There is a moral, however.
"Never send a monkey to do a man's job."
~ Captain Leo Davidson
Posted on 12/06/2007 1:17:42 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
Why is it justified. Homeland Security is riding roughshod over us for no reason — we’re already the only American citizens who have to put up with the jack-booted thugs of the federal government dictating how we live our lives (not to mention depriving us of our water and livelihood). Would those of you in Minnesota or northern NY (where terrorists have entered the United States) accept this kind of treatment?
What gives you the right to decide who is a second-class citizen?
This is valuable land. I can understand concerns about not wanting the government to come in and look around for how much they want. After assessing for what is needed then fence around them if an agreement can’t be met.
127 miles? Thats all? As for those 15 miles, go around them and they can become citizens of Mexico.<<<<
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Even worse, look at this highlighted excerpt from this article:
>>>..."SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches.<<<<<
Is this what Chertoff allocated the PHYSICAL border fence money to????
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119689136413514923.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news
Concerns Raised on Border Fence: Lawmaker Seeks To Delay Handover Of the Boeing System
In a letter sent late yesterday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.) cited continuing concerns by the committee that problems with the virtual-fence system known as Project 28 aren't fixed. The committee also is concerned that the effort doesn't give agents the technological advantages Boeing has promised.
Further delay of a project already almost six months behind could set back the credibility of both the effort and of Boeing. It also signals a determination by lawmakers to keep a sharp eye on how Homeland Security buys from the defense industry. Boeing's project is part of a larger effort estimated to cost taxpayers at least $8 billion through 2013, although a government watchdog has warned the costs could triple.
The effort is designed to make agents more effective at stopping smugglers and illegal immigrants by substituting technology for personnel. Known as "SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches. Representatives for both Boeing and Homeland Security said they hadn't seen Mr. Thompson's letter.
Boeing has been waiting to turn over the first 28-mile section of the fence since the end of November. If the project is accepted, the government will operate the system alongside Boeing during a 45-day test period that may result in a formal handoff early next year.
...To track a smuggler, an agent in a vehicle can remotely operate a camera and radar system mounted atop a 98-foot tower. Officials have said the system will be capable of locating a person five miles away or a moving car at three times that distance. The network will be overseen by command centers that have the ability to tap into every tower.
(snip)
What they really need are pumping plants and piped diversions to pull water out of the river for either irrigation or livestock. The government could nullify these arguments quickly by providing the equipment and the installation of same, and then turning title to the water infrastructure over to the owner of the land.
Trouble is, this goes against the government’s established policy in the BLM and other agencies where, even if a landowner furnishes all the equipment and pumping plant himself to gain access to water on federal lands, the landowner must turn title of the equipment over to the feds.
Chertoff is an extremely narrow minded puppet.
There is a moral, however.
"Never send a monkey to do a man's job."
~ Captain Leo Davidson
I thought we were all sunk once they silenced Curt Weldon.
OK, then we can build the border fence about 15 miles on THIS side of the border?????
Bingo!
The government took some of my family’s land for Lake Sam Rayburn. Surely they can take some of this land for the “common” good!
Cindy, they don’t just fence around you. They take your land and you are compensated as they see fit.
Eminent domain is a legitimate function of government, provided the government is acting on a compelling public interest. Controlling the border is a compelling public interest, therefore eminent domain is reasonable. The homeowner may not like it, but his property right is not absolute.
Send renio down there with a couple of tanks the FBI and a couple of Marshall's along with the atf, they'll get the ideal.
According to the 4th amendment there is!
More likely they are going after private land FIRST in the hopes of generating some controversy and reduce public support for the fence. After all, we all know how Americans feel about eminent domain since Kelo v. New London...
As much as I am a fan and support the fence...Chertoff has once again proven his inability to do the job and task at hand correctly...
Threatening is not the way to do this, even if someone doesn’t warm up to the idea of having the Federal government do something on their private property, in this case, not the damn TTC, property owners can be courted in a more positive light, and in a better, more contrite manner than this...
If we have gaps in our fence, then that is directly on the head of Chertoff and his minions in that department...
Thats where I believe some in the government realize that this idea of covering those gaps will work in their favor as far as putting surviellance in that “vitual fence” (bovine excrement!) idea...High-tech and high dollar do not give you the same kind of security that a physical wall will...
But they are trying like the dickens to sell us and put in a system with more holes in it than a dike in Denmark!
And I am not talking about a woman in comfortable shoes either!!! ;-)
You're not the only one with that sentiment.
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