Quote Originally Posted by SuperChuck
You'd probably be surprised what percentage this is. Even the few farms up here in New England mostly hire immigrants (I don't know what percentage is legal or illegal) because they'll work for next to nothing.


There are a lot of things that can be done, but we're not concerned with actual solutions, we're concerned with big displays.

Airport security is a good example.

I have to take my shoes off at the airport because some nutjob tried to blow up a plane with a "shoe bomb". Let's review. This guy was actually turned down by al Qaeda. If he was able to detonate it, the shoe contained almost enough explosive to burn his hand. Maybe.

When I was flying a lot, they used to have 3 questions they'd askat check-in. Yes-No-No. I don't even remember the questions, those are the answers.

All checked luggage is being x-rayed, which I agree is a good thing, but can't we do that in a back room?

When I was flying out of Amsterdam one time, they did something I thought was a great idea. They basically interrogated me before letting me on the plane. They didn't actually care what the answers were, they just wanted me to slip.

But it's all about show. Taking your shoes off gives a PERCEPTION of security. Heavily armed guards give the PERCEPTION of security.

Similarly, sending thousands of troops sounds really good, but it doesn't accomplish anything. Pedro is not a terrorist. And, really, Pedro is going to come over, anyway.

"Protecting the borders" may even be hurting the fight on terror a little. As of last week, we kind of look the other way with illegal immigration. As a result, the wetbacks have been helping protect that border from suspicious people. They didn't want us to start cracking down. We'll lose that non-civilian police force now.

Those Canucks, on the other hand, they let anyone through their borders...

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God damn, that's a lot of words. :)
Well, you started up by saying that people were complaining, I ranted a bit because it was a hot button (nothing personal, many hold your views.) We discussed some opinions and I asked you what you suggested. Instead of offering opinions on solutions, you are back to complaining about the stupidity of our efforts. So, what do you suggest? Interrogation on aircraft? With all due respect, that hardly touches on the issue you first introduced. Honestly, I have heard lots of complaining from those who want to keep the borders open, but no suggestions other than leaving things as they are or granting amnesty to those who have broken our laws. I am assuming that we agree we have a problem (if that's a wrong assumption let me know.) I am curious as to what your opinion on a solution would be. I'm not sure how beefing up airport security would affect illegals crossing either one of our borders.

By the way, there is a big difference between securing our borders and closing them. And actually, perception is a big part of achieving any goal.

Anybody else want to jump in???