The Porous Border
It is an illusion and delusional to thank that America can ever fully close off the border with Mexico. Even if we spent the vast amounts of money needed to build a Berlin Wall on America's southern border, just like was the case in Germany, there would still be plenty of people who find ways to get through or over the wall. The real solution is genuine and sincere enforcement of employment laws, and enforcement of the laws regarding whether a person who is a citizen of another country has been granted permission by the U.S. government to visit, live, or work in America. Judicial transparency and some measure of compassion are both required if this is going to work. The poor immigrants who come to America don't do so for the climate or the political system; they come north hoping to improve themselves and their families financially by working their asses off in mostly low paying, demeaning jobs.
If society decides that we really do want to control and reduce casual immigration from the Spanish speaking countries then there are two elements, neither of which involves bigger and longer walls or more U.S. Border Patrol agents and all their SUVs & helicopters.
First, heavy fines which are big enough that they really do hurt must become mandatory for any American employer who hires people who do not have U.S. Government working permission. Big fines and mandatory jail time for American businessmen and managers who repeatedly violate the law would help. What this also says is that the government must get it's act together so that all adults in America have a high tech U.S. Government I.D. Card with their photo and their status regarding whether they may be employed or not. Second, the government needs to get its act together regarding keeping track of all non-citizens. Especially tracking when they exit the country or if they overstay their temporary permission to visit.
The above is a discussion about the essentially racist and xenophobic matter of immigration by badly educated, brown skinned, poor people who speak the Spanish language. There is the second issue of drugs, drug barons, ignoring rule-of-law, etc. This is probably a far more important matter.
We should start out by legalizing marijuana, regulating its growth, production, use, and taxing it when it is sold to the final consumer. Just like tobacco, pot should be treated much like alcohol was after prohibition. Young people need to find it much harder to get their hands on pot. Driving a motor vehicle while stoned on pot is probably just as dangerous as driving drunk or talking-texting on your cell phone while driving.
When the marijuana money flow is transparent and is tracked and taxed by the IRS, it will be more difficult for the drug barons/criminals to remain involved in the matter. The addictive drugs like oxycontin, crystal meth, heroin, and cocaine are an entirely different issue and this has to be dealt with differently. I don't have time to discuss it here. It is worth noting that prescriptions by Doctors must be computerized and better regulated so that the flow of illegal prescription drugs is also ameliorated.
Supporting rule-of-law and fighting corruption/bribery are essential for the survival of America as a civilized society. The penalties for corruption and bribery by government employees (including elected officials) need to be greatly increased and made mandatory. Not discretionary. Rooting out and preventing corruption among government workers has to become one of our highest priorities.
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