Armed Escorts Necessary to Do Job in New Mexico

It's a sad state of affairs when workers need armed escorts in order to do their job.  The article linked below is just another example of how the Federal Government's failure to secure our border is costing us.

Armed Escorts to Accompany New Mexico Livestock Inspectors

I do take exception to the following clip from the article:

Illegal activity, such as human and drug trafficking, has "pretty much been shut down" in Luna County since 2005, Cobos said, but he acknowledged the "big potential for violence" at any time.


I don't believe for one minute that it has "pretty much been shut down".

New Definitions From Big Brother

As you read the article linked below, take special note of the items quoted below the link.

Federal agency warns of radicals on right

"...as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. "

"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration...."

The Cost of Protecting Protesters

I respect the rights of various groups to protest at the national party conventions but I think they're wasting their time and the taxpayer's money. It will cost us over $100 million for special security arrangements in the two convention cities this year. The number of protesters could exceed 50,000 at each of the conventions.

We will be fortunate if they don't turn violent at some level. I don't think violence is planned by the protesting groups, however, it would be easy for a handful of individuals to incite the crowds into mob violence. Terror activity doesn't necessarily mean a suicide bomber. It could be a well-placed individual inciting the crowd -- it happened in the 60's.

I know that the convention host cities are excited about the money the media circuses will bring. I fear that they may regret the ultimate cost of the conventions if worst fears are realized. Most insurance policies don't cover civil unrest. Will the cities have to cough up the repair bill for their downtown if things turn ugly?

I pray that all will be peaceful.

Subsidies, Trade, Agriculture and Security

Rising global food prices have created some interesting dynamics in recent trade discussions. In the past, agricultural subsidies and import/export tariffs have been a sticking point in any negotiations. One reason for this is that many countries wish to protect their agriculture industry due to security concerns. If world agricultural product prices are low, many industrialized countries cannot compete on the world market. Their producers are threatened with failure. So, the governments of those highly developed economies typically subsidize their farmers in some fashion so that they can remain in business and thus keep agriculture viable.

With high food prices, the subsidies are not as necessary to maintain viability for famers in advanced economies. They can compete with low-cost producers such as Brazil. This provides the opportunity for those governments to offer a cut in farm subsidies in exchange for things like reduced import tariffs for manufactured goods in countries that have erected barriers to protect their industry for reasons similar to industrialized countries protecting agriculture.

Ultimately, the most efficient way to allocate the world's resources is with a completely open, free market. This of course would necessitate that the world's governments all feel safe enough from their neighbors to believe that dropping protective barriers is prudent. Those barriers are like an economic stockade or fort. Just as a country seeks to protect itself militarily, it must protect itself economically.

In the last 30 years, the U.S. has exposed itself economically, yet has maintained its world preeminence in some respects, by its military power. Countries fear to take economic retaliation on the U.S. because of the potential for an overwhelming military response. Our dependence on foreign oil has weakened our position. We now are at extreme risk due to our high dependence on foreign sources of petroleum. Have we stretched our military capacity to the point that the military threat is less likely to offset that economic threat?

We must achieve energy self-sufficiency. We also must remain vigilant to maintain our food security. The greatest strength of our country is our economic system. It is also our greatest point of vulnerability. If we are hostage to foreign sources of energy -- or, through exposing our agricultural sector to extreme market vulnerability by eliminating a system of price subsidies -- we offer ourselves to the mercy of our enemies.

Help: Guest Worker Program Wanted

Farm labor -- particularly seasonal labor in fruit and vegetable farming -- is a difficult issue. Most of the jobs last for only short periods and are difficult, back-breaking, hot, laborious jobs. They are jobs that few U.S. workers will take. They often are for low wages.

Just across the border to the south of many large agricultural areas where fruits and vegetables are primary crops, live large numbers of unemployed, or underemployed, workers who would jump at the chance to gain additional income by working in the fields. They are hindered from doing so by the border.

Border security is a major issue for our country. It is one that I won't dwell on in this post. It is also a factor in how to deal with the issue of migrant labor from south of the border.

It is time for a guest worker program. It must be part of a larger immigration reform that provides for border security. It is important for agriculture and therefore important to the U.S. consumer who desires -- and even demands -- low-cost, reliable food supplies.