Why are Democrats against border security aka a fence?

Question

It's hard to understand why the Dem leadership would
against the right of the US to have a border. Do the
Dems want to merge with Mexico?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-09-28-pelosi-fence_N.htm?csp=34&loc=interstitialskip

potatohead....got any better ideas?

halestrm tell me more...i would love it if (Dems
and Reps) could agree on this. Yeah, Bush
is out of touch on this issue.

johnlat: there are so many holes in your
argument it's hard to know where to
start.

1) But, the government seizes land
all the time and pays fair market value
for projects everyday. To me border
security is far more important than
a single (or multiple) farmer losing
his land.

2) Beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
To me, what's beautiful is 700 miles
of fencing.

3) To compare the great wall of china
which is 4000 miles and started 2500
years ago to 700 miles of border
fence is ridiculous.

4) Economic impact? How about
the economic impact of millions
of people using our roads, schools
and hospitals without paying taxes
as well as driving down wages
on legalized citizens.

5) Finally, don't race bait this
issue.. If illegals where white
Canadians I would fee the
same.

6) Everyone country has to
have a manageable immigration
policy...ours is a free-for-all.

Answer 1

That would be against there amnesty approach>>They want votes and are selling out the citizens & the USA so how anyone is for this travesty and support them is >>>>>Vote them out in 08>>>

Answer 2

Of the Democratic presidential candidates, only Kucinich voted against the fence. Bill Richardson is also opposed to the fence, but in favor of a much larger border patrol, and even sent New Mexico National Guardsmen to help patrol the border. I don't think it's a party-line issue. I'm sure there are not many Republicans against the fence, but there are plenty of Democrats for it.

Answer 3

Not a democrat and am against placing a fence up without a military presence on that fence. Otherwise it is just an obstacle to be climbed over or under. It would be a waste of money.

Answer 4

I do not think most dem civilians are against the fence. Lot at what our Rep. officials are doing also. This is one issue where both sides of the elected officials are just ignoring the voters. Rep and Dems are saying the voters are just to dumb to understand the bigger picture. Bush, who I like, makes me the maddest with his attitude. Heck, he comes from a border state just like I do. He of all people should know the cost.

UPDATE
Well, you did ask for more.

McCain - 'you wouldn't go pick lettuce for $50 an hour, we need...'

The Feds agreed to send the Nat'l guard down to the border. Crossing were down. Then people realized the NG were there to do paper work and support the border patrol. Crossing are back up. Now they are ready to pull the NG back, even though we do not have the add'l border patrol we were promised. When our Gov'ner was asked if she would keep them there (she is in charge of the NG) she said 'nope, it is a federal responsibility.

AZ is fed up. Trust me, we have ranchers leaving because they are scared and tired of their property being trashed. One gal went down to a out building to be confronted with a gun. All the folks wanted was water, she was happy to provide (and had many times in the past) but now she was forced at gun point to provide.

I am not against people coming here. My liberal friends and myself support people coming here. I have even sponsored a family to get here. My lib friends agree that something needs to be done. This issue is not conservative vs liberal but elected officials vs voters.

Answer 5

We have so much money in social security that they are afraid we retired people may get something to make our life easier. So they invite the Mexicans over to get our share.To hell with the kids of tomorrow.They need the votes today.They won't get mine

Answer 6

First of all, your question is a fallacy known as "Hasty Generalization." Not all Democrats are against a fence, not all Republicans are for it.
Second, look at history: how well have fences/walls worked in the past:

The Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, the Berlin Wall.

"The Wall was created to keep out a nomadic people called Mongols, who rode and fought from the backs of horses. The Mongols were a fierce enemy and were feared all over Asia and Europe. Those who constructed the Great Wall’s various parts thought that while it wouldn’t stop the Mongols it would slow them down, as horses can’t climb over walls. It took several generations of rulers several tries to get the wall built, and in the end it didn’t work very well because the Mongols got across anyway and ended up ruling China for many generations.
It was General George Patton that claimed “fixed fortifications are a testament to the stupidity of man”, and while no one can doubt that those who built the Great Wall of China were crafty builders in the end they could have saved their strength. Like the Maginot Line in France, after the enemies were over the wall the entire immense project became utterly useless. "

Salinas says living on the Texas-Mexico border has given local residents perspective about the determination of Mexicans who cross illegally.

He points out a 16-foot fence that runs along the border next to one of the international bridges that connects South Texas and Mexico. He says the McAllen port director used to park his car on the U.S. side of the fence next to his office.

"And he had somebody at 1 o'clock in the afternoon jump that 16-foot fence and land on his vehicle. If people are willing to travel through the deserts of Arizona to work in the United States, you don't think they'll jump a fence? It does not make sense to spend this money this way," Salinas reasons.

The Rio Grande Valley is more than 80 percent Hispanic, but it is not just Hispanics who are opposed to the border wall.

"I'm white, I'm an Anglo, and I'm opposed to it," says Keith Patridge, executive director of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. "I think there are other ways to protect the country."

The white power structure in the Valley — the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and the conservative Rancher's Association are all opposed to the border wall.

"The way we see our community of McAllen and Reynosa, Mexico, is that we're one city that happens to have a river running through it. Not that much different than any city in the world, except that we have to go through Customs and Immigration every time we cross," Patridge says. "Families are on both sides of the border. Business and commerce activities are going back and forth. How would Washington, D.C., react if we built a wall along the Potomac River?"

An editorial cartoon circulating around McAllen shows a 20-foot high border wall running through town. On the Mexican side of the 20-foot wall is a store and a sign that reads, "Jose's 21-foot ladders."

Nobody seems to have any idea how to quantify the potential economic impact a 70-mile-long fence will have on the region, but economics is not the only concern.

"The biggest problem is the ecosystem. They're going to destroy an ecosystem that has been here for centuries," Noel Benavidez says.

Benavidez and his wife's family have owned land on the Rio Grande River near the town of Roma, Texas, since 1767.

Remember the Alamo? After that war was over, many Hispanic landowners along the Rio Grande had their land taken from them by force, but that did not happen in Roma, which is halfway between McAllen and Laredo.

Hispanic landowners were granted large portions — 17,000 acres. But now, the land could be taken after all. The border fence has been drawn to go right through Benavidez's land.

"I grew up around the river. I've been fishing here, I've been swimming, picnicking," Benavidez says. "You can come by the river and meditate. It's a beautiful, beautiful site. My granddaughter will never be able to do that if we have a wall. Is my son and daughter the last generation that will be able to enjoy the river?"

Benavidez complains that the fence is not going to be contiguous. It will run dozens of miles through populated areas and then stop when it gets to open country.

Then, it will pick up again in the next urban area. But in West Texas, open country is not measured in miles; it's measured in hours. Benavidez says it doesn't make sense to cut his land in two and cut him off from the Rio Grande. He points into the brush and at the path under his feet.

"We have a wall right now," he says. "There's sensors all over this place, and they're welcome to do that. They have always had access to this property. Probably, within the next five minutes, we're going to have a border patrolman come in here because we've set off a sensor. That's the type of wall we need."

Answer 7

no, there is no interest with merging with Mexico

have you considered the cost of a border fence? what makes you so sure they'll be turned away by this fence?? building walls doesn't mean automatic security

Answer 8

Another example of pandering for votes.

Answer 9

They like to keep the welfare rolls full!

Answer 10

They want the mexican vote.