Close the border!

[normiss 643]

Unless I've missed it on Breitbart, our veterans aren't being beheaded, raped, tortured, held hostage for ransom, nor executed.

It's just not as time critical.

Here locally, the communities have started putting homeless vets in houses.
It's a great program actually.

[RMK 3]

rehmwa

Growing up our tiny, fairly christian, Iowa town of 3000 people, hosted a refugee family from Laos (it was like the 70's or so).

Damn, that's coincidental. Though I'm British and live in London, I too grew up in a small American town of 3000 people and we also had one family from Laos (actually lived on our street).

Was there some programme that provided one token Asian family to small towns in the 70s?

"Pain is the best instructor, but no one wants to attend his classes"

[RonD1120 58]

GeorgiaDon

Ron,

What do you say to this?

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

Don

I have no problem with that scripture. At my church we show hospitality to new folks every week. My wife is the chief greeter on Sunday mornings.

That being said, several of us carry concealed weapons to our services because we assume that one day a terrorist is likely to come through the front door. We want to be as prepared as possible. Identifying the enemy is part of being prepared. Are we going to be fooled? Yes, there is a good chance that can happen. Only a naive individual would discount complete preparation, which includes profiling.

We are a community with a large portion of Vietnam veterans. We were fighting communism and socialism when we were in the service. We think we still in the same fight, only now it is on our soil.

Another large portion is Appalachian mountain folk. They are a breed unto their own. A stranger has to earn their right to live here. No law, no policy, no Progressive-Islamofascist POTUS will ever change that.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[rehmwa 2]

RMK

***
Growing up our tiny, fairly christian, Iowa town of 3000 people, hosted a refugee family from Laos (it was like the 70's or so).

Damn, that's coincidental. Though I'm British and live in London, I too grew up in a small American town of 3000 people and we also had one family from Laos (actually lived on our street).

Was there some programme that provided one token Asian family to small towns in the 70s?

Sac City

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[RonD1120 58]

I want to get a housing project started up here. Right now we are in the thinking, planning, fund raising stage.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[GeorgiaDon 340]

Another side of "close the border":

A huge number of people visit the US as tourists or on business every year. Many of these people visit from countries that participate in the "visa waiver program", so they do not need to apply months or years in advance for a visa to be issued through a US embassy or consulate. [note that Americans also do not need a visa to visit those countries]. These people receive less "vetting" before being able to enter the US, compared to people who have to obtain a visa. On the other hand, the average foreign tourist spends over $4,000 while in the US. The net contribution to the US economy from tourism from visa waiver countries is over $190 billion dollars a year, which directly supports about 1 million US jobs. When South Korea joined the visa waiver program, tourist visits increased over 50%, and South Korean tourist spending increased from $2.7 billion in 2008 to $4.2 billion in 2012. [source]

So the question is, what does it mean to "close the borders"? Does it make sense to lock out a small number of refugees (a few thousand at most) who already have to go through a vetting process that requires years of interviews and background checks, while admitting millions of tourists who are screened much less intensively?

On the other hand, are we prepared to turn away $190 billion/year, and shut down a million US jobs, for an incremental increase in "security for the homeland"?

Personally I think this would be a case where the "cure" is vastly worse than the "disease".

Don

_____________________________________
Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996)
“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats)

[RonD1120 58]

Several of us have discussed what to do if we encounter a Muslim family living here. Truthfully, the first hospitable thing we do is invite strangers to our church and a bar-b-que.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[RonD1120 58]

I made reference to this visa program above. Sen Diane Feinstein has introduced a bill to restrict this avenue as well.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[wolfriverjoe 1,370]

RonD1120

Of course if the Islamic terrorists only target Judeo-Christians you wouldn't care.

Well, if Daesh only targeted bigoted, xenophobic, gullible fools who claim to be Christians, then I might not care.

But I actually care about the people that they really target. The poor civilians that are caught in the midst of their horrific violence. Whether they are Muslim, Jew, Christian or any other belief.

That's why I'd like to see the US take in some refugees. You know, those poor, tired, huddled masses. The ones yearning to be free from the oppression of a religious terror group.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[RonD1120 58]

wolfriverjoe

***Of course if the Islamic terrorists only target Judeo-Christians you wouldn't care.

Well, if Daesh only targeted bigoted, xenophobic, gullible fools who claim to be Christians, then I might not care.

But I actually care about the people that they really target. The poor civilians that are caught in the midst of their horrific violence. Whether they are Muslim, Jew, Christian or any other belief.

That's why I'd like to see the US take in some refugees. You know, those poor, tired, huddled masses. The ones yearning to be free from the oppression of a religious terror group.

Fine, let's just do everything we can make sure they are legitimate. Closing the southern border is a good place to start.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[jakee 1,280]

RonD1120

Of course if the Islamic terrorists only target Judeo-Christians you wouldn't care.

