Posted by
Oldhaole on Sunday, June 03, 2007 8:13:33 PM
His name is Abu Mohammed Al Masri , and he just arrived in downtown Las Cruces New Mexico. Earlier today he took possision of his fake drivers license and social security card. He will now go by the name Benjamin Martinez who according to his records is from Austin. He knows this will not be questioned because he has been working tirelessly on his Texas accent and Americans can't tell the difference between a Mexican and an Egyptian. He is already wanted by the FBI, but he knows that as long as he maintains his speed on the interstate and changes his plates by state, he will arrive in Dearborn unmolested.
The trip from Egypt was easy. A British Airways flight to Montreal, with connection to Dallas-Fortworth. His travel contact made sure to purchase and use the round trip ticket that he bought through aTour company in Dallas. No one will have questions about his trip to a conference at the Cairo University, he is after all on the staff at the University of Texas. He knows that if someone questions this he will be well hidden by the time they learn the truth. A quick stop in Marion to pick up final instructions from Sheik Bin Laden, and on to the safehouse. From the safehouse he will be able to take command of the final stage of the glorious operation he has been a part of. Everything has come together nicely, and when the UN, the National Mall, and the main terminal at JFK all go up in a ball of flame at the same instant, he will have already arrived in Madrid on his return flight to Egypt.
The above tale is almost perfect in it's conception, and is a real possibility, yes? The real nice part about it (from the enemies point of view) is this. It did not require one operator to cross the Mexican border. The plan was made easier to execute simply because of the current American debate about the border and our insane idea that fencing ourselves in will stop ANYTHING. Al Masri and men like him are all in good spirits about our current rabid debate on immigration. I can't blame them for this as it is a most desperate distraction in catching the very people we hope to keep out.
Let us assume for a minute that we already have the "fence" and that our friend Al Masri needs for whatever reason to come through Mexico. Try these scenarios on for size; a yacht flagged out of the Bahamas making the trip from Veracruz to ANY port along the Gulf Coast. An airflight from Mexico City, or even a nice return from visiting relations by Mr. Martinez the college professor. The point I am making here is that closing our border with Mexico will do almost nothing to stop the professional soldier (yes the terrorists we face are professional soldiers) from getting in. Enough of looking at what the "fence" if it is built will not do, let us look at what it will do.
Next time you are in the supermarket, take a look at produce prices. Now take that and increase it about 10-12% give or take. This is based on comparing what migrants make vs. the Federal minimum wage. This is not a huge difference but must be considered. Now add in what Farmers will be required to do under the minimum wage act and you can tack on another 5% or so. We now have a head of iceberg that goes for two dollars instead of eightynine cents. This may not be a problem to you ar me but it will be a problem for those same folks at the bottom of the economic ladder. By closing the unclosable border we have just made a healthy choice of food more of a dream than it already is for many low income families. I know this to be true, because I still remember eating alot of mac and cheese as a kid. The bottom line is simple, an Egg McMuffin costs about a dollar more than the lettuce, but calorie wise will keep a kid on his feet longer.
Some will tell you that it is a myth that migrants do jobs that our folks won't. Go find a migrant father of four and an American in the same position. You will discover that the migrant can do ok (certainly he won't be in hog heaven) and send money home to his family in Mexico or any South American country. It is simple economics, his dollar will go farther than the American in the same position because it will buy more in the weaker economy of his home country. Most poor Americans don't get off welfare because they can feed their family easier if they don't. This is why these same Americans won't do these jobs, it is not in thier interest to do so. About the only person who could get along inside the US on these low wages are teenage American kids. This is because Mom and Dad pay the real bills. When was the last time you saw any teen go get a job picking apples? there are some, but the majority are going to be found at fast food places. They can just quit these jobs when they have enough for the new ipod, and picking apples sucks compared to flipping a buger and playing around wiith the other kids in the kitchen.
Take a few minutes to think about how we can better spend the money we plan to use on the "fence". Common sense should tell you that we can subsidize farms to help them improve wages and conditions for both migrant and national employee's alike. Compare this to the cost of upkeep on the "fence" and it's associated surveilance equipment. Not to mention the cost of catching, convicting, and deporting everyone already here. How many Americans think that will be easy?
The real bottom line is that closing our border with Mexico is not only not cost effective, but is unfair to everyone it effects. It will not stop terrorists from entering the US, will create more enemies in our hemisphere and ruin further the economy of Mexico and other nations. It will cause more economic hardship for our own citizens as it will require more imports than we already take on. and is contrary to the notion of freedom on which our nation was founded. The entire issue is a creation by those people wishing to scare you into voting for them based on some vague threat from people who will still get into our country. Politicians know that Americans vote both their pocketbook and thier fear. The "fence" is a farce and will do nothing but waste money. But it sounds good to the far right and left because it is afterall about choosing sides. So my first BS card gets thrown at the "fence". Let us call our leaders and tell them to get on with things that are important, cause this is not it.