Soooo you got a new President...

[Brent in Az]

Doing summer jobs, I weeded bean fields, and de-tassled corn rows for $15 a day. Also worked on some Mexican landscaping crews for $3.00 an hour in the 105 degree heat.

What doesn't kill you, makes you tougher. A lesson that alot of kids today could use. Grown ups too!

 

[Brent in Az]

And being the only white boy on the landscaping crew, I took a lot of grief.

 

[JimP]

On the wall, I don't believe that it needs to be a solid 100' tall wall. A area could be cleared for 1/2 mile inside of the US, then surveillance cameras, sensors and other things that the government has access to could be installed. Then have rapid response teams stationed where they could reach any location when someone tries to cross within 15-20 minutes and you would cut down on the majority of smugglers, both human and drugs.

I spent a week down there this last December on a coues deer hunt and saw one two legged coyote running through a wash along with finding a spot where someone had spent a week or so high up on a hill where they could watch down below. While I was glassing for deer I wondered just what I would of done if I would of seen a bunch packing drugs in, but all we found was where someone had came down a wash and left their garbage as they passed through.

 

[Velo Dog]

Late, during the summer of, I believe 1969, I had been told by my high school friend, Ricardo Islas that, the Sacramento Farm Labor Office, would hire us out to various area Farmers, mostly for picking tomatoes, but also to mow weeds, clear debris from irrigation ditches and generally do other misc. "farm labor" as the name implied.
It was for minimum wage (I think it may have been $1.65 per hour, at that time).
All we had to do was register once for the whole summer and then show up by a certain time, on any day we wanted work.
I figure this would fill in my regular days off, from my regular job, quite nicely.
Islas stayed busy picking tomatoes and so forth.
And, I never was selected.
I concluded that I had been racially discriminated against (I originally was blond and blue, before I decided to go with my current "Santa Claus" look, that I've been staying with lately).
Then and now, I believe this was so, because the Government likes to puke up the filthy lie that; "Only Mexican people are willing to do farm labor jobs here and Americans refuse to do such work".

 

[Brent in Az]

On election night, I was watching the election coverage with an "ear to ear", grin on my face. When they showed the men and women crying at the Clinton headquarters, all I could think, is God help us if these people are the future of America.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Rather than build a wall in an effort to keep out the illegals from the south, I think we should increase funding for border patrols and deportation proceedings and visa enforcement.

 

[Brent in Az]

Jeff Sessions is bringing in more Judges to help with 4 year backlog of illegal immigration cases.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Rather than build a wall in an effort to keep out the illegals from the south, I think we should increase funding for border patrols and deportation proceedings and visa enforcement.

But that would be mean.

 

[Royal27]

Rather than build a wall in an effort to keep out the illegals from the south, I think we should increase funding for border patrols and deportation proceedings and visa enforcement.

All of that, plus a wall, and further penalty for anyone who hires an illegall. The problem with "soft" changes only is that they will likely quickly go away as soon as something more politically expedient comes up.

And on the wall, o do think there are remote areas that wouldn't need it, or where the building could be left to last.

 

[Dragan N.]

Curtis,

I have to respectfully disagree with some of your assessment.

A border wall can be highly effective, if it is built properly. The current corrugated metal wall along some of our Arizona border is a joke.

Much of the drugs smuggled in are by groups of Mexicans with backpacks, and armed escorts. Many of the big shipments get busted at the border crossings.

Many ranchers along the border would probably agree to an easement. They suffer from the plague of illegal crossings.

If this wall is built, it needs to be done right. If so, nobody will climb it, or dig under it. A 50' tall wall with a parapet curved outward with razor wire will cure that. Guard towers with hi-tech surveillance, motiob sensors, infrared, lights, and constant patrols. It would still be cheaper in the long run, over all the collateral costs we deal with now.

True. The topography is pretty rugged in many areas. I am not optimistic about Trumps cost projection of 15-20 billion. To do it right would cost considerably more. Especially with the terrain over a thousand plus miles?

