The Trouble with Trump's Wall

I'm feeling a bit ambivalent about Trump's attempt to erect a barrier on our southern border.  Now, I'm not going to insult your intelligence by making ridiculous claims that the wall won't work, but I am going to explain why it makes me uneasy.

First, walls don't just keep people out, they can also be used to keep people in.  While the wall seems like a great idea now, it could become a terrible hinderance in the future for people here trying to escape tyranny.  After coming very close to the republic self-destructing with 8 years of Obama and Hillary narrowly losing her presidential bid, it's easy to keep in mind how easily a population can be persuaded to reject the principles of liberty.

Second, where there's a will, there's a way.  While I admit walls are an effective deterrent, I'm also forced to admit that even the Berlin Wall was crossed by people that wanted to get across it.  We've already seen evidence of tunneling under barriers we've already built on our southern border, and I fully expect activity like that to continue.

My biggest problem with the wall is that it doesn't address the actual problems.  People come here illegally not just because it is easy, but because they can thrive in our country for years without ever even attempting to become citizens.  Sanctuary cities and states account for the ability for so many to do so.  Drug prohibition makes it lucrative for cartels to breach our borders,  employers seeking to exploit cheap labor face no consequences for hiring people not eligible to work here legally, and of course the welfare state is attracting even more people to this side of the border.  Until we attempt to address these problems, I see the wall as a mostly symbolic pet project which while beneficial to slowing down human trafficking (which is a damn good reason to build it), cannot be the only solution.  The majority of contraband and trafficked humans are still coming through our ports of entry, wall or no wall.

So what's the solution?  I personally believe heavy fines and imprisonment as consequences for employing illegal aliens would be a very effective solution to the problem of people coming here illegally.  Also, no welfare benefits or licensing without a green card would go a long way to discourage people making the dangerous and often deadly trip to the United States, even those that come here legally and overstay their visas.  Both parties have refused to do anything like this, because they are in the pockets of big business, and big business has a thirst for cheap labor.  

Please don't misunderstand my intentions in writing this.  I do not seek in any way to demonize people (aside from human traffickers) that come here seeking opportunities and a better life for themselves or their families.  I'm capable of admitting that if I were in their shoes, I'd probably do the same thing.  However, the citizens (including legal immigrants) of the United States should not be forced to subsidize big business' cheap labor, nor people who contribute nothing and collect welfare.  

If the wall does anything to curtail human trafficking I personally think it's worth every penny, but beyond that I see it as merely treating a symptom of the problem instead of addressing the problem.