Arizona lawmakers say they will build border fence

[Seedersandleechers]

Source: Kansas City Star via AP

Arizona is taking on immigration once again, with state lawmakers collecting donations from the public to put fencing along every inch of the state's porous Mexican border in a first-of-its-kind effort.

The idea came from state Sen. Steve Smith, a Republican who says that people from across the nation have donated about $255,000 to the project since July, when the state launched a fundraising website that urges visitors to "show the world the resolve and the can-do spirit of the American people."

Smith acknowledges he has a long way to go to make the fence a reality. The $255,000 collected will barely cover a half mile of fencing. Smith estimates that the total supplies alone will cost $34 million, or about $426,000 a mile. Much of the work is expected to be done by prisoners at 50 cents an hour.

The fence is Arizona's latest attempt to force a debate on whether the federal government is doing enough to stop illegal immigration. Key provisions of the state's contentious immigration bill were suspended by a judge, and Gov. Jan Brewer is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to get them reinstated. Brewer also signed the fencing bill.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/24/3284195/arizona-lawmakers-say-they-will.html

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This is a DYI project using prison labor at $.50 per hour and some supplies being donated. They've already collected $255.000.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. And it will fail unless they extend the fence hundreds of feet underground

...because "The Great Escape" was a true story.

[grantcart]

28. these fences are regularly defeated by a $ 10 ladder.

[Vincardog]

2. Let them. Start by fencing the part that cross Republican golf courses and Sympathizer's ranch's

Of course they would have to allow endangered species access.
This fence would be a costly disaster.
What better use for the Koch bros money?

[Old and In the Way]

3. Why stop there?

Build a wall around the entire state...think of the security benefits from that!

[asjr]

4. Best idea yet. It is difficult to believe

that the entire state is so mean-spirited though.

[Sedona]

5. Hey!

I want out eventually!

Once my family obligation is completed I'm gone to the bluer pastures of California!

[AlbertCat]

6. Good!

Just stay inside it, how 'bout it.

:eyes:

[Major Nikon]

7. If they translate this video into Spanish, the fence is doomed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKu3NE7Omkw

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Please don't stop there....

continue the fence around the entire state so no one can enter without permission. They should at least have warning signs that the state has wacky legislators persuaded by a majority population of paranoid bigots. Throw the Fox News logo and a couple pistols to the state seal while you're at it.

I hope the good people here from AZ don't think they have to remind me there are some normal people living there, of course there are.

Actually, I predict that many states will one day soon set up checkpoints at their major border arteries. I've already heard the conplaints that "terorists can drive unabated across the country", and as sobriety checkpoints become commonplace, we'll just accept the inconvenience as another way to keep us "free and safe". Mark my words, it's coming.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. It must be noted...

That all this nonsense is not the product of native Arizonians but all the angry white assholes from the midwest who have converged there.

[JohnnyRingo]

21. I'm from Ohio, so I probably know a few.

Still, for all our right wing teabag racist nuttery, we've yet to pass a "papers please" law or elect a Jan Brewer. Our RWNJs here hate the entire working class more than specific races, and with a 13% approval Gov John Kasich is at least an admitted mistake.

I guess I should thank both Arizona and Florida for attracting our worst with sunny weather and warm clime. I imagine we both wish these narrow minded cretins would find the Aleutian Islands a more habitable paradise. They could move there and demand the Inuit go back to where they came from.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

24. Arizona is a bit of an aberration as Mountain West conservatism goes

Traditionally it was more libertarian than authoritarian, but an influx of angry rust belt racists changed it to what we know today.

And for the record... Brewer is from California.

[No Elephants]

31. Libertarians are conservatives, but even cheaper.

[Kali]

9. the article may be recent but this isn't exactly breaking news

sure there are some high profile idiots here (mostly form elsewhere I might add) but we aren't ALL evil

[gussmith]

10. Wasted Funds

What happened to the billions appropriated and spent already? How come Ms Napalitano, former governor, has not seen that the job she pushed for was completed?

[freshwest]

15. And how about the unbelievably poor addition they're using? So many things left off. A boondoggle...

That will take the money of both the taxpayers and those who contribute into the hands of GOP crooks. I despair that such idiocy as the OP's source spouted would ever get a dime of taxpayer money through subsidized prison labor. No doubt the monies already sequestered have gone into private hands as well.

Welcome to DU.

:hi:

[Bozita]

11. I just couldn't resist...

Happy Turkey Day!

[cheneyschernobyl]

12. Amen to that! n/t

[Seedersandleechers]

14. Great cartoon...

Actually this reminds me of a comment I read in the comment section of my city newspaper regarding illegal immigration. The gist of the comment was that it was the American Indians fault that they didn't have any immigration laws. Reading the comment section makes my blood boil most of the time.

[dipsydoodle]

17. Well appropriate

:rofl:

[plumbob]

16. I need to know how tall the fence will be. 20 feet? Get in the rent a 24 foot tall

ladder business!

[msongs]

18. is this part of Herman Cain's fry some Mexicans immigration policy? nt

[ehrnst]

19. And who are they going to get to build it? (nt)

[Seedersandleechers]

23. Says the article

prison labor at $.50 and hour. Better rate then the immigrants.

[Muskypundit]

20. Good. I will help them build it.

We shouldnt burden mexico with any of those asshole "people" from arizona that might spill over.

[freshwest]

29. Especially when that 'Day After Tomorrow' scenario happens and Americanos are fleeing south. LOL!

[alp227]

22. Well, the fence won't address human trafficking via legally crossing vehicles

like trains or trucks (yes, there's already a trade deal to let Mexican truckers in) or a possible evasion by overstaying visa.

[Bandit]

25. Why would prisoners be exempt from Federal and state minimum wage laws?

Either make them work for nothing or pay them what the law requires.....If they have to work for nothing then it is no different than slavery....

[Seedersandleechers]

30. I guess in a way they consider it

"paying for your crime".

[opihimoimoi]

26. There never was a wall built to withstand a clever mind...don't them GOPers noes this?

A sheer waste of time n Money

[octothorpe]

27. Bandaid that costs lots and doesn't really solve the problem.

How much no one "important" ever tries to do anything that looks for a long-term solution?

Go after businesses who hire illegal immigrants more aggressively.
Make legal immigration easier and cheaper. This would allow migrants to function more productively in our society.
Take steps to get Mexico and other countries south of us to make staying in their countries more attractive.
Or whatever else...

(I'm not saying the suggestions above are correct or even good moves, but at least they seem like longer-term solutions)