From what I understand Trump is just extending an already existing border wall- i.e. building it in sections that do not have a wall. That 15-20 billion I guess will simply extend the already existing wall. The existing walled sections are a pretty "standard" border wall. From what I understand extending this is what will cost tens of billions. I would imagine that the cost of the wall you described in your first post would probably be in the trillions. Don't get me wrong building a wall like that is certainly possible and within the technological capabilities of the US but I do not think there would be too much political will to build a high tech multi trillion dollar wall. Also the salaries of the guards manning it and the cost of up-keeping all of the surveillance tech would be quite a bit I'd imagine every year...

 

[Ray B]

the simple solution is to forget the wall - using temporary eminent domain the government could lease a stretch of all non-improved land for two miles north of the border. then use that land for military exercises including live fire of small arms, artillery and fighter/bomber aircraft. Nothing like a swooping Phantom dropping cans of Napalm to discourage a coyote.

 

[David Middleton]

12 billion to protect American border everyone crys. 1.5 billion yearly to Egypt to keep arms out of Gaza. 5 billion to Palestine between 2003- 2012( and going up annually 497 million 2014) to keep palestinians from attacking Isreal. Also making them worlds largest per capita recipients of foreign aid anywhere,look how well that's going. 38 million military aid to Israel 2016 alone. 2014 Sudan economic aid to Sudan 214 million. 2014 Ukraine 308.5 million, 329 million went to philippines who just kicked us out to have relationship with China and Russia instead. Mexico 332 MILLION(281 million economic and 51 million military assistance( but they can't protect their border or stop drug lords). Mozambique got 337 million in 2014. Haiti got 355 million which was a boon for the Clintons! Georgia got 289million, why? 402 million went to Somalia and 136 million of that went to military assistance and they can't stop a pirate in a raft from attacking our oil ships. 410 million to Iraq and 22 million for military that ran from ISIS and left them the tanks and Humvees. 434 million to Lebanon again so they don't attack Israel. 438.5 million to Congo(10.5 million to their military who are doing a great job, not!) 515.5 million to South Africa take the 4.6 million and protect the American hunters getting out of Joburgh airport. Uganda gets 557 million and that 30.6 million that goes to their military makes it such a safe place. Colombia gets 560.3 million well spent except for the cocaine thing that the 76.5 million we give to their military doesn't slow down much. Tanzania gets 589 million ok not sure why we are doing that. Nigeria gets 593 million again I don't get why we give a big oil producer that money and having problems with Farm murders. Zambia gets 673 million I don't even know where the hell that country is in Africa. 742 million goes to Ethiopia should be able to buy a happy meal daily for every resident in country but the people are still starving. 868 million to South Sudan is this not one of the most unstable regions of the world again well spent. 892 million to Kenya 31 million to military but they can't protect game from poachers? 981 to Pakistan who helps Taliban and can afford Nukes. Jordan 1.13 billion Jordan are we propping up monarchy? 3.12 billion to Israel. Afghanistan gets 7.26 billion and floods world with heroin which I believe killed 12989 Americans in 2016. 17536 died from oxy and vicodin from poppy plant. 9580 fentanyl total good move there! Just in 2014 USA tax dollars 24 Billion 327 Million went to places that in my humble opinion that were not as important as fixing our borders and country. Please try to justify this spending. And these are only the larger ones we give money to every country!

 

[LivingTheDream]

If the 600+ million to Zambia keeps leopards being exported I say it is money well spent...all the rest is waste.

 

[David Middleton]

Ok 23 billion 700 million wasted! What size piece of hunting land in Zambia would 600 million get? Kwacha 57,660,000,000,000,000. Apparently this can get you around 2.1 million hectacres not sure how big that is but how long would it take if you did that every year before you owned the entire country? 290,587 mi2 area of Zambia 259 hectares in 1 mi2. That's 8108 mi2 per year.35.8 years you own Zambia.

 

[Saul]

If we are all being honest right now, Trump is doing a pretty awful job implementing his agenda. All he has seemed to do so far is play golf.

