OT: How to get the border to pay for itself

[moneymaker]

If everybody that comes into our country pays a $5/$10 use tax (and I’m talking about the daily crossers), then I think US Customs and border patrol could essentially be self funded. Now I’m not ordinarily one to call for more taxes but I’m surprised this has not already been implemented. Is there a customs check for people coming back from cruises? Never done one so I was just curious. This would raise the apparent cost of rents that people pay in TJ (real estate tie in), although it would still be cheaper to live down there probably.

[spdrun]

You’re ass-u-ming that the Border Patrol/ICE need any more funding than they already have. Want to save money? Get rid of the warrantless internal checkpoints inside of US borders that even harass US citizens. End the “war on some drugs” that’s costly and ineffective. If people want to kill themselves and fry their minds, who are we to stop them?

And return the Canadian border to pre-2000 status, essentially open. Hell, sign an open-border treaty with Canada as a start to full reciprocity with residence, work, and study permits for anyone without a major criminal records. It would benefit both countries.

[moneymaker]

San Ysidro typically only has half of it’s lanes open during the day. So either they need money or more brains. It’s the main reason I don’t go down there, too long of a wait to get back. From what I read in the newspaper the other day they have new/better technology but it takes longer to get across, go figure, kinda like the airports I guess. P.S.- I don’t like to fly either because I don’t want to be treated like a criminal.

[FlyerInHi]

spdrun for president.

We should make San Diego like Singapore where they’re building a high speed train to Kuala Lumpur. LA-SD-Tijuana-Nogales-Chichuahua-Monterrey. They should all be linked. Maybe a hyperloop.

More mobility, more business opportunities, more wealth for the region. We should consider geography, not artificial borders.

[spdrun]

Neg on the hyperloop: part of the appeal of a train (or car) is actually being able to see things out of the window, not being SPAM in a can (to immortalize the words of an old astronaut).

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=spdrun]Neg on the hyperloop: part of the appeal of a train (or car) is actually being able to see things out of the window, not being SPAM in a can (to immortalize the words of an old astronaut).[/quote]

Don’t want to compromise for speed and comfort?

[zk]

[quote=spdrun]Neg on the hyperloop: part of the appeal of a train (or car) is actually being able to see things out of the window, not being SPAM in a can (to immortalize the words of an old astronaut).[/quote]

6 1/2 hours in a car with scenery vs. 35 minutes in a can without scenery. Can wins that vote in a landslide. A few would prefer to drive. Some would ride a bicycle. A few would hike. But the can wins, and has 6 extra hours to celebrate.

[spdrun]

I’d take 2 hours in a train with scenery and without the chance of suffocation if something goes wrong.

[Anonymous]

[quote=spdrun]I’d take 2 hours in a train with scenery and without the chance of suffocation if something goes wrong.[/quote]

I would also choose that option except for the fact that it doesn’t exist nor are there any plans to create it.

[spdrun]

Technically, there are no plans for hyperloop between US and Mexico either, so both are imaginary 🙂

Mexico does (or did) apparently have plans for HSR between border cities and the interior.

[FlyerInHi]

More cross border travel would actually mean more revenue from the common carriers, gas taxes, sales taxes, etc… the border patrol needs to use technology and innovation to improve efficiency and do more with the same amount of people.

Isn’t that what running the country like a business is all about?

[moneymaker]

Why make more lanes and then have the same amount of people to run them? If they started charging people to cross it would either cut down on the crossers and/or make them more money. What business couldn’t use more money? If they can staff up without charging then I’m all for it. Seems to me with proper planning 2 hour waits at the border can become a thing of the past. They never ever have all the lanes open as far as I know.

[all]

That’s how government works. If things are running smoothly (e.g. no 2h border wait) your budget will be cut since that other department with perpetual backlogs clearly needs the money more than you do.

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