Quote:
Originally Posted by zeek
Unless you can demonstrate how building a wall on the US southern border is going to solve your neighborhood crime problem, you have made a wildly spurious leap in logic. Thanks for demonstrating how Trump wins support by evoking people's xenophobic fantasies.
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This is not my recommended course of action, nor can anyone characterize me as a "supporter of Trump". On the contrary I am a supporter of the US constitution and sympathize and empathize with the tens of thousands of people affected by illegal immigrants killing Americans each year. It is not necessary to know anything more than this will help to empathize with them, and to respect the fact that Trump was elected as a result of our electoral process.
I respect the fact that they want us to do something, that has been demonstrated effectively for me. I can also respect the assertion that this might help. The example of the wall built in Israel is a valid example of how these walls can have a positive impact on reducing violence.
It is also very clear to me that the amount ($5 billion) is almost trivial when viewed in light of our entire budget. Shutting down the government over this is callous and inconsiderate. You are ignoring the people who have lost a loved one, you are ignoring the electorate that elected Trump, and you are willing to let millions of people who depend on their paycheck every two weeks to go without for what?
Once again, I blame the Democrats for this shutdown. I see no valid reason not to compromise. For example, suppose they agree to release $1 billion per year over the next 5 years to build this wall. If Trump is not reelected they could cancel that after 2 years. $1 billion a year is truly a trivial amount of our annual budget.
We currently have a very substantial "fence", "wall", "barrier" at our border. I have seen it in El Paso. Democrats didn't have a problem with that, so why the big issue over extending it?
Finally this claim that the wall "will not solve your neighborhood crime problem" is a straw man argument. Health clubs cannot promise to solve your obesity problem, but that is not an argument against having a membership. The issue is not whether or not it will "solve" the problem but rather will it "help" and if it will help is it a cost effective strategy.
I think it is absurd to say it won't help, the only issue is how much and is it worth $5 billion. But remember, the govt will get 36% back immediately as tax revenue. So the real question is whether or not it is worth 3.3 billion. Now this "barrier" will certainly be used for 25 years, so then this question translates into $130 million benefit per year. That is will it reduce violent crime in the US by 0.02% per year. No one can assure us it won't.
So the question for me is why are you saying no? What is your issue with trying this? Why are you so callous and inconsiderate to those who are suffering?