Regardless of where we get the money to fund the building of the Wall I for one do think we need it. I want to help people to have a better life...but the first people I want to help have a better life are Americans who live in America now. We have so many problems taking care of our own that need to be solved before others can expect us to help them. And even if we do help others...which we do in many ways...we have to put a stop to people coming into America illegally. I believe that building a Wall will help do this and I believe that it will end up paying for itself over time. America has always been a Nation that has helped others...and we can continue to do this...but it's past time we help solve our own problems and I believe we need more than ever now to fix what's broken in America first and foremost before we try to fix other Countries problems. A Wall won't fix all our problems...but I believe it will help take care of a big part of one of our problems. What do you think? Do we need a Wall....or not?
We need the wall to slow illegal entry by all that try on our southern border. In another thread LuLu pointed out that 1 in 3 American's are one paycheck away from being homeless. But now I think it's common knowledge that technology is displacing a lot of unskilled Americans. Those that entered illegally used to do stoop labor or labor American's wouldn't do & was done by those folks. For them it meant a better life. I said slow because I don't think stopping completely is possible. The reality is, unlike before when cheap labor was looked at with a wink & a nod, that same thing isn't practical now.
Unfortunately I believe the main reason technology is replacing human skill is because Business owners would rather built a robot, etc. to handle their business then pay employees to do so. Most of the jobs that the illegal immigrants do...will still need to be done by people even if the Wall is built and slows the influx of illegals into America.
The short answer is no. I think that we need an enforceable immigration policy and strong border security but I'm not convinced that building a wall along our entire southern border is the answer. IMO the money could be better spent exploring a technology-based solution that would allow us to check the contents of vehicles and scan individuals crossing the border at checkpoints, locate tunnels along the border, heat sensing devices that would help identify individuals attempting to cross the border, etc... Use temporary barriers like razor wire in areas that become highly traveled and move those barriers as traffic patterns change. Use drones with sensors to patrol the border. Develop a DNA database to register and help track immigrants in the country waiting for asylum claims to be resolved, guest workers, students, etc... Spend some of that money to actually help decent people cross the border and become established in the United States instead of spending billions to keep them out. It seems to me that would be a good investment in their future and the future of the country. I believe that we should be looking at the entire immigration issue and not just be focusing our attention on a physical barrier. It seems to me that our leaders could quickly and inexpensively resolve the issue of the dreamers. Create a registration and path to citizenship program for illegal immigrants that are currently in the country leading productive lives.
Attempting to stop illegals with Technology would cost more than a Wall, and would require human interaction and not be self-stopping. Let's have that big, intimidating Physical Barrier! Hal
Surrounding our country by a medieval wall, especially given Beatrice's summation above, is not an indication of strength and power but fear. Why not build a moat and fill it with alligators? Besides one day it might be used not to keep people out, But to Keep Us In. Think about it. We are the Land of the Brave and Home of the FREE. Not the land of scaredy cats and the home of the imprisoned, terrified by our own timidity.
Build it! If Congress doesn't approve the required funding, then Donald, being a Multi-Billionaire, could build it out of his own Pocket! Hal
Congress just committed more money to Mexico and Central American than the one-time cost of building a wall. It's not about the cost - it's about Democrats and far too many Republicans wanting an open border. The Democrats promised that they'd vote to fund the wall when Trump signed the last Omnibus bill, and now they are reneging on it, which is what Democrats have done with border security over and over again.
Wrong. Summary of Omnibus Bill: "Border wall: The bill provides $1.6 billion for barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border but with serious strings attached. Of the total, $251 million is earmarked specifically for “secondary fencing” near San Diego, where fencing is already in place; $445 million is for no more than 25 miles of “levee fencing”; $196 million is for “primary pedestrian fencing” in the Rio Grande Valley; $445 million is for the replacement of existing fencing in that area; and the rest is for planning, design and technology — not for wall construction. The biggest catch is this: The barriers authorized to be built under the act must be “operationally effective designs” already deployed as of last March, meaning none of President Trump’s big, beautiful wall prototypes can be built. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...rillion-spending-bill/?utm_term=.a0ddb2e83db6 "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_adams_134175
Actually, you're just arguing something that I didn't say. If it had been in the Omnibus Bill, it would have been available.
They said they would consider it if Trump assured them about DACA, as I recall. DACA went to nowheresville. Aw, who cares. It's Christmas Eve Eve.
Trump offered them DACA. They didn't take it because they couldn't care less about the people. It's the open borders they're interested in. That, and trying to make it look like Trump isn't keeping his promises by denying funding for the wall.
There are other maps on the net which give a state by state breakdown of expenditures but this one is a little more specific. It’s a given that building a wall is pretty ugly business but no matter how much thought I put into it I can’t think of another solution to the border problems. Simply allowing anyone and everyone including the drugs, terrorists and general bad guys in doesn’t make any sense. If someone can come up with a much better solution I’m all ears. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TruthEqualsTrump2016/permalink/976494405880814/