At the moment I write, part of the U S Government is shut down over President Trump’s demand for money to build a wall on the U S/Mexico border. The President said in so many words that if he didn’t get what he wanted (about five billion dollars for wall construction) he would shut down the part of the Government whose appropriations had not been enacted. He has done that.
The Congressional Democrats insist he will not get a penny for wall construction. They must stand firm, they must not negotiate on that central point. More on this in a moment. But first a little history of walls.
Beginning as early as the 7th Century B C, Chinese states began constructing a northern wall to keep invaders out. They kept at it for centuries. It never worked.
In 122 A D, the Roman Emperor Hadrian and after him other Roman Emperors built a wall across Northern England designed to keep the “barbarians” out. It didn’t.
In modern times, the Soviets built a Berlin wall designed to keep people in. With modern materials, a shorter distance, and many armed guards it worked better than the Chinese or Roman efforts. But not completely and in the end, forces stronger than bricks and mortar tore it down.
Today, it seems clear that while there are some short sections of the border that have fencing the idea of building a wall the length of the border is ludicrous. The cost, the attendant construction and legal difficulties, the clear advantages of employing modern technical security devices over a physical barrier argue against it but perhaps most of all, the wall would glaringly represent a change in the moral standards of our Country that sets us apart and above so many others in this world and that would be disastrous.
In his zeal to build a wall, President Trump said Ronald Reagan tried for eight years to get money to build such a wall. That, like so very much this man says, is a lie.
Campaigning for the presidency in 1980, Reagan said” “Rather than talking about putting up a fence, why don’t we work out some recognition of our mutual problems, make it possible for them to come here legally with a work permit. And then while they’re working and earning here, they pay taxes here. And when they want to go back they can go back.”
And in his farewell address ending his presidency Reagan said in describing the United States as a Shining City Upon a Hill: “…in my mind, it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind swept, God blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace – a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”
Today, the Democrats must not negotiate on the wall, not split the difference, not hand over a penny. The Washington Post continues to editorialize that a good bargain would be to give Trump the money for a wall in return for lifting the threat to expel the DACA children (The “Dreamers”) from the Country they were brought to as children. And ordinarily, if we were only talking money or even the reasons why the wall makes no sense that might be a good deal.
But those reasons for opposition are not the one, most important reason the Democrats must not yield.
Donald J Trump who rode to his putrid victory on the promise to build a wall must not be given a victory, not even a partial one.
He must fail in his effort to secure funding for a wall and he must be seen to fail.
The highest objective is to remove Trump from the presidency and making certain that his so-called “base” understand that he cannot deliver his main (and meanest) promise to them is vitally important. He must be uncloaked as the con-man that he has always been. And while some of his “base” would clearly stick with him no matter what some will not if he can’t deliver.
Trump must be removed from the presidency, whether by impeachment, the 25th Amendment to the Constitution or the Election of 2020. And of these methods, particularly Impeachment or Election require a large majority of Americans to agree with the removal. And every supporter who leaves him makes it easier to remove him.
So, stand firm Democrats.
No wall.
Ever.