Trump's Wall

[javero]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 7:21pm

(1) Will Mexico pay as Trump claims?

(2) Will squeezing Mexico for payment to construct the Wall & renegotiating NAFTA trigger a tariff war between Mexico & the USA?

(3) What impact will the Wall have on illegal drug prices domestically?

(4) skipped

(5) Which domestic banks that are presently used to launder money from illicit drug trades at the cartel level will go under as a result of erecting the non-porous Wall?

(6) What's the likelihood of increased violence resulting from turf wars between domestic drug traffickers as a result of the Wall?

(7) Will the Wall cause an increase in illegal drug imports from Canada and the Caribbean to offset the barriers to transport across the southern border?

([8]) Will there be an up-tick in opioid abuse in Trump country resulting from the increased price of alternative illegal drugs originating from points south of the border?

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 07:21 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 7:41pm

1. Of course not.
2. Of course.
3. Not an issue if we put an end to the failed War on Drugs.
4. [skipped]
5. Perhaps, as they would if we ended the failed War on Drugs.
6. None, if we put an end to the failed War on Drugs.
7. Not if we stop the War on Drugs.
8. Shouldn't an increase in prices reduce demand? But I think things would be better if we ended the failed War on Drugs.

[javero]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 8:02pm

"Shouldn't an increase in prices reduce demand?..."

All the drug addicts I've ever known have sought other highs whenever their poison of choice wasn't readily available.  They tend to be rather resourceful when they gotta get their fix.  No judgments here.

The Wall is political theater akin to Prohibition.  And the cynic in me believes that the Trumpkins are mainly annoyed about being shut out of the drug transport business.  They lack the political will to engage the party's evangelical bloc and propose an end to the failed War on drugs.  As libertarians, our views tend to align on most issues with counter-terrorism being a notable exception.

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 08:02 PM

[mar6411]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 8:15pm

You do realize that - assuming we spend the billions to build this wall, taking untold resources away from other infrastructure projects - the wall is not going to slow the traffic of illegal immigrants or illegal drugs or illegal anything else one bit.

[javero]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 9:26pm

Gotta file a minority report, mar6411.  If properly constructed, the Wall could put a damper on  imported illegal drugs, gun running, and sex trafficking from points south of the border.  However, without addressing consumption, treating addiction as an illness, and legalizing both drugs & sex work for adults, the Wall could create a public health, trade, and local law enforcement nightmare.  In MD, the most prominent urban gangs thrive on illegal drug sales, sex trafficking, and unlawful gun sales.  My biggest worry is that the increased demand from the initial dip in supply resulting from the Wall could trigger massive turf wars between rival gangs in the area as they scavenge for merchandise in short supply.  There's also a nexus between those gangs and some prominent restaurants, night clubs, auto dealers, home builders, dry cleaners, laundromats, and banks in the region.  Dirty money's gotta be laundered somewhere.

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 09:26 PM

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 9:34pm

Most Mexican cartels are large, sophisticated operations. They either try to bring it in hidden in cars at legal border crossings and hope not to get detected or more often transport them in small private planes and either land or drop them in small deserted fields in Texas and Arizona just over the border to be picked up. They're not moving it 20-25 lbs. at a time with individuals trying to sneak across the border. The wall may make it a little bit more difficult for an illegal to get into the country but it will have very little to no effect on the drugs flowing into the U.S.

[javero]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 9:40pm

"The wall may make it a little bit more difficult for an illegal to get into the country but it will have very little to no effect on the drugs flowing into the U.S."

Thanks for weighing in UncleCharlie.  I concede you the point w/ respect to the drug flow.  But, something needs to be done to tackle sex trafficking.  Many of the girls involved in that racket in my neighborhood are in their early teens.  I've been in bars where men have bragged about the latest stock of chicklets on offer.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 4:26am

1.  No, but he'll lie and say they did.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 4:55am

Just a thought.  He could use Mexican bricklayers, to cut the cost.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 9:11am

1) Walls can be scaled.
2) Tunnels can be dug under walls.
3) Boats can go around walls.
4) Airplanes can go over walls.
5) Government employees (such as gatekeepers at a wall) can, like anyone, be bribed.

A wall is a stupid idea that will achieve nothing. How anyone can take it seriously is the definition of tragicomedy.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 9:33am

^ Tell that to my coworker who thinks that they should make everyone on welfare build it. I seriously wanted to tell her good luck with paying for that because you know we all will. Granted,  we would no matter who built it. But, her attitude put in no regard for how we will pay all of those people.  Plus relocating every single welfare recipient to live where they can build.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

[newintown]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 10:26am

There are three categories of Stupid People:

1) Stupid People who know they're stupid, and work to become better;
2) Stupid People who know they're stupid, and do nothing but resent anyone smarter; and
3) Stupid People who think that they're smart.

