Open Borders

[jiacinto]

After 9/11 I was wondering if the Libetarians still believed in open borders. If I am not mistaken the Libetarians think that people should be able to come and go as they please into the country without any barriers. I have strong concerns about this.

Specifcially, I see it as a national security/health issue. If we allow everyone in to come go and as he or she pleases, don't we run the risk of importing contagious diseases? Isn't a risk to our national security because of some of these people would be terrorists?

I don't see how the Libertarian vision of open borders would work.

[brokensymmetry]

1. Contagious disease is just one issue.

Tuberculosis is one example. In Mexico, one can purchase the drugs to treat it over the counter. People are poor, so they take the drug until they feel better, then stop. This creates resistive strains.

Then there are plant diseases - insects - and so on.

There is also the problem that our less-skilled workers have more competition for whatever is available - and wages go even lower.

[jiacinto]

2. Ok

I just don't see how it could work.

[BarbariansAtTheGate]

3. Some still do

but others don't.

[Character Assassin]

4. This 'libetarian' doesn't

Look, you're using an extreme example, like private ownership of sidewalks, or heroin vending machines in a kindergarden, and only the most miniscule number of libertarians buy into that kinda of crapola.

A globe without borders is about, oh, all of Hyperion away.

In other words, until we invent a warp-drive.

[KG]

5. our borders are open.

tourists and business travelers come and go every day most with little more than a passport. and the borders to mexico and canada are basically open anyway.

any of those people could be carrying a disease.

and OKC proves that terrorists come in all colors - even blond blue-eyed ex-GIs.

[Walt Starr]

6. I could see open borders at some point in the future

But I certainly cannot see them now.

Eventually, this planet is going to have to pull it's collective heads out of it's collective arseholes and realize we are all in this together. A United Terran government is essential and until that point where there is a single global economic infrastructure and government, I really cannot consider homo sapiens to be an intelligent species.

Of course, this means the end of war as we know it, so it'll not be happening in my lifetime. Too many warmongers out there.

[jplvr]

7. Open Boarders are not an option

At least not for the US. We are the most hated country on the planet. If we clean up our image, it might be possible; but until we get a new administration, our image will only get worse.

[inthecorneroverhere]

8. no a fronteras libres

I am against open borders. Never mind people with diseases or whatver (we have most of them here already, anyway). Think about criminal groups getting in.

Also, at this time we don't have enough jobs to go around for the American citizens who are already here. I just heard this afternoon about another college grad/A student out of work for a year already. We don't need open borders at this time.

Si hablo espanol. Soy familiar y me gusto la cultura de nuestros vecinos surenos. !Que viva el Gran Pais de Mexico!! No es una cosa de nacionalidad o origen nacional. Es cosa de nuestra situacion ahora, nuestra economia, y que necesitamos mantener una sociedad civil, sin actividades criminales. Por eso estoy contra fronteras libres.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. As someone who has to go over to Canada often, besides the fact that

a couple of my family members have property in Canada,we depend on the relative ease of crossing the border. I am on a prescription drug (that I desperately need) that is not available here in the U.S. Clamp down any harder on the Canadian border and I am screwed. The borders have been basically open with not many new contagious diseases being spread. As for national security, you can't stop everybody all the time, I prefer to live my life as free as possible. This was meant to go under KG's post

[Trek234]

10. As a liberal dem & green supporter

I still support open borders.

[jiacinto]

11. I don't

I don't see it working well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Why? I'm just interested in what you see would be the major problem.

I'm not intending to bait you, just wanting to hear you explain it a bit more.