[Mb-civic] Border of Insanity By JOHN TIERNEY

[Michael Butler]

The New York Times
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April 4, 2006
Op-Ed Columnist
Border of Insanity
By JOHN TIERNEY

This is a special edition of "Lou Dobbs Tonight," news, debate and opinion.
Live from Pyongyang, North Korea, Lou Dobbs:

Good evening from North Korea. We had to go halfway around the world, but
we've finally got good news for the working men and women of America angry
about illegal immigration. Tonight you'll hear our exclusive report from the
nation that proudly calls itself the Hermit Kingdom.

But first, more bad news from Washington. Despite my personal trip to Cancún
for last week's summit meeting, President Bush remains hostage to foreign
interests. My soaring ratings apparently mean nothing to the White House or
the Senate Republicans working on an amnesty plan for the illegal immigrants
now carrying Mexican flags through our streets.

Tonight's poll question deals with those protesters and where they get their
money. As these reconquistadors plot to make California a province of
Mexico, have they made a secret deal to turn the Los Angeles port over to an
Arab company? Cast your votes at loudobbs.com. We'll have your answers
later.

A report out today refutes the claims that the American economy benefits
from immigration and free trade. If you're a regular viewer, you already
know that's a myth. But maybe these figures will knock the rose-colored
glasses off a few so-called mainstream economists. The new report, from the
Minutemen Institute of Research Study Analysis, shows that previous
cost-benefit estimates ignored three crucial factors:

€ Since Nafta opened the border, the importing of cheap tortilla chips has
worsened America's obesity epidemic by 475 million pounds.

€ Intermarriage between immigrants and natives is expected to reduce the
projected height of the average future worker, leading to a 2.4 percent
decrease in earning potential.

€ Americans lose 38.7 billion minutes of productive work time per decade
sitting through telephone instructions to "dial 2 for Spanish."

Add in those costs, and the net loss to the American economy is $4.3
trillion. I can't say it often enough: there's nothing free about free
trade.

No one understands that better than our hosts here in North Korea, the
world's most economically independent nation. They know the hazards of
foreign labor and foreign goods. "Buy North Korean" is more than a slogan
here. Outsourcing is outlawed.

How do they stay strong? Let's find out from the North Korean military
leader in charge of border security. Thank you for joining us, General ‹‹
excuse me, could you pronounce your name for our viewers?

No.

No?

That is an internal matter.

Ah. Let's talk about something that's no secret: the difference between our
borders. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans annually sneak into the U.S. How
many people make it up here across your southern border each year?

Approximately zero.

I can believe it. I sure didn't see any South Korean flags on the streets
today. We got nothing but blank looks when we asked for the hiring spot for
foreign laborers. What's stopping them? Is the whole border fenced?

There are two fences across the Demilitarized Zone. Also thousands of
artillery systems and land mines.

I wish you could brief President Vicente Fox of Mexico and members of
Congress. I bet they've never thought of land mines ‹ well, maybe Tom
Tancredo has. And you also have 700,000 border agents?

The number of troops is classified.

But the point is, the message that our defeatists at home need to hear, is
that with enough determination, you can seal the border. Nobody's digging
tunnels under your fences, right?

Actually, a few have dug tunnels.

But you said that there have been virtually no crossings.

In this direction. Some of our citizens have fled south.

But what they could be looking for? You've got a self-sufficient economy.

These are isolated cases of mental delusion. They believe tales of places
where workers own personal telephones and bicycles ‹ even cars. [Laughs.]
Fortunately, we apprehend most of them.

Well, the next time you catch one, I've got something you can share with
him. I'd like to present you with a copy of my book "Exporting America."

A foreign book? No, thank you.

A man of principle. I respect that, General.

Up next, a tour of Pyongyang's finest restaurants, where you won't find any
enchiladas ‹ or Mexican busboys. Stay tuned as we bust the myth that there
are some jobs North Koreans won't do.

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