Fence
Texans whose homes will be bulldozed and whose properties will be decimated to make way for the 18 foot steel and concrete border fence want to know why the fence will skip the properties of the rich and connected.
From the Texas Observer:
Along the border, preliminary plans for fencing seem to target landowners of modest means and cities and public institutions such as the University of Texas at Brownsville, which rely on the federal government to pay their bills.Local landowners realized that the fence’s location had everything to do with politics and private profit, and nothing to do with stopping illegal immigration.
A 2007 congressional report estimates the cost of maintaining and building the fence could be as much as $49 billion over its expected 25-year life span.
“They are just going to push this problem on the next administration, and nobody is going to talk about immigration reform, and that’s the illness,” Foster says. “The wall is a Band-Aid on the problem. And to blow $49 billion and not walk away with a secure border—that’s a travesty.”
Without even getting into the pros and cons of the fence, and superior solutions to the illegal immigration problem, my question is: How will 370 miles of fence (what they’re planning to build) along a 1900+ mile border increase security?
Read the full story. Photo credit: june+raul.
The whole idea of the fence is a ridiculous waste of time, money, and energy. I can’t believe that we are letting this happen.
tomisimo
Yes, I agree.
What was it– two nights ago they shot down the failing spy satellite, and reports say it cost between $30 and 60 million to do that.
I think we need to scale back a *lot* of projects. Gov’t needs to have a realistic budget (say, 1/2 of the IRS’ intake until all debts are paid) and stick to it, if not they’re fired.
I don’t think walls have ever resolved political problems.
They create more problems. A guest worker program seems fair, but I think Mexico needs to find ways to make their
country more attactive for their young people.
tomisimo
I agree Poli, a guest worker program would benefit all parties.
As for Mexico making their country more attractive to the young people, it’s not that the country is unattractive, it’s that there aren’t enough jobs. They just need to generate a couple hundred thousand good, well-paying jobs, and the whole immigration problem will be solved almost instantaneously.
David, ¿Dónde estás?
I’ve been following this fence thing for awhile. Did you know that they are going to break over 130 environmental and Governmental laws to build this fence? For what? So that more die trying to get over? So that more money (money that is ill spent as stated before) is wasted and for a fence that will not improve security? And the problem with Mexico is not that they don’t have enough jobs, it’s a combination of a culture that is reluctant to give up strict traditions, a government that can’t control violence and corruption, and a people that can’t afford a better education. I you can improve on all three of these then you can create more jobs and therefore there is no need to leave.
tomisimo
@Miss Profe, I know I haven’t posted in awhile, but I’m back now and stronger than ever.
@Luna, You’ve got a good analysis of what’s going on.