You hear a knock at the door. You look at your Ring Video Doorbell and see three-hundred people waiting outside. They appear tired and hungry. They ask if they can come in, and would you kindly feed and house them.
What would you do?
Would you vet them? Wonder who they are? Let some, but not all, in the house?
Would you be fearful, ready, empathetic, nervous?
Would you ask neighbors for help?
Would you call the police?
After all, you’re an American citizen with property rights. You live in a free society where you get to rule your own roost, whether it’s an apartment, house, condo, mansion, compound… tent…
Some houses even have walls around their entire property lines — which delineates one person’s property from his or her neighbor’s. They are, in essence, borders.
One is entitled to that border because they pay property taxes. Even renters pay taxes.
So this brings us to the point.
Those who know me know I’m no fan of Trump, the man.
But I can still acknowledge that he was right about something. Countries have borders. Just look at a world map.
And without borders, countries don’t really exist.
For some globalists, the idea of a borderless society may sound nice. (For those globalists who want to rule the entire world, borders are unnecessary!)
But for those of us living in the real world, we know borders matter.
I am among the fortunate who were born in America. My ancestors came here in different ways, but they all took legal pathways.
Clearly millions of people from outside of the United States want to join us here.
Why?
Because unlike those who preach how awful this country is (none of whom seem to want to leave), outsiders know that the USA is the freest country on earth. They know that opportunities in America are unparalleled, and that the US is the best place to find peace and prosperity.
Funny: those who preach how horrid America is are the first to encourage illegal immigrants. “Hey, it sucks here, but come on in!”
Each country has a distinct set of values and legal structures. Just ask Britney Griner. Just ask women who are stoned to death in the Middle East. Just ask girls who aren’t allowed to attend school in Afghanistan. Being in South Korea is far safer than being in North Korea. Borders do more than outline geographical areas.
States have borders, too. Your drivers license identifies the state in which you reside. Those who hate Florida (like Gavin Newsom) are quick to criticize what happens inside the Sunshine State.
Those who are disgusted by what Newsom has done to California often find themselves moving to Florida.
So why are borders an important way of identifying individual states but less desirable when it comes to the country as a whole?
Within each state, there are county borders. In California, where I was born, not everyone wants to live in Los Angeles County. Some people want to live in Alameda County. Why? Each county has something its residents value: real estate, schools, civics, scenery…
And just as each state collects taxes, so does each county. Local taxes pay for the benefits of living there.
Within each county are cities, towns, and municipalities. And borders are drawn accordingly so we can determine how many first responders each locality needs.
Americans pay taxes, and the people we elect to represent us are supposed to be in charge of deciding where that money is spent. National defense, railways, social security, etc.
So what happens when millions of people show up any one of these borders, cross illegally, and flood into our hospitals, schools, and shelters?
And what if their values don’t align with ours? And they don’t want to abide by our rules?
And what about those who are fleeing, looking for amnesty? Can we save all of them? Is it our responsibility to save all of them?
There’s the old argument that the United States can’t be the world’s policemen. But can it be the world’s only sanctuary?
Back to the example of the four walls you use to keep people out of your home: If people broke in, that would be illegal. Should you be compelled to allow them in? And even if you decided to accommodate some of them, how would you choose?:
It’s easy — really easy — to tell other people how they should show compassion and open their doors to the world. It’s not so easy when it’s your house.
America is our house. And those who are here legally and pay its bills should have the say over who can come in. That’s why we have LEGAL immigration.
It isn’t controversial. It’s called order.