Jay Evensen
  • Front Page
  • Opinions
  • Second Thoughts
  • Portfolio
  • Awards
  • About

Thoughts to nibble on during the long holiday weekend

11/26/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thanksgiving weekend is a good time to take it easy and digest recent news events. In that spirit, here are some thoughts to nibble on:

--President Obama caused a storm last week regarding immigration, but the most important thing his administration is doing on that front is secret, dangerous and no less controversial. The Wall Street Journal says U.S. marshals, who serve under the Justice Department, are donning Mexican Marine uniforms and helping in armed raids against drug dealers and other gangsters. Agents from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration also help in a supporting role.

Mexican officials deny it’s happening. They probably worry about a backlash in public opinion, considering Mexicans generally don’t want U.S. officials wielding guns in their country. The U.S. isn’t anxious to talk about it either, but a raid last July ended with a U.S. Marshals employee being wounded, making it difficult to keep the operation completely secret.

Given the disastrous fallout from the administration’s “Fast and Furious” program four years ago, which was supposed to allow weapons to be traced to criminals but ended in the killing of a border patrol agent, this is a risky plan. It does, however, signal the administration understands that Mexico’s increasing culture of violence, in which drug gangs control large areas, is hindering prosperity and leaving many families with little choice but to seek a better life north of the border.

While the illegal drug habits of Americans fuel a lot of the demand that enriches these gangs, the violence poses a threat to U.S. borders that must be addressed.

--Speaking of the border with Mexico and immigration, James Pethokouis of the American Enterprise Institute revived an old plan this week by the late economist Gary Becker, who won a Nobel Prize for economics in 1992. The idea is to establish a market for American visas and let people pay their way into the country.

Becker once explained that, to the enterprising immigrant, this would be an investment. Workers know they could increase their income by five-to-10 times by coming here. It also would help secure borders, as many immigrants who now pay outrageous sums to coyotes for help risking their lives to sneak over the border would have a safer option.

He said the poorest people would be able to borrow the money, sort of like how poor students currently borrow money for a college education. I imagine some employers would want to advance the money for promising workers.

It’s an intriguing idea, and certainly no worse than the system that currently exists.

--One more thought on Mexico: Critics often have wondered how Mexico would handle an influx of Americans crossing the border illegally. Well, the Washington Post reports that it already happens. About 1 million or so U.S. citizens live south of the border (no one knows for sure how many). The difference is these are wealthy retirees who want to live where housing and living costs are low and the weather is great.

Mexico has a visa for such people, however many of the Americans don’t bother to get one. But the country has changed its immigration laws and no longer imposes prison sentences for such violations. As with many things in life, being rich has its advantages.

--Federal regulators are killjoys when it comes to rapid innovations. The Wall Street Journal says the FAA is ready to propose rules that would effectively destroy plans by Amazon, Google and others to use drones to quickly deliver items you order over the Internet. Among other things, the rules would require drone pilots to maintain eye contact with their craft.

I understand the government’s concern about too many things buzzing around our heads, but the rule also would hinder such things as crop monitoring and pipeline inspections. A better idea would be to let innovations flourish, then deal with actual problems that pop up, so to speak.

--The Salt Lake City Council has approved ride sharing, with limitations. Companies will need insurance, background checks and inspections. I never understood the opposition to those requirements, which seem like reasonable requests for public safety.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Search this site


    Like what you read here?

      Please subscribe below, and we'll let you know when there is a new opinion.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    The author

    Jay Evensen is the Senior Editorial Columnist of the Deseret News. He has nearly 40 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct journalism professor at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Campaign 2012
    Congress
    Crime
    Culture
    Iran
    Oil And Gas
    Poverty
    Steroids
    Taxes
    Utah
    Washington
    World Events
    World Events

    Links

    Deseret News
    Newslink
    Marianne Evensen's blog

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.