LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Democrats need to make better case against the wall
The Democrats once again are not doing a very effective job of explaining their opposition to a southern border wall. Is “The Wall” a good idea? Of course not, it’s a horrible waste of billions of dollars. I suspect even Donald Trump knows that. He’s attempting to fulfill a campaign promise that he already has reneged on (the Mexicans are going to pay for it). But Donald Trump has never cared who he hurts as he blunders forward. Donald Trump: “Thousands of terrorists are coming across the border.” No, they are not. Only a handful of people on a watch list have tried it, and they have been stopped at the border. Terrorists have been attempting to come in through airports, marine ports of entry, and yes, even our northern border.
Donald Trump: “Illegal drugs are flowing in through our southern border.” No, they are not. Again, almost all illegal drugs are coming in through airports, vehicles, marine ports of entry, tunnels, and even rail tanker cars. Testimony at the trial of drug lord “El Chapo” in New York has verified that land travel over the southern border has not/is not used to move drugs into our country. It’s simply not effective, even without “The Wall.”
Imake these arguments based on statistics supplied by our own government agencies. They are facts, not lies spread by a president who cannot seem to tell the truth about anything.
Donald Trump: “We have a humanitarian crisis on our southern border.” Yes, we do. And it’s been created by the heartless policies of the Trump Administration. “The Wall” will make some of this disappear from our view. By leaving helpless families, including many children, sitting on the outside of “The Wall,” facing hopeless, desperate situations. Out of sight, out of mind. That seems to work for Donald Trump. But not for anyone who possesses even the slightest amount of empathy for others.
Why not put money for border security to much better use by using more of the available technology we already have, and, yes, hiring more border guards, further helping our economy.
The Democrats are in favor of border security. But they want to accomplish it humanely, and by spending money wisely. They need to do a better job of making this argument.