Texas to Install Border Web Cameras

AOL News ^ | June 8, 2006 | Alicia A. Caldwell

[TexCon]

The governor of Texas wants to turn all the world into a virtual posse. Rick Perry has announced a $5 million plan to install hundreds of night-vision cameras on private land along the Mexican border and put the live video on the Internet, so that anyone with a computer who spots illegal immigrants trying to slip across can report it on a toll-free hot line.

"I look at this as not different from the neighborhood watches we have had in our communities for years and years," Perry said last week.

Some say it is a dangerous idea and a waste of money.

"This is just one of those half-baked ideas that people dream up to save money but have no practical applications," said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin. "We would be far better off to invest that money in Mexican small towns along the border so people wouldn't have to emigrate."

The plan marks a political about-face for Perry, a Republican seeking re-election, who has long argued that security along the state's 1,200-mile border with Mexico is strictly a federal responsibility.

[TexCon]

About time he took action...

[umgud]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[Dreagon]

This is just Perry's way of doing nothing while appearing to do something. Those camaras will be knocked out in no time, repaired a few times, and then the repairs will stop as peoples attention moves elsewhere.

[Charlespg]

"This is just one of those half-baked ideas that people dream up to save money but have no practical applications," said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin. "We would be far better off to invest that money in Mexican small towns along the border so people wouldn't have to emigrate."

have a heaping helping of STFU you idiot

[jeremiah]

This is a total waste of money, the people will be gone in a few minutes. 5 million dollars can build a nice section of fence.

[Kakaze]

" This is just Perry's way of doing nothing while appearing to do something. Those camaras will be knocked out in no time, repaired a few times, and then the repairs will stop as peoples attention moves elsewhere. "

Yep a political "Bed Bug Letter"

[TexCon]

But Perry won't act to put the fence up on his own without federal assistance. Cameras aren't a bad idea. Cameras on fences...an even better idea. Hehe.

[Kimberly GG]

I called his office. While he may be taking some action on border security, he has 'no opinion', on illegal immigration or the Senate and House bills. How convenient.

[operation clinton cleanup]

This is just Perry's way of doing nothing while appearing to do something. Those camaras will be knocked out in no time, repaired a few times, and then the repairs will stop as peoples attention moves elsewhere.

I agree. Anyone who goes to the webcam already knows how huge the problem is in the first place. Do they expect people to watch this and say "Hey, I know that dude!", and then call ICE?

[TexCon]

Oh I know! It makes me furious! I mean we have a Republican governor in a strongly red state who is suppose to be conservative, and he hasn't provided us with jack in regards to immigration. By the way, Tancredo in '08. I agree completely! I heard him speak last summer; I was also able to spend some time with him when I snuck over to the House side while serving as a Senate page. A truly amazing guy!

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

He's just feeling the serious heat in the State over his tax and spend policies, plus the failure to pass a cap on property appraisal increases. There are a lot of unhappy conservatives down here that don't care how pretty he is.

[Oldhunk]

If the cameras are positioned properly this could be a remarkable tool. It could be used to hold the Border Patrol's feet to the fire. Citizen sees a break ready to happen and starts recording the video. He can later post the whole thing and show everyone how the Border Patrol responds, if at all. But the cameras would have to be able to cover enough ground to track the immigrants for a reasonable length of time.

[Ronin]

Cameras themselves are not going to do much except end up in second hand shops in Tijuana. Physical barricades and troops or agents on the ground are required.

This "virtual fence" idea is lame, expensive and ultimately unworkable.

[SuzyQue]

Harrington is a real piece of work. I would say that this is one of his less radical suggestions. He's been a pro-alien, anti-American sleazy activist lawyer for many, many years, starting with the ACLU. Apparently they weren't radical enough for him and he formed his own organization. His wife, Rebecca Flores - is/was an united farmworkers organizer. Not nice people.

[cbkaty]

Bla...Bla....Bla...

I live in Texas and pretty perry is toast!

He is putting a band-aid on a beheading....

[SuzyQue]

And - back to the subject at hand - this camera idea is a silly, expensive, feel-good-do-nothing kind of idea. So, how is this going to work: I'm sitting at home with nothing better to do than watch illegals crossing into Texas on webcams, and then I do.....what? Call Border Patrol? Like they can't watch the cameras and do their jobs? Expensive nonsense.

[umgud]

This "virtual fence" idea is lame, expensive and ultimately unworkable.

You're right, we need real assets. I just liked the idea of putting the video on the internet.

[R.W.Ratikal]

A better idea is to lay down a ten mile wide minefield. After the first day the flow of illegal aliens will stop.

Trust me on this one.

[TexCon]

As I fellow Texan I agree. Perry's a loser in my book. Hell, I think Kinky could get more things done for the betternment of Texas than him! We'll just see how things pan out with two independents on the ballot. It'll be interesting and entertaining I'm sure.

[Captain Rhino]

, of course, "This is just one of those half-baked ideas that people dream up to save money but have no practical applications," said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin. "We would be far better off to invest that money in Mexican small towns along the border so people wouldn't have to emigrate."

And just how far does the good Mr. Harrington think $5 million (border web camera project funding level) will go when distributed among all the Mexican border towns?

Here's a better idea. Why not just eliminate those pesky town bureaucrats. After all, they are just administrative middle men and women in for their cut (about 100% on the pass through). Instead, why not give the money directly to the illegals themselves?

Let's see...$5 million divided by...oh, say... 750,000 illegal border crossers...that works out to...ummm...a whooping $6.67 per crosser!

Howdeee! That'll sure convince a large number of illegal immigrants that things are economically okay in Mexico and there is no reason to come over the border.

NOT!

Mr. Harrison, you are what the communists call a "useful idiot." (Assuming, of course, you are not already a communist; you being from Austin and all.)

No, the money is actually better spent on its original purpose; one that will actually yield a useful result.