Looks Like No Border Wall for Trump ... Unless Mexico Actually Pays For It

[leibowde84]

Congress may stiff Trump on wall funding

So, Trump promised over and over that Mexico would be paying for the wall. Obviously, that doesn't seem at all likely at this point, and Congress looks like they're not willing to flip the bill. So, in all honestly, is this border wall really going to happen? And, what specific problem will it even address?

 

[Quetzal]

I am actually pretty surprised Congress pushed back (even if temporarily) on this.

 

[columbus]

Here's my opinion, a bit more than ironic.
I never thought the investing class, Wall Street as it were, would allow that wall. The immigrants are just too profitable.
However, were it to do what it's been claimed to do it would probably be worth it to Mexico to kick in a few billions. If it forced USA employers to stop hiring illegal workers and businesses to stop selling to them, the USA would start handing out millions of green cards.
More importantly though, it could put a major dent in the drug gangs and the weapons they buy in the USA. Weapons flowing from the USA into Mexico cause staggering amounts of death and destruction. Ending the war between the Mexican government and the USA funded and armed drug cartels would save Mexican government billions of dollars.

The only problem is that nobody sensible thinks that Trump's Wall is likely to do any of those things. It was an empty campaign promise made to low information voters. And most people know that.
Tom

 

[Father Heathen]

It was rather obvious that he spouted such fanciful things just to get the yokel vote.

 

[leibowde84]

Here's my opinion, a bit more than ironic.
I never thought the investing class, Wall Street as it were, would allow that wall. The immigrants are just too profitable.
However, were it to do what it's been claimed to do it would probably be worth it to Mexico to kick in a few billions. If it forced USA employers to stop hiring illegal workers and businesses to stop selling to them, the USA would start handing out millions of green cards.
More importantly though, it could put a major dent in the drug gangs and the weapons they buy in the USA. Weapons flowing from the USA into Mexico cause staggering amounts of death and destruction. Ending the war between the Mexican government and the USA funded and armed drug cartels would save Mexican government billions of dollars.

The only problem is that nobody sensible thinks that Trump's Wall is likely to do any of those things. It was an empty campaign promise made to low information voters. And most people know that.
Tom

I agree. All these things are problems that should be addressed. The problem is that a border wall wouldn't do any good whatsoever to address them. Kinda sad that so many Americans fell for it.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Wasn't the idea that payment for the wall would be deducted from foreign aid provided by the USA to Mexico or something like that?

 

[idav]

If they are gonna spend 20 billion on a wall it should come with ninjas!