So What Do They Mean By "Secure" the Border?

[Jackalope]

To the south of us is a desert. I'd say get rid of all sources of water, except those we can easily monitor. Let the desert work with us. It should make it hard to pass through non designated areas, while still allowing people to cross who want to come legally.

Hey, why don't we just machine gun 'em? Seems more humane than letting them die of thirst.

[Anomalocaris]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/24/fr...mmigrants/

A sweeping immigration overhaul bill passed the Democratic-led Senate last year. But it has stalled in the Republican-led House of Representatives, whose leaders insist President Barack Obama’s administration should secure the border before easing immigration restrictions.

Machine gun nests? Mine fields?

These kids showing up at the border are gleefully surrendering to the border patrol and being taken into custody. Do the right-wing nutters want them shot on sight? What do some of the nutters have to say on this?

Righting nutters understandably don't want fresh blood and new genetic variations to dilute the hallowed inbreeding amongst the Anglo Saxon Protestant high school dropouts.

[Chad32]

To the south of us is a desert. I'd say get rid of all sources of water, except those we can easily monitor. Let the desert work with us. It should make it hard to pass through non designated areas, while still allowing people to cross who want to come legally.

Hey, why don't we just machine gun 'em? Seems more humane than letting them die of thirst.

I don't generally go for the death sentence for trespassing, though if they want to kill themselves trying to cross a desert without any watering holes nearby, I'm sure the buzzards would be grateful.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Perhaps you lot could simply place a series of spring-loaded nets at the border - you know, the kind you see in old Tarzan movies. You could scoop up these illegal immigrants by the thousands with very minimal outlay.

All the hungry, desperate people you catch - you know, those who have risked life and limb to be a part of your country - could then be loaded into circus cannons and fired back across the border. There are multiple benefits to this approach:

1. Selling sponsorships and viewing rights could bring in tens of millions (Budweiser: Official Beer Of The Immigrant Cannon Programme).

2. Money could be saved when you launch kids across the border. I haven't done the math, but you could prolly fit six of the smaller ones into a single cannon.

3. It would be hugely entertaining.

4. It would immediately discourage repeat offenders.

Boru

[Heywood]

Yes....educate their children, I would even go as far as providing them medical care. After they are here long enough(say supporting themselves for 10 years)....give them permanent resident status and then maybe other entitlements(like the universal basic income I advocate).

The point is let them come here to work. Don't let them come in for a free lunch.

Permanent resident status after ten years? Why not citizenship and after 3 or four years not 10?

10 is an arbitrary number that I picked that I think would be good. You think 3 or 4 years is good. I would be okay with what the people decide would be a sufficient amount of time. 10 is not something I am strongly committed too....it is something I just threw out there.

I'm not saying that these immigrants can't become citizens. Citizenship shouldn't be automatic.....you should still have to apply for and be granted it. On the otherhand, I am okay with resident alien status being automatic after a certain period of time in this country.

[The Grand Nudger]

If they're coming -here- for the welfare, even if they were eligible, I'd say it was a wasted trip on their part. On the other hand, even if their reasons for coming weren't well thought out, I'm glad they're here. We need em. We'd be shrinking otherwise. Think of the loss in pop, productivity, etc....

[Heywood]

If they're coming -here- for the welfare, even if they were eligible, I'd say it was a wasted trip on their part. On the other hand, even if their reasons for coming weren't well thought out, I'm glad they're here. We need em. We'd be shrinking otherwise. Think of the loss in pop, productivity, etc....

The United States of America does not have a fertility rate strong enough to sustain its population. But I'm not too concerned about productivity loss. Robots will take up the slack. However Medicare and Social security are untenable without a growing population...so yeah...we need them.

[KUSA]

We should take over Mexico and make it part of the US. Then there is no border.

[The Grand Nudger]

The United States of America does not have a fertility rate strong enough to sustain its population. But I'm not too concerned about productivity loss. Robots will take up the slack. However Medicare and Social security are untenable without a growing population...so yeah...we need them.

Meh, if robots are going to pull that slack then there's no sense complaining about the costs of providing medical care to illegal immigrants. The robots will pick up the slack. In fact, if the robots are going to pick up the slack - we probably don't need money anymore. Sign me up. You aren't worried about the loss in productivity? Where do you think the money that pays for any of these services comes from? Why are you worrying about immigrants and services then?

[Heywood]

The United States of America does not have a fertility rate strong enough to sustain its population. But I'm not too concerned about productivity loss. Robots will take up the slack. However Medicare and Social security are untenable without a growing population...so yeah...we need them.

Meh, if robots are going to pull that slack then there's no sense complaining about the costs of providing medical care to illegal immigrants. The robots will pick up the slack. In fact, if the robots are going to pick up the slack - we probably don't need money anymore. Sign me up. You aren't worried about the loss in productivity? Where do you think the money that pays for any of these services comes from? Why are you worrying about immigrants and services then?

There will come a time when we will be able to receive any immigrant into the country even if they want to come here and smoke pot all day on the government dole without any significant negative effect on the people that are already here. I just don't think we are there yet.

Technology(i.e. robots and such) is why I want to get rid of all government programs and replace them with a universal basic income. You can read about my thoughts on a universal basic income in the my "alternative to the living wage thread". A day is coming when most people will not have to work.