Congress, Stop the Politics, Secure the Border

President Trump made his case last night – Is there any question?  The nation has reached a moral and security tipping point, when it comes to securing our border.  The Democrat rebuttal was dour, disingenuous, and empty.  Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), standing side by side are today being parodied – compared to the famous pair, pitchfork and scowl, in “American Gothic” by Grant Wood.  Why?  Because America knows disingenuous when they see it.

Let’s put this federal border security shutdown in new context. Democrats revert to profanity, hyperbole, and personal attacks – to promote their “open borders” policy.   But stop and think about this.   If House Democrats did get their way, “open borders” would be an unholy disaster – for all.   It is unworkable, unconstitutional and dangerous to every American citizen, not to mention the mass of humanity that would be induced to come here. 

Apply fresh perspective.  Ignore the historic pro-border-security quotes from House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Schumer, both Clintons and Democrats in office – who now trumpet “open borders” and “sanctuary cities.”

“Open borders” is more than radical, it is absurd.  Promoting an “open border” is either insincere or deluded, either politically motivated and naïve, or malign and mad.  Here is why.

First, changing US laws to end country-specific limits on legal immigration, as some Democrats propose, would effectively open American borders to the world.  If our standard for admission dropped to simple poverty, we would have the world at our gates – and through our gates.  Except that, for the moment, we have no gates.

Think about it.  Chaos would follow, absent official and credible deterrence.  That is why the President’s “wall” is so important – it is both protection and a symbol of American resolve to protect our sovereign borders.   Without this border protection, rule of law ends, lawlessness rises, fear rules.

Recent developments in the Middle East and Europe illustrate what happens when a countries permit border protection to slide and lawlessness rise.  No one who appreciates family security would ever advocate the lawlessness one finds in places which have lost control over their borders.

If Democrats got their way with “open borders,” where would that really lead?  Numbers are profoundly sobering.   More than half the Earth’s population – more than three billion people – survive on less than $2.50 per day, most on half that.  In short, with empathy toward all, malice toward none, America has insufficient resources – or real estate – to change that situation:  Much of the world is impoverished.

Democrats argue for swinging America’s doors wide, lowering asylum and refugee standards to allow admission based on poverty or violence in a country of origin – should be the way forward.  But can you even imagine?  Opening America’s borders to that number – never mind rampant disease, violence, property and personal crime – is unthinkable. 

A small percentage would dwarf our physical, social and community infrastructure.  The move would betray America’s past, present, future, and core principles.  America – as the President poignantly said – starts by loving those within our borders.  Charity does, truly, begin at home.

Fact two: With the exception of a few historically unanchored leaders, Democrats must know the absurdity of their “open borders” idea.   Quietly, they think the 1,100 border crossers a day will later vote for them, or they simply hate the President who promotes border sanctity.  Is that not transparent? 

Ironically, many willing to endanger other Americans are secured – by you and me.  Members of Congress get first-class Sargent-at-Arms protection – and we pay for that.  They get higher local security – and we pay for that.  Some get Secret Service protection – which we pay for.  Yet average Americans get none of these perks.  Nor do we live in gated communities.  Those who advance “open borders” must think voters are stupid, don’t care, disbelieve Democrats’ stated intentions, or perhaps just hate the President enough to endanger our country.

But let’s be real: The current crop of Congressional Democrats is committed to a course that endangers the future.  If they achieve “open borders” by preventing a president from securing the border, they elevate violent crime, virulent disease and inveterate poverty.  They begin to look more like Venezuela’s socialist leaders or the old Iron Curtain communists, insulated from the perdition they foment.    

That will not help the rest of us, who will face mounting insecurity, fear, crime, drug-trafficking, public health and safety threats.  Is this what we all want – really?  Is President Trump so wrong that we should indulge a socialist fantasy, opening America to the world without limitation?  I think not.

Third fact:  Consider that “horrible” dollar figure, five billion dollars.  Is it too much?  Does that commitment to border security warrant a congressional shutdown?  The number is two percent of discretionary funding in the stopped bills, which top $300 billion is movable money. 

Fourth:  Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) last June released an investigatory report that showed the Obama Administration – with overwhelming Democrat support – gave away $150 billion dollars to Iran, for empty promises.  Planes loaded with hundreds of millions secretly flew to Iran.  Democrats permitted US law to be violated, allowing conversion of 5.7 billion dollars from Middle Eastern currency to US dollars, giving that money away too.   So, explain how $150 billion goes to Iran, which sponsors terrorism, but five billion cannot be dedicated to our border? 

Or ask this question:  Since Federal officials seized ten billion dollars in cash and assets from the Mexican drug kingpin on trial in New York named El Chapo – money acquired by preying on American citizens – why not use that money to build the wall? 

Bottom line:  We are at a tipping point.  Democrats argue for “open borders” and against the President’s border security wall – but are transparently putting political petulance above our security.  There can be no other answer.  Let’s call a spade a spade, protect American and get beyond this absurd political dance.  The President is right, Congress needs to figure out a way to pay for border security and move on.   Increasingly, that’s what average Americans believe.