$2 Billion for a Fence

Today I may run over to France while a friend picks up some odds and ends. It is about five minutes by car. At the border there are two buildings, one for the French and one for the Swiss that are sometimes occupied.

The land surrounding is mainly farmland, woods and paths and an easy stroll from country to country. I am back and forth between the two countries a couple of times a week.

Tomorrow, I will go to Argelès. The train station is in the centre of Geneva. Quai 8 is for French-bound trains. The waiting room has been redone in DayGlo colours for the Football tournament scheduled for this summer. Passengers stroll through a corridor that is used by both the Swiss and the French border guards. Usually they nod at you. There is no other check.

When I am in Argelès I have gone to Spain for lunch. There are border guards who usually wave me through, but it would not be impossible to hike over the mountains and change countries.

I compare that to entering the US with their draconian measures. Yes, yes, I know about 9/11, but most countries have had some kind of terrorist attacks over the years, perhaps a little less spectacular, but on going and soul wearing. I suspect the average Iraqi who has lived through shock and awe followed by five years of daily danger, would trade a few hours of attack against five years of siege.

I have American and Swiss passports that let me enter most countries at will. By accident of birth I am one of the lucky ones.

Now Bush wants to spend $2 billion for a border fence, but can’t increase children’s health care.
Yes Europe has illegal immigrants. Most are economic refugees as are most of the illegals in the US, who have been forced off their farms by the cheap food thanks to the NAFTA treaty. Few benefit from the jobs taken from American workers and put into Latin America.

The Red Cross printed a story about one man’s journey, where he was robbed and beaten on his trip north. He wanted to work in the US long enough to afford a few goats to help his village.
His leg was infected and grew worse as he waded through contaminated water. He was caught and sent home. He was one of the lucky ones. He didn’t die in an overheated truck or be shot by some patriot protecting the homeland.

Danger and dying are not just limited to Latinos. Many African illegals drown on small ships as they try to come in.

$2 billion to build a fence to keep out people many of whom live on less than a $1 a day.

The problem is not the illegals, the problem is the economic conditions that result in the haves and the have nots.

There are so many better places that money could be spent, on that child care, on the breaking American infrastructure, on updating the air control system, on education, on micro finance so people can earn a living in their home countries, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, but $2 billion for a fence?