Border wall truly a brick-headed idea

It was probably the biggest guaranteed applause line Donald Trump had when campaigning.

Along with “Lock her up!”, he could get his crowds totally jacked up by simply saying “We will build the wall.” When he added that he would get Mexico to pay for the wall, the crowds would go berserk.

The simplistic, red meat applause lines — like the one banning refugees and migrants which is causing havoc and fear worldwide — helped get him elected president. And many of us were hoping the lines were just campaign bluster that would be toned down once he got into office and started acting more presidential. No such luck. While Trump has wisely ditched the idea of trying to get Hillary Clinton prosecuted, he quickly brought the border wall with Mexico to the forefront in the blizzard of executive orders he issued his first days in the White House.

Like several of Trump’s early ideas — an ego-driven probe of obviously non-existent voter fraud? a constant harangue about the size of his inaugural crowd? — the wall is totally misguided. And insulting. And mean-spirited. And it definitely threatens relations with our Mexican neighbors.

Mexican president Enrique Peña had been scheduled to come to Washington this week to discuss trade, immigration and the drug war. All are critical issues — and all were put on at least temporary hold when Peña cancelled the trip as Trump continued to say Mexico would pay for the wall. A guaranteed applause line on the campaign trail wasn’t going over well in the real world, although the two leaders did talk on the phone after the meeting was scratched.

Mexico had been getting bashed like a piñata by Trump since the start of his campaign, when he said that country was sending “rapists” to America. With relations already frayed, it’s understandable Mexico wanted no part of the wall idea, or paying for any of it.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox told NBC that “we are at the very lowest point” in terms of U.S.-Mexico relations.

Trump claims the 2,000 mile border wall — about one third of the border already has some form of barricade — can be finished for $8 billion. Other estimates put the tab as high as $40 billion. There won’t be much support in Congress to provide funding like that, campaign promise or not.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who has also had a turbulent first few days, said the White House might consider a 20 percent import tax to pay for the wall, then quickly backed off and said that was merely one idea to finance the project.

The fact a 20 percent import tax is even talked about shows the administration put the wall idea together with no idea how to pay for it. It’s the same slapdash way the Muslim ban was put to paper.

As for paying for the wall with an import tax, essentially Americans would be paying the tax themselves to build it. For example, the New York Post calculated how a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports would affect items sold in New York.

A 2017 Ford Fusion, which cost $22,120 before the import tax, would cost $26,544 after the tax. A bottle of Patron Silver tequila would rise from $49.99 to $59.99. A 12-pack of Corona Extra beer would rise from $18.99 to $22.78. An avocado could rise from $3.99 to $4.99.

Others see a possible 20 percent increase in food items such as bananas and mangoes and other fresh produce not grown in the United States. We don’t think Trump would have used the wall as an applause line if he also included those numbers in his campaign spiel.

Cost isn’t the only troubling issue with the wall. The symbolism is strong, particularly in a nation that has always celebrated its immigrant heritage. The idea of putting up a wall is antagonistic, and simply goes against much of what America stands for.

A better idea would be more Border Patrol agents to provide stronger enforcement. That might do more to stem illegal drugs flowing into the United States than a wall, without making relations with a valued neighbor and trade partner worse.

We can understand Trump trying to make good on campaign promises, but he needs to carefully think things through before putting the promises into practice. Real leadership involves a realistic look at the consequences of one’s actions. Trump hasn’t shown yet that he is up to that task.

Trump needs to realize that some campaign applause lines won’t translate into the real world. The border wall with Mexico should be a non-starter.

Real leadership involves a realistic look at the consequences of one’s actions. Trump hasn’t shown yet that he is up to that task.