LOL, don't be a dick.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[billvon 2,475]

>The will of the people is to stop Syrian refugees from mass entry into the U.S.

Yep. Just like "the will of the people" was to stop all flights from Ebola-infected areas. Fortunately, our leaders had enough balls to do what was right, instead of pander to the sissies.

America has become a continent of wusses.

>Why would our psychopathic liberal Progressive-Islamofascist POTUS desire such an action?

How does it feel to know that your "psychopathic liberal Progressive-Islamofascist POTUS" is far braver than you? (And a better Christian to boot)

[wolfriverjoe 1,370]

RonD1120

Fine, let's just do everything we can make sure they are legitimate. Closing the southern border is a good place to start.

Close it completely? No traffic what ever in and out of Mexico?

Any clue how much trade goes across that border?

Edit to add:

And it seems that NONE of the people indicted in US courts for involvement in Daesh were Syrians. 80% were US citizens.

Go figure.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/20/isis-suspects-us-citizens-syria?CMP=fb_gu

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[jakee 1,280]

Quote

And that brings up another point. Why are we so worried about the Syrians and the Central Americans but don't give a shit about our military veterans?

While you may think it's impossible for you to care one iota about the human suffering of innocent Syrians while also caring about domestic issues I assure you it's not. I know this level of empathy is an alien concept for you Ron but if you try really, really hard you can care at least a tiny bit about humans who aren't exactly like you as well as those who are.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[gowlerk 1,956]

Quote

Fine, let's just do everything we can make sure they are legitimate. Closing the southern border is a good place to start.

Now I'm curious. What do you mean "close the southern border"? To everyone? Mexico is a NAFTA country, the disruptions to the US economy alone would be enormous. I'm relatively certain that's not what you mean, but just how closed do you want it to be?

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[jakee 1,280]

Quote

That being said, several of us carry concealed weapons to our services because we assume that one day a terrorist is likely to come through the front door.

Likely?

Dude, if it gets to the point that the terrorists have run so far through the list of important targets that they've reached a church in a random small town in the backwoods of Georgia then we'd be living in a very different world already. Until then, likely?

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the 'preparation' meetings you have with the rest of your paranoid, xenophobic neighbours

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[gowlerk 1,956]

jakee

Quote

That being said, several of us carry concealed weapons to our services because we assume that one day a terrorist is likely to come through the front door.

Likely?

Dude, if it gets to the point that the terrorists have run so far through the list of important targets that they've reached a church in a random small town in the backwoods of Georgia then we'd be living in a very different world already. Until then, likely?

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the 'preparation' meetings you have with the rest of your paranoid, xenophobic neighbours

The only terrorist attacks on churches in the US that I can recall involve right wing Christians murdering minorities or bombing and burning their houses of worship. There is a long and sad history of that. But none on your type though.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[RonD1120 58]

gowlerk

Quote

Fine, let's just do everything we can make sure they are legitimate. Closing the southern border is a good place to start.

Now I'm curious. What do you mean "close the southern border"? To everyone? Mexico is a NAFTA country, the disruptions to the US economy alone would be enormous. I'm relatively certain that's not what you mean, but just how closed do you want it to be?

I would like to see the border completely closed with designated entry points. I would also like to see drone observation 24/7.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[cvfd1399 0]

Quote

On the other hand, the average foreign tourist spends over $4,000 while in the US. The net contribution to the US economy from tourism from visa waiver countries is over $190 billion dollars a year, which directly supports about 1 million US jobs.

Got a source on that pls.

[normiss 643]

I see what you did there.


Seriously though, I was at a traffic light this morning next to a car with 4 covered Muslim women in it.
They did NOT blow themselves and everyone around them to pieces. The left when the light turned green. Like everybody else.

[GeorgiaDon 340]

cvfd1399

Quote

On the other hand, the average foreign tourist spends over $4,000 while in the US. The net contribution to the US economy from tourism from visa waiver countries is over $190 billion dollars a year, which directly supports about 1 million US jobs.

Got a source on that pls.

Sure, I did put a link (labeled "source") in the post. Click on that, then scroll down to the bottom to see the section on "economic impact".

Don

_____________________________________
Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996)
“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats)

[RonD1120 58]

Obviously, they were just gathering intel at this point.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[billvon 2,475]

normiss

Seriously though, I was at a traffic light this morning next to a car with 4 covered Muslim women in it.
They did NOT blow themselves and everyone around them to pieces. The left when the light turned green. Like everybody else.

Inconceivable!

[gowlerk 1,956]

Quote

I would like to see the border completely closed with designated entry points.

Still unclear. It already is closed except for designated entry points. Same as the northern border. I'm left to suppose that you want some version of Trump's proposed wall. Is that what you mean?

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[normiss 643]

I couldn't believe they were allowed to drive!