Phoning it in

[Mythsaje]

This Administration and its supporters haven't ever really been serious about security. They play it up in the media, start foreign wars we cannot win, attack civil liberties here at home, and bluster about on the world stage, but they have done very few of the things that will actually make us safer.

Port Security? A joke. Thousands, if not millions, of secured containers come into American ports every day. It would be simple to plant a thermonuclear device, dirty bomb, or bacteriological weapon in one of these containers and no one would be the wiser until it went off.

Tracking WMDs? Considering that, as a political maneuver, this Administration crippled one of the branches of the intelligence community dedicated to this very operation, it seems doubtful they take it very seriously at all.

Policing illegal immigrants? They're talking about building a WALL covering only portions of the southern border. As if no one has ever TUNNELED into the U.S. before. How is a wall going to stop that? They can't even stop drugs from coming in--how are they going to stop PEOPLE?

You know what I think they should do? Just open the border. Let them cross into the U.S. legally. Put up way stations along the routes routinely used by illegal immigrants, offer them water and food, and SCREEN them. Get a handle on who they are. Allow them in as visitors, and turn the heat up on those who employ undocumented workers. Obviously we can't really stem the tide...supply is beyond our control, so let's concentrate on DEMAND. No jobs, no reason to stay. Right? Just visiting.

Along with this, open up more routes to legal citizenship, or at least routes to legal work visas. If we dismantle the mechanism of illegal employment, we can make sure that everyone gets at least minimum wage and is treated equally by their employers. This will not only improve the lots of those who are coming here to work, it will also help to break the back of the illegal labor market. If hiring illegals BECOMES illegal, and punishable by large fines AND jail time, it will seriously reduce the motivation many people for hiring undocumented workers.

It's a complex problem, and I'd like to see someone, ANYONE, come up with some workable plan that is logistically sound, compassionate, and respectful of basic human dignity.

Maybe we need to look a little closer to home if we're going to start messing with the internal politics of other countries. Mexico is a corrupt oligarchy, and its mismanagement has a direct impact on OUR society as well. Maybe all the U.S. corporations that do business down there could be encouraged to push for social and political change THERE, since they seem to have little problem doing so HERE.

I think everything our government is currently doing in terms of making us more secure is but a facade. Most of it's merely for appearances sake alone. Putting a deadbolt on the front door but leaving the windows wide open isn't securing anything.

We need more debate on all of this in this country. A wall or fence isn't the answer. Massive deportation isn't the answer. Roving wiretaps aren't the answer. Suspension of Habeas Corpus or Posse Comitatus isn't the answer.

Neither is a series of wars in the Middle East that will result in more people having personal reasons to hate the U.S.

Maybe we should try reaching out to the rest of the world with an open hand rather than a closed fist.

There's an idea.

[Stargazer99]

1. Don't you just wonder what the IQ is of those who

said they were voting for Bush because they wanted to be safe. Our chemical plants and our shipping ports are sitting ducks,safe what a laugh. Bush supporters seem to lack smarts, can't even put two and two together.

[Mythsaje]

3. Well, I certainly don't get it...

I've felt LESS safe with these clods stomping around the world kicking up anthills and pouring gasoline on fires.

[Stargazer99]

2. A closed fist is the Republican/Conservative icon

It illustrates their ideology perfectly.