There are plenty of times I read the newspaper and I come across something that the U.S. Government is implementing that makes absolutely no sense at all. This weekend when I read the Wall Street Journal (U.S. to Allow Mexican Trucks; Mathews, 2/24/07) this was one of those moments. A pilot program in April will allow Mexican Trucking Companies full access to U.S. roadways. This allows Mexican Exports to be shipped directly from the factory to its final destination anywhere in the United States. If you think we have an immigration problem now, think what can happen if this is implemented on a full national scale. I am especially puzzled that this is all being pushed through by G.W. himself, the man that is so tough on immigration that he is willing to spend billions on “The Great American Wall of China”.

Now let’s think this through for a moment. The normal process is for the Mexican Trucks to stop in the American border and reload the goods to American Trucks. In the meantime the goods are thoroughly checked for illegals (drugs and people) and then sent on its merry way. Under the pilot program, the trucks will probably get a half ass check…. If that! And then sent to wherever. Why are we building a billion dollar fence to keep illegal immigrants out when they can just drive through faster and easier???? Unbelievable!!!!!! It’s like buying a multi million dollar security system for your house, and then writing the password on the keypad and leaving the keys in the door. And all for what? So a business can get its shipment of goods a few hours earlier?? That’s the only discernable benefit I can see, and saving a few bucks on shipping charges because the Mexican Drivers cost 1/3 less.

Meanwhile the negatives are disastrous. I do consider myself a free trader, in the long run free trade brings efficiency into the system and allows resources to be allocated to its optimal levels. But having Mexican Trucks on our soil, delivering goods directly from another country (who says it has to be Mexico?) is not free trade, its stupidity. The NAFTA agreement benefited Mexico way more than the U.S. in the short-term, let’s keep the only short-term benefit that we received from the whole deal, a boom in transportation. There is no need to outsource this. If so what is next, the slow freights from China equipped with its own trucks and drivers, preloaded?

Mr. President (and I am singling you out because the Supreme Court says the decision is all yours) do you honestly think that this is safe? Don’t you think that the Mexican Drivers will be bribed into smuggling in drugs, immigrants and maybe even nukes??? Now I finally understand why you didn’t implement the 9/11 Commission’s request of Port Security. Why do we need to protect our ports when it’s way easier and faster to bring the dangerous goods in through Mexico?

~Michael Pencille