Your co-worker definitely falls into category 3 (as, I fear, do most Stupid People; followed in number by category 2, with a vast minority in category 1).

Updated On: 1/26/17 at 10:26 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 11:08am

If you're stupid and you know it, you're not so stupid.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 11:26am

McConnell and Ryan confirmed this morning that initial cost would be $15 billion. Remind me again why we can't afford universal healthcare coverage though? 

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 11:40am

You know, anyone who isn't white is a big problem in this country.  We need to get rid of them as fast as possible.  And universal healthcare can help them, so the wall is the better solution.  

 

 

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 11:53am

The fringe has had success getting white folks to blame "them" for their problems.  Of course, the "them" changes from time to time, from the blacks to the gays to those on welfare, and so on.  If only these folks would realize it's those on the fringe who are really the "them."

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 12:42pm

President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico has cancelled his meeting with Trump.  Good for him.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 4:06pm

Trump is now saying that the wall will be paid for by a 20% tax on Mexican imports. In other words, it will be paid for by American consumers.

What the **** is a tax-raising Republican good for? If I wrote what I'm really thinking about this piece of ****, the Secret Service would be knocking on my door within the hour.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 4:10pm

I cannot say I blame Neito for not meeting with Trump.  

But the Peso is taking Beating and that will be costly if it continues. 
 

Peso falls to session lows after meeting between US and Mexico presidents falls through

The dollar hit a session high against the Mexican peso on Thursday after Mexico's president, Enrique Pena Nieto, said he would not attend a previously scheduled meeting with Donald Trump.

In a tweet, Pena Nieto said: "This morning we informed the White House that I will not attend a reunion scheduled for next Tuesday" with the U.S. president.

 

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/dollar-wallows-near-7-week-lows-on-trump-protectionism.html

Updated On: 1/26/17 at 04:10 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/26/17 at 10:04pm

SO is the country of origin USA or Mexico when the border towns on US side  make the parts BUT cheap labor on the Mexican side put them together and sends them again into the USA?

Cos there is a lot o that sh!t going on but so far they are considered USA. If that changes I could see a big $ for that taxation.

But are those manufacturers REALLY going to let that happen?

[javero]

Posted: 1/27/17 at 6:41am

The Libertarian Party opposes restrictions on peaceful immigration

by Lauren Daugherty on January 27, 2017 in Press Releases

For Immediate Release

January 27, 2017

Contact: Carla Howell, media [at] LP [dot] org or [phone] x 222

The Libertarian Party welcomes peaceful people into this country and is the only political party that is still willing to stand up for the values inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Libertarian Party Chair, Nicholas Sarwark, says, “When we erect barriers to peaceful immigration or contemplate restricting immigration based on characteristics such as religious beliefs, we desecrate the noblest of principles this country was founded upon. This isn’t just about immigrants and refugees. This is about who we are as Americans.”

He continues: “In the Libertarian Party, we stand for ‘liberty and justice for all.’ Not just American citizens. Not just those who were born here. Not just those of a certain background. Not just those of a certain skin color. Not just those of a certain religion.”

The Libertarian Party’s position is that anyone who is peaceful should be allowed to enter the United States.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 1/27/17 at 9:05am

I do not think anyone including Mr Trump is opposing legal peaceful immigration.  Its illegal unchecked immigration that most oppose. It is brilliant strategy if a dishonest that the Democrats lump the two together. Rather insulting to legal law abiding immigrants such as myself to be truthful.

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/27/17 at 9:12am

Petralicious said: "I do not think anyone including Mr Trump is opposing legal peaceful immigration."

He - as well as most mainstream politicians - support significant limits on peaceful immigration and a burdensome process before someone can settle here. I agree with the LP in not supporting any of those limits. Any peaceful and honest person should be welcome to enter the United States.

 

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/27/17 at 9:16am

Please don't feed the trolls.  Engaging the trolls = feeding the trolls.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 1/27/17 at 9:19am

I agree with a lot of what you say KDOGG, but I can not with this.

Check out how strict the actual Law is in Mexico:

 Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society:
– Foreigners are admitted into Mexico “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)
– Immigration officials must “ensure” that “immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents. (Article 34)
– Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the national demographics,” when foreigners are deemed detrimental to “economic or national interests,” when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when “they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.” (Article 37)
– The Secretary of Governance may “suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest.” (Article 3

 

• Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:
– Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)
– A National Population Registry keeps track of “every single individual who comprises the population of the country,” and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)
– A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).

• Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:
– Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)
– Foreigners who sign government documents “with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses” are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)

• Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:
– Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)
– Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 11
– Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.

• Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says,
– “A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.” (Article 123)
– Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)
– Foreigners who “attempt against national sovereignty or security” will be deported. (Article 126)

https://factreal.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/mexico-vs-united-states-mexican-immigration-laws-are-tougher/