A New Approach

Tim Cavanaugh makes some interesting points here that I've seen reflected elsewhere as well.

Is there a substantial terrorist threat through our southern border? The practicalities of moving weapons into a legitimately dangerous position through there seem few, considering the climate and the distance to major urban areas. There has, as yet, been no public evidence of any terrorist movement out of Mexico. Regardless, walls and guns only force people to skirt detection. But allowing free -- but registered -- flow of people would mean everyone coming in or going out would do so in the light unless he had something to hide. Make the mountain come to us, as it were.

The free trade question is also interesting. Shouldn't free movement of capital and corporations come with free movement of labor (and here I include management, etc.)? Our large companies put factories in other countries like Mexico where we undercut the already poor work standards. Our multi-national corporations dominate local businesses in other countries. Our dominance forces people to come to our borders, not only because of opportunity here but because we help quash opportunity in other countries.

I'm not necessarily a proponent of unbridled trade. I think it holds dangers in allowing elephantine corporations to run about unrestrained with profit as the only concern and human rights and the environment as the grass that gets trampled. But it seems irresponsible for us to create a situation of free corporate migration and then refuse to accept the consequences of our actions, including human movement for economic purposes, especially when many of those migrants would choose to return home after a time, relieving the "burden" they place on our society, an option they lack now because of the difficulties of crossing borders.