We Don't Need a Fence

I can't believe a guy of my political leanings is writing this but, I'll take my chances.

Recently there has been a movement afoot to build a fence from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico along the US/Mexican border. The fence movement is spurned by many groups who are tired of the millions of people streaming over the border on a daily basis.

The idea comes from an experiment taking place in San Diego where an 18 mile fence was built. The results were positive. Illegal crossings were way down. As a result the idea blossomed to take the fence across the country (see above for diagram)

To be fair the "fence people" are not suggesting we close our border to people here to work. They have a "guest worker" program that would allow individuals to be here legally and enjoy the protection of being a citizen of the US. What they are trying to solve is those who do not work or those of a criminal element (drug dealers, arms smugglers, etc) and of the terrorist element. To be sure national security is the main drum they are banging.

They are right that the fence would make it easier for our border patrol and would be cheaper in the long run than adding more and more people to monitor the border.

But building a fence is not what we do in America. Yes we have an illegal immigrant issues here in the US but the fence won't stop it. The fence will make it harder and more dangerous but it will not stop the problem.

The problem is Mexico is an abomination in developing its economy. The thriving industrial areas are being overrun by corrupt officials and the rule of law is fading. Kidnappings on expats are up to an all time high and the country lost control of the Nuevo Laredo area earlier this year to rival drugs (see link info) http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/5/10/215352/497
A fence won't stop these problems.

Hawk's View: I'd rather see the US take the "fence money" and enact both an economic and anti-corruption plan for Mexico. Let's face it, without one you can't have the other (see Russia as an example that tries to have a free market sans rule of law). Yes, it sounds pie in the sky and the fence is the quickest way to get short term gains on the "war on illegals" but short term does not solve our problem. The bottom line is America is lucky with its geography. We have no neighbors to the east or west and our northern neighbor is the world's friendliest country. Yes we have a problem with our southern neighbor but a fence will only shield us from the greater issues going on. The best way to protect us is to make our neighbor stronger.

The Bastille is Being Stormed...Again

Most of you saw that France has been mired in a "Car Burning Extravaganza" over the past three weeks. The festivities, triggered by the accidental death of two youths hiding from police, has torn the country in two and brought to light decades of hidden racism among France and it's immigrant population.

France has prided itself as a place that is open to all (except Republicans) and has trumped for years a society of acceptance. However that has always been a (well hidden) facade. In reality, France has run a society that has segregated immigrants (specifically Muslim immigrants) and has created a permanent underclass of people. The uprising is really the modern day "proletariot" rising against the "bourgeois" demanding a better life.

France's government responded in the only fashion they know how: cowardly. First they denied the problem was anything but a "small group of thugs" then they ignored the reason for the issue alltogether. In their attempt to "fix" the problem France decided that tightening immigration and making it harder to be a citizen was the right way to solve this indignity.

Of course, they are wrong. The problem is the individuals who are rising up are doing so only because they seek to be treated equally. They want to be treated like all the other French citizens. They are upset that unemployment is double amongst their populace. They are upset that they cannot express themselves (EG, wearing headscarves as dictated by religious law). In short they want to be treated like humans not as cattle.

Finally, the world can see France for what it really is and always has been: a society of elitist.

Hawk's View: Tightening immigration does not solve the problem, because the problem is with people who are in France now and are LEGAL. Not only will this backfire, I don't think it will play well in the EU either. The first step toward solving this problem is to admit you have one and then make necessary steps. I'll even suggest what the first one would be: begin to break up the enormous ghettos that reside in and around Paris. Attempt to bring new French citizens into French society. Openness will always win over draconianism.