Would a Wall be Too Expensive

In response to the last post the question of the cost and efficacy of a border wall has come up and I want to address that. 

Protection of our national borders is a truly fundamental legitimate function of our federal government, an activity which could not reasonably be left to the individual states. It is far more legitimate for example than federal involvement in the education of our children or our medical care which should be primarily state, local and of course individual matters. So for border protection the federal government should provide the funds to carry out the job and tax us accordingly. To be sure we are provided with a border patrol and other measures, but it is obvious that our federal representatives and officials for decades have failed miserably to properly carry out this fundamental business. Mr. Trump, despite his personal idiosyncrasies and lack of political experience, was elected to some considerable extent because he spoke up about the fact that the emperor has no clothes. He called out the Washington politicians for their obvious failure in this important area and proposed his own solution and this resonated with a large portion of our citizenry. These comfortable politicians, from both parties, mostly dislike Mr. Trump but have no one to blame for the disruption to their lives that he's causing but themselves. 

So Mr. Trump, as he should, is now forcing the matter. In fact he had to force the members of congress from his own party to address it. So if the time has come to truly face the issue, and I and many others are hoping that the President can hold fast in his demand, the question remains of how to carry out the task. Since we must do it, it should be done in the most efficient, effective and economical way possible. The federal government does not have a good track record in this regard. 

Mr. Trump has proposed a physical barrier which on the surface at least seems sensible. Although the cost would be substantial it would be a one time expense and the amount pales in comparison with the amounts collected and spent by the federal government on its other projects. Under his leadership it's likely to be done properly. Whatever your opinion of Mr. Trump otherwise it must be admitted that he has great expertise in constructing high quality products, brought in on time and under budget. As far as its effectiveness is concerned such barriers are working in other countries, and it's hard to see where it wouldn't help to greatly reinforce the efforts of the border patrol. 

The Democrat leaders resist the concept of a physical barrier. In that they have previously acceded to one, it seems clear that a large part of their opposition is reluctance to give the President a victory. But lets take them at their word that their real concern is about cost and effectiveness and that technology and increased personnel could do the job better. Where are the concrete studies and plans that indicate what specific technology is needed, how it would be deployed, how effective it is predicted to be and what it would cost? And if more border personnel are needed what would be the ongoing cost of that? 

Here's the point! The Washington politicians from both parties have let this problem fester and grow for decades and have done nothing but make promises. It could be that, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Trump, the time has come for them to actually do what they're elected to do. No more Lucy pulling the football out from Charlie Brown as was done during the Reagan administration. Mr. Trump has put his idea on the table and is anxious to get moving on it. If the Democrats in congress feel they have something better other than vague ideas, the time is short but they must get it out there. Let them get busy and pass a law specifying exactly the actions that are to be taken to prevent illegal entry over the southern border, and if it is believable it's likely they'll get public support. Otherwise we're tired of false promises. Personally I don't think they're sincere and that they actually favor the status quo. Until I see something better I say bring on the wall.