I am one of the despised leftists on the forum who has supported both of the Clintons for decades but I voted for TRUMP. That is how strongly I believed that Sanders was a sign that the democratic party was heading in the wrong direction and that Trump was finally going to bring the republicans in the right direction.

While Trump is not turning out to be the president I hoped for, at least he has appointed Rex Tillerson and General James Mattis, and has Carl Icahn as an economic adviser. I am supremely confident that these men can help bring the Trump presidency around if they are given the chance.

As long as I get a wall along the southern border, HUGE tax cuts across the board, and reductions in government spending, I will be happy to put up with Trump's twitter antics for 8 more years.

 

[Brent in Az]

Trump has been president for less than 90 days. Give him time to get things sorted out. He will have some big battles with the RINO's in the GOP to advance his agenda. The people in the swamp, dont want a wall, lower taxes, and less spending. The parasite politicians are going to oppose Trump anyway they can.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

12 billion to protect American border everyone crys. 1.5 billion yearly to Egypt to keep arms out of Gaza. 5 billion to Palestine between 2003- 2012( and going up annually 497 million 2014) to keep palestinians from attacking Isreal. Also making them worlds largest per capita recipients of foreign aid anywhere,look how well that's going. 38 million military aid to Israel 2016 alone. 2014 Sudan economic aid to Sudan 214 million. 2014 Ukraine 308.5 million, 329 million went to philippines who just kicked us out to have relationship with China and Russia instead. Mexico 332 MILLION(281 million economic and 51 million military assistance( but they can't protect their border or stop drug lords). Mozambique got 337 million in 2014. Haiti got 355 million which was a boon for the Clintons! Georgia got 289million, why? 402 million went to Somalia and 136 million of that went to military assistance and they can't stop a pirate in a raft from attacking our oil ships. 410 million to Iraq and 22 million for military that ran from ISIS and left them the tanks and Humvees. 434 million to Lebanon again so they don't attack Israel. 438.5 million to Congo(10.5 million to their military who are doing a great job, not!) 515.5 million to South Africa take the 4.6 million and protect the American hunters getting out of Joburgh airport. Uganda gets 557 million and that 30.6 million that goes to their military makes it such a safe place. Colombia gets 560.3 million well spent except for the cocaine thing that the 76.5 million we give to their military doesn't slow down much. Tanzania gets 589 million ok not sure why we are doing that. Nigeria gets 593 million again I don't get why we give a big oil producer that money and having problems with Farm murders. Zambia gets 673 million I don't even know where the hell that country is in Africa. 742 million goes to Ethiopia should be able to buy a happy meal daily for every resident in country but the people are still starving. 868 million to South Sudan is this not one of the most unstable regions of the world again well spent. 892 million to Kenya 31 million to military but they can't protect game from poachers? 981 to Pakistan who helps Taliban and can afford Nukes. Jordan 1.13 billion Jordan are we propping up monarchy? 3.12 billion to Israel. Afghanistan gets 7.26 billion and floods world with heroin which I believe killed 12989 Americans in 2016. 17536 died from oxy and vicodin from poppy plant. 9580 fentanyl total good move there! Just in 2014 USA tax dollars 24 Billion 327 Million went to places that in my humble opinion that were not as important as fixing our borders and country. Please try to justify this spending. And these are only the larger ones we give money to every country!

I agree with the wasted foreign aid. I can balance my budget very well when I pay my debt and stop throwing it away. In one year divorced I did what I couldn't in six years with another adult's money.
Fix the US before we think about playing Team America

 

[Brent in Az]

Obama spent 8 years destroying the backbone of this country. Trump can't fix it all in 75 days. Obamacare will take time, because they need to do it right. I am not happy that Trump is going after the Freedom Caucus. Ryancare was another potential disaster. McConnell and Ryan will be a big problem going forward.

 

[bilmcc]

You mean Trumpcare. He owns it now. If he did not want it, he would have negotiated it away.

 

[charleslabounty]

The "Don" is already a Great President. He kept dillary out of our Whitehouse. Anything after that is gravy.

Think 2nd Amendment every day, my friends.