka-ching!) Double-fencing?
(Ka-ching, ka-ching!) Enough men to patrol, in towers within eyesight, 24/7, over 2,000 miles?
(Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!)
I'm not saying I have the solution, but a fence concept is almost ludicrous. Anything other than a token effort is going to cost an insane amount of money we simply don't have.
I invite you to come on down and have a look-see for yourself. Can ya tell we're a mite frustrated?