All the calls to secure our borders are — how can I put it in my idosyncratically “Squishy” way? — DUMB.
We have a very long border with Mexico.
Life in Mexico, due to the historical legacy of Spanish catholic absolutist colonization that led to undemocratic, kleptocratic traditions, — how can I put it in my idiosyncratically “Squishy” way? — SUCKS.
Therefore, lots of people want to cross that very long border.
They want to cross the border because they are willing to work hard to make a better life for their kids. They know that working hard in Mexico will not necessarily provide for their children’s future because the lack of legal safeguards protecting the fruits of entrepreneurial capitalism are too weak in the face of government misconduct.
People who don’t want to work hard and/or don’t care about improving the lives of their children don’t cross the border into the United States.
Unfortunately, people who don’t want to work hard and/or don’t care about about improving the lives of their children are the only people a wall will stop.
Hardworking people dedicated to improving the lives of their children, in aggregate, can’t be stopped by a wall, or by border security, or by the minutemen. You may catch individuals, but can’t stop the wave itself.
I challenge the readers of this blog to consider this little exercise:
A) You live in a disfunctional society without historical processes to internally improve that society.
B) You have children. You love them. You want them to live better lives than their parents.
C) A country to the North has an economic system that rewards hard work.
D) That country has legal protections that secure the right of property.
E) That country builds a wall to keep you out.
Question: How high a wall do they need to build to keep you out?
My answer: No wall would stop Smallholder from trying to build a better life for Emilie and Jack.
UPDATE FROM YOUR MAXIMUM LEADER: Since Trackbacks seem to be dysfunctional… Here is a link to Brian’s post in which our minion starts to put the smackdown on Smallholder.
