BRUCE BARTON

Reflections on Homeland Security & the Border

They tumbled into the terminal full of laughter and giggling like girls their age are wont to do, looking forward to the adventure that lay ahead. They were going to Disneyland! They had worked hard and raised the money themselves and were now about to reap the rewards.

As they began filtering into the security checkpoint, their initial mirth began to fade. One by one, they were put through the routine; "...please remove your shoes and step over here." Under the dole gaze of an elder woman, who could have passed for a retired nun, one of the Girl Scouts, maybe all of 12-years-old, began a bright red blush; she had set off the metal detector. As her pals looked on, the detector wand beeped loudly at her chest (the wire in her training bra). The security woman from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) sternly asked, "... what are you wearing?"

As I watched this drama unfold, and noted the other average folks going through much the same work-over, I began to count how many TSA  personnel were manning this single terminal check-point: 15!

I played with the math as I waited for my flight.  Let's see; 15 security individuals at, let's say $32,000 per year, yields $480,000.000 annually -- just for this single terminal! Since it took about 12 minutes to clear the potential security threat posed by the Girl Scouts, it cost the taxpayers a mere $48.00 to be secure that morning.

Now I have spent many cold and dark hours along the Arizona/Mexico border documenting what I now call "the new slave trade" and knew that even as that young woman was being humiliated, there would be a slave trader herding his human cattle through the brambles and rocks of the border not 100 miles from this TSA check point at the Tucson airport.

From my inside information through sources with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, I am aware that in any given month, upwards of 50,000 furtive, impoverished, and desperate souls cross the border and fade unknown into our society. That's a population the size of Tucson every year seeking new identities, perhaps even yours.

I don't know how current you are on your U.S. history, but in 1776 at the 11th hour, the Declaration of Independence was almost scraped by one issue: slavery. It was called "The Triangle Trade." Representatives from the Southern colonies resented the attitude in Massachusetts against slavery; but as was pointed out by Edward Ruthledge of South Carolina, it was the merchants of the Northeast that profited equally in the trade.

Today we face another form of slavery. The poorest of Mexico are shipped as human cattle north across our borders daily. As with the slaves of an earlier time, these souls possess no real education and bring little in the way of human capital to our shores other than a strong back.  And, as with the slaves of the South, these unfortunate souls must be fed and cared for.  Only this time at tax-payer expense. And, as these new slaves are not housed on plantations, they are free to move about our society seeking those activities that always attract the desperate.

So who makes the profit?  Of course, those actively engaged in moving this human cargo from elsewhere into our communities. But who else? How about those companies and corporations with conservative stockholders who benefit from the low wages paid to these poor souls? And let's not forget the political party that reaps the harvest of votes when they promise a bit more larder for those at the bottom of society. Oh, and the big labor unions who seek to fill their membership rolls -- and dues coffers.

What about all those working in the social service sector? Government bureaucrats pushing paper and providing all sorts of wonderful new programs guaranteed of course to keep the poor dependent (while insuring their future agency budget increases annually).

Bottom line? Everyone benefits -- except you and me, the taxpayers. Our students suffer in classrooms in which educrats seek to "normalize" the population with the children of these new slave laborers. Translation? Dumbing down the class to insure that no child is left behind -- and no child may excel.

Who are these unfortunate souls herded over the border daily? Who knows? And how many potential terrorists may be hiding among them as wolves among sheep? Who knows?

I am reminded of the observation once made by Ben Franklin; "... those who give up a little freedom to enjoy more security will enjoy neither."

Once again, I reflect on the scene at the airport in which average Americans are put through all sorts of security screening at considerable expense and have to wonder: If our president and our congress are so all fired keen on our security, why don't they close the borders? Do they care more about cheap labor and votes then they care about us?

Ask them. And until next time, do you really feel more secure?  See you at check-point Charlie!

Bruce Barton's background includes experience in economic development, energy policy, politics and higher education. He previously served as the Business Department chair of the American Samoa Community College in Pago Pago. A resident of Safford, Bruce and his wife Brenda, (a fifth-generation Arizonan) hold a passion for the land and the heritage which is America.  See Bruce's website at: www.azbartons.org. He can be contacted at:  borders-n-immigration@azbartons.org.

Bruce Barton's Archives

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