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Welcome to The Independent Forum. Every week we ask a different question and solicit responses from a diverse group of New Mexico thinkers, pundits and other observers of the state’s political landscape. We’ll add more responses as they come in, so keep checking back to see how the conversation progresses.
We also invite readers to participate — so please share your thoughts on this question in the comments section. If you have suggestions for how we can improve this feature or have have an idea for a future question, send us an e-mail.
So this week’s question is: President Obama told Senate Republicans today that he will send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the border and request an additional $500 million in supplemental funding for border security.
If you had $500 million to spend on improving the situation at the border, what would you spend it on?
BILL TURNER, hydrologist and former director of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District:
The Rail Runner to make up the difference between the ticket price of $10 and the actual price of $48 (one way to Santa Fe.) The price of fuel per day exceeds ticket sales.
ARTHUR ALPERT, veteran newsman, columnist and blogger:
Illegal immigrants come for the jobs. The only way to minimize their numbers is to crack down on the businesses that hire them – the bigger businesses, in particular. That requires political will, not a lot of dollars. I would, therefore, return most of that princely sum you cite to the Treasury so that it can maintain current levels of corporate welfare.
JIM BACA, blogger, former director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Albuquerque mayor, state land commissioner and recently retired natural resources trustee:
It is unlikely that even half a billion dollars will ‘improve the situation’ on the border with Mexico. How much has been spent already? Billions and Billions. And it has had some effect since fewer are crossing the border. However, the longterm problems on the border can only be improved by Mexico’s own government embarking on economic reform, better education, and cleaning up corruption in its own house so it can ruthlessly deal with the drug cartels. This country can only improve the situation by helping them to do this. Fences won’t work. Troops to seal the border won’t work. Scapegoating Mexicans by two bit politicians won’t work. Having reform minded smart leaders on both sides of the border is probably the most important thing. Now, if I had half a billion to put into border security it would be to reform drug laws in this country in a way that takes cash out of the Cartel’s pockets. Yes, that means legalization. But first, lets honor the Mexican President’s pleas to stop the sale of assault weapons in US border states to the Cartels, even if it does upset the NRA. If we can’t do that then everything else might not mean much.
PAUL GESSING, president of the Rio Grande Foundation:
The question does not make it clear where the $500 million is coming from. If the answer is taxpayers, then I think we should return the money to taxpayers or pay down the debt because no amount of money is going to solve the border issues.
Now, if the money were my own, I’d spend it to set up several free market think tanks in Mexico to work with their government, elected officials, and citizens. After all, the best long-term way to solve the immigration issue is to convince Mexico to pursue free market reforms that would make Mexico a wealthier, more prosperous place.
TERRI COLE, president and CEO, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce:
Breathe. First, everyone involved in this debate ought to take a breath or this difficult issue will never get solved. And it needs to get solved in a very big way. Second, everyone ought to stop using emotion laden words which do not accurately reflect what has been or is being recommended…like the word amnesty. Third, the very best minds should look at both sides of this issue…securing the border and the 9 to 12 million in the US who are here without legal status… and begin to craft a solution which is based on solving both of those problems. The money should then be directed toward supporting those solutions. Let’s get the politics sidelined a bit here and put our good judgment and smarts toward solutions that are sensible and will work to secure our boarders and constructively deal with 9 to 12 million people in the US.
