The Great Southern Wall Debate

                           The Great Southern Wall Debate

         The great wall of China was constructed over a period of 2,000 years, using at times up to one million men every year to fashion the brick and mortar construction. It seems like they had an easier time of building it than we have in trying to build the proposed Great Southern Wall, for the American/Mexican border.

          Many of us seem to forget that the essence of the American Democratic Process is the art of compromise. Why, you might ask? Because when you think of the vastness of our great Republic, the differences of her many peoples and issues, we see a need for everyone to give a little so that we all might prosper. A former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, use to put it into the context. He said that when one of the children faces a pressing need, due to illness or emergency, that child’s needs had to be met first, with the family’s resources. Then, what was left was used for the welfare of the entire family. It is thus with our great republic. On the level of self-interest, one wonders what does Hawaii have in common with Connecticut? What does Iowa have in common with Arizona? Yet both are peopled by American citizens. We have to determine a way to fairly address all of the various needs of our far-flung republic, just like you would do with the needs of a large family.

          From the daily dialogue pouring out over the media outlets, I think that most of this current argument is about politics, pure and simple. I don’t know anything about border security, walls or many of the issues in the debate. But, I do know a little about the political arena. I also know that for over two hundred years, this magnificent democracy, that is the United States of America, has worked together to develop one of the finest and most equitable democracies ever known on this planet. We can figure most things out, if everyone wants to. It isn’t rocket science, just common sense. No one ever gets everything they want in American Politics. But, our true American leaders find a way to guide us all forward.

Let’s look at some of the facts and see if a “deal” is indeed possible here to free us from this deadlock. And in the process, we have to remember the estimable Chinese concept of “face saving.” No one is going to cooperate if he or she is going to have their face rubbed in the mud. And, an American corollary to that concept is that you can get anything you want accomplished is you are willing to avoid having your named placed on the successful conclusion as the author or architect. Let everyone win and we all win.

         First, both sides have to agree to reopen the Federal Government immediately. This type of ransom debate is simply unacceptable blackmail, holding as hostage the economic fate of millions who are either directly paid by the federal government or interact financially with those who are. Both sides want to see this happen as quickly as possible. That is politics 101.

        Secondly, both sides have to acknowledge the very real political stakes at issue. The Trump administration and his conservative base are focused on increased border security on our southern border. If they would listen, many of the Democratic Party and their supporters, indeed agree with this line of reasoning as does much of the American electorate. The press reports that there is already a billion dollars of needed infrastructural repairs and additions, identified by security experts with Homeland Security and Border Protection. There is also a demonstrable need for several thousand more border agents and a whole host of electronic gadgetry that will aid in smuggler detection and border security. I don’t see any opposition to agreeing to these immediately. Let’s say this has a Two and one half Billion-dollar price tag. That is almost a split down the middle sum for both sides.

      The Democrats are, as well as being concerned with border like the items mentioned, also philosophically attuned to the need for a path to citizenship of the so called “Dreamers,” in our midst, children brought here by their parents many years ago. I don’t see or hear any real opposition to this except for the far-right ideologues who won’t agree to anything. This also a chapter of politics 101. Even a casual perusal of these facts reveals the basis for an interim “deal,” while the larger debate, on all of the many facets of the “immigration reform,” goes on. Why is that you might ask?

      First, besides the areas where I think both sides already agree on, it is indeed hard for even Washington to spend $2.5 billion dollars quickly. The already identified projects would probably take at least one to two years for the  of an RFPs, bid awards and Architectural and engineering planning, before a shovel hits the dirt. Similarly, the procurement and installation of electronic surveillance systems, the recruitment and training of additional personnel would probably take a similar amount of time.

      Establishment of a “Dreamer’s Path” to citizenship  and the enactment of corrective legislation to accomplish same, with establishment of bureaucratic procedures to accomplish this, will probably take a year at least before prospective citizens could take advantage of the process.

     Already here, we have at least the skeletal basis of a short-term deal. That is of course if either side or both even want to address the issue and resolve the matter temporarily. During the enactment and completion of these short-term goals, which most Americans probably agree with, the larger debate on the entire matter of “immigration Reform”  can continue over the next several budget years. No matter what either side wants, Rome and indeed the Great Wall of China were not built in a day. They both took a long time in constructing.

So, listen up Washington. The American People deserve better than what we are currently getting. Put down the swords and pick up the tools to help build a better America. 

                                             -30-

                                      (1,000 words)

                                     Joseph Xavier Martin