Situationalist politics and morality set the tone, while errant operational discretion further entangles the bureaucracy....it's as if we are testing how deeply we can fuck things up?!?!

Whats the going rate for an un-accessable or un-developable acre of scrub brush and mesquite?

This is a shark bite out of a 16 acre settled parcel that has been in the family for five generations. Hardly the inaccessible piece of outback you are picturing to justify your support for tyranny. This is just one instance - this same ripoff is happening to lots of families. Doesn't matter what the land is worth to you or the govt, they want to keep their property.

try and see the forest and not the trees. Illegal immigration reform is happening. In our lifetime.

Ja wohl Herr Goobshwitz! Ze Final Solution is not a subject for debate!

"Goobshwitz".

Brother Rabbit likes the German stuff. Not that I don't like it, well I guess we are all pretty predictable.

I'll read the story now.

The week before Donald Trump’s inauguration, Yvette Salinas received a letter she had been dreading for years: legal notice that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to build a border wall on her family’s land in Los Ebanos.

Just so we know what we are talking about here, these agencies bob and weave and operate on their own agendas often despite whatever party or figure is in power. That being said, I think they aren't asking for much land really, but the offer is low.

1.2 acres of 16 total acres.

They need appropriately compensated.

But, I owned 7 acres and if somebody wanted to pay me for about a tenth of my land I might be ok with it, honestly how much of that land did I actually use (see where I'm going to go). It would be different if that is all the land they owned and getting low balled on the price..what do they do.. But we are talking about less than 10%..."for the greater good" - isn't that like taxing certain people that fit a certain criteria...they won't even notice the land is gone - they can contribute their fair share for the cause. It all comes down to who is pulling the levers and what its for, that pretty much decides who is for or against stuff.

Yeah, I think "good germans" are pretty hilarious, I know it is old hat, but I have yet to find a better historical character to describe the loyalist mindset.

Pulling levers, nah. I was against this eminent domain border business when the Obama was pulling it. Fair share for a cause some tinpot hack decided unilaterally you should contribute to?

No problem, but like I said, don't be whining about socialism if you are comfortable with big govt grabbing what it wants, whenever it wants, for whatever reason it wants, and using your taxes to do it.

The wall is a dumb idea. We have the resources to control the border - if we are unable to maintain it with surveillance and interdiction a wall sure as sh!t won't help us. Border walls have always failed throughout history, they are more a sign of a nation's inability to maintain a border defense.

If I had a nice little ranchito on the Rio Grande I sure wouldn't want to sit on the porch drinking my coffee staring at the wall that replaced my river view, cutting off my cattle from drinking water.

We have the resources to control the border

Then why don't we do it?

Then why don't we do it?

That is a really good question. I can't answer it. Maybe if I had doctorates in economics and political science I could come up with an educated guess. Whatever the reasons for inadequate enforcement are, they will still be there with a wall. Wall isn't going to fix it. This whole show is all too hard line sovietski for my taste, reminds me of the Berlin Wall. It is more a symbol than a real approach to the issues involved, that go way beyond illegal border crossing. Way I see it, illegal border crossing is a symptom, not a cause.

There should probably be easements on international bordering regions anyway. Like utility companies have on private property, or if you live on a body of water there can be an easement around a lake restricting the adjoining property owners use.

Then why don't we do it?

That is a really good question. I can't answer it. Maybe if I had doctorates in economics and political science I could come up with an educated guess. Whatever the reasons for inadequate enforcement are, they will still be there with a wall. Wall isn't going to fix it. This whole show is all too hard line sovietski for my taste, reminds me of the Berlin Wall. It is more a symbol than a real approach to the issues involved, that go way beyond illegal border crossing. Way I see it, illegal border crossing is a symptom, not a cause.

Good post. Trump claims we've eliminated Isis, verdict still out on that one but let's say it's true. To the disease causing the symptom; Guatamalan/El Salvadoran/etc. corruption and thus poverty and violence. We wiped out Isis, we can't enter an impoverished 3rd world country and clean it up? I'd think with our resources we could do that in one week. Maybe I'm being idealistic but hey, anybody got any other ideas?

I don't know - I'm still looking for one of your girlfriend's portals...... 😮

looking for one of your girlfriend's portals......

Here you go Sang. Oh wait, I thought you said "portraits".

Yeah, portals, I don't know. Not good.

I don't know - I'm still looking for one of your girlfriend's portals...... 😮

Her portals are permanently shut down.

I know...that's bad, but I couldn't resist.

LOL. Stargate.