Reply #31: No, look for other solutions that don't waste time or money... [View All]

Jesus Christ, where did I say we do nothing? Look, the ONLY way a barrier of any sort would actually work, on a practical level, would include a concrete wall, razor-wire on top and in front of the wall, and landmines scattered throughout a field in front of the wall. Putting up such a barrier would be a declaration of war. Do we really want that?

No, practical and diplomatic solutions must be found, a first step would be to prosecute employers who hire illegals without asking questions. Another step would be to Relieve Latin American Countries of foriegn debt owed to us, and pressure our allies, possibly through the IMF to relieve the debt there as well. Once that is done, then move to reform NAFTA radically. These reforms would include revoking investor rights(Chapter 11 of the treaty) and strengthening human rights and labor rights, plus include encouragements for local investments in LOCAL businesses. If that fails, then revoke the damn thing and start from scratch. Is it any surprise that the destruction of the once growing middle class in Mexico stopped, and started shrinking, when NAFTA was enacted? Same goes for the growing desparation of the working class there. They are losing jobs to outsourcing, oddly enough, and left with no employment options, they come here. The Mexican government needs to be pressured to pull out of free trade agreements the same as we should pull out of them. Once that is done, then the motive for working in the US illegally decreases dramatically.

Building walls between nations and cultures have failed historically, I see no evidence as to how it would be any different in this case. This is like putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound, not only would it not work, it could make matters much worst. No, instead, we need to think of real world solutions, like a medic would with a plastic sheet, slowing the blood flow, and then, finally, sewing up the problem area.