President Trump's Grand Wall

                   President Trump’s Grand Wall

            I can’t resist a hot topic like the Wall. So, what do I think about a 2000 mile 15 or 20 foot or higher wall? Would it reduce immigration? Would it cost a lot of money, and is it worth the money, and what about the expense to patrol and repair? And the biggie; would it produce jobs?

             First let’s talk about the actual wall. I think we need to think big and a see-through steel fence won’t cut it. We should hire a Chinese engineer because the Chinese have a long history of walls, and we need to out-do the Chinese. Those boys know walls, and if the money’s right, they would give us an impressive wall, like a “You can see it from space” look because a true Chinese style “keep those suckers out” wall would need patrols and substations for Border Patrol officers. Using the Chinese model of having security and patrols, would make the wall more impressive since it would be wide enough to drive a Jeep on top of it and every mile would have a Border Patrol substation. Just think of the job creation! Since you would need at least 2 Border Patrol officers at each substation, we would have a net gain of over 4000 jobs not counting all the purchase of thousands of new jeeps. But we’re just scratching the surface when it comes to job creation. Yes, thousands of jobs during construction would create a lot of jobs in the USA, but the real job creation would be in Mexico, and those folks won’t be constructing the wall or paying for it.

But before we review those jobs let’s consider, the most important question: Would the wall reduce immigration? This is my take: if the wall is constructed so that it cuts off every access point into the USA from Mexico, is directed by a Chinese engineer, be wide enough to drive a Jeep on, and be properly patrolled, it will substantially reduce immigration. I believe, a 75% reduction could be achieved. So, I guess if just reducing the numbers of folks coming into the USA from Mexico is the primary purpose of the wall, it would achieve that.

Now let’s talk about who are the 75% that we have stopped from entering the USA. That’s an easy one. Of course, it is the women, children, old folks, and the disabled. That’s right, we’d shut off those criminals, rapists, and terrorists. Well, who knows? There might be a kid suicide bomber in the bunch, but what about the other 25%. What about the 20 year old Mules carrying 10 kilos of heroin or the other crooks, rapists, and drug lords? Yep, the strong, evil, young studs who will do nearly anything for a few hundred thousand bucks. Do you think even a super Chinese wall with machine gun toting Agents every mile will stop them? Well, do you?

            Well, that’s where Mexico’s job creation kicks in. Just consider the ways to get over around or under the wall, and you will see what I mean. First let’s consider the new unofficial Mexican Navy. When the wall ends at the Gulf of Mexico on South Padre Island in South Texas at the waters of the Gulf, you can walk around it unless you build it out in deeper than 6 feet of water, I’ve been on the beach there and walked out a 100 yards and was only in chest deep in water. But let’s just say we extend it offshore another 100 yards. Gosh you would have to swim or get any little boat, or even an inner tube to get around it.  Enter the new Mexican Navy. By the time the wall is built a fleet of hundreds of the new Mexican Navy boats will be ready to be launched, and just think of the job creation!  There aren’t enough Coast Guard ships in the world to patrol the entire Gulf since almost any size boat could circle around the end of the wall. But that’s only half of the Navy. The other half would be stationed in California and that will create thousands more Mexican jobs.

            But there are more jobs to be created in Mexico. Enter the new Mexico Air Force that will be made up of anything that will fly. Hang gliders, yes, hang gliders. If you have ever rafted down the Rio Grande River in the Big Bend National Park area of Texas, as I have, you can stand on one of the 100 foot cannon walls in Mexico and hang glide into the USA. A wall snaking through those canyons will be construction marvel and a feat to behold.  However, they have more than hang gliders in Mexico.  They have balloons and actual planes---more Mexico job creation. But we‘re not finished with Mexican job creation. I’m not sure the Orange Man understands Mexican technology. If the wall is 15 feet tall those high tech Mexicans will have thousands of 17 foot ladders just waiting. Just think of the Mexican Factories turning out 17 foot ladders, and wow what a job creator. But even more jobs are just waiting to be created. I envision another caravan from the mines in southern Mexico and from other Central American countries heading for the border and this caravan is made up of miners, and they’ll dig, dig, dig until there is a near freeway under the Border. Yes, it’s another huge job creation for Mexico. Heck, with all the jobs created in Mexico, the Mexicans should pay for the wall!

            As a side note, and this is a downer---the Laredo City council voted unanimously to oppose the wall and ranchers all along the USA side of the river are prohibiting anything to with the wall on their land. Obviously those folks don’t understand tourism or the creation of jobs.

            But if we really do end up building the wall, we shouldn’t hold back on expense. After all this is an opportunity to challenge the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, and the Eiffel Tower all in one package. Why pass up what could be an over-the-top 23rd Century tourist destination. Heck, I lived in Texas for 50 years—-wait a minute— it was only 10—it just seemed like 50. Texas could really use a good tourist attraction. The Bush and L. B. J. Libraries don’t cut it, and if the Democrats will just turn the Orange Man’s purse strings loose, Texas could have a World Heritage site that would attract thousands not counting the ones who will come to climb over it.

At the dedication the President of the United States and the President of Mexico could stand side by side and as the President of Mexico thanks the USA for all the jobs created and as Pink Floyd sings their hit “Another Brick in the Wall.” I can hear the tourist bus guide now, “We’re approaching the Eagle Pass section of President Trump’s Grand Wall---note the Mexican scaling ladders.”