The two-way wall
Taranto doesn't quite get it:
Second, although we are not a fan of the U.S. Mexico border wall, there is an essential difference between a wall to keep people in and a wall to keep people out. Prisons and houses are not the same thing, even though they too both have walls.
Au contraire, prisons are houses for prisoners, and houses can be made into prisons. The difference between houses and prisons is in who holds the keys. Given that it's the government that will hold the keys to the border wall, what is to stop some administration some time from deciding that Americans really need to stay here?
Comments
Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: October 19, 2006 04:33 PM
Apparently it won't be that long. Didn't you see this on Wolfesblog?
http://www.clairewolfe.com/wolfesblog/00002248.html
Posted by: Jeffrey Quick
Posted on: October 19, 2006 04:50 PM
Yes, I saw it...and I'm not sure exactly how to take it. Mostly, I'm in a state of shock and denial. I'm too frigging old to leave, even if they'll let me out. So I'll have to fight here. If they were smart, they'd let the malcontents leave the country...and not allow them back in.
Posted by: jeffrey smith
Posted on: October 19, 2006 11:06 PM
Well, if worse comes to worse, we can get on a raft and float over the Florida Straits and ask The Bearded One for political asylum.
And you can always give them Harry Quick's ID.
BTW, I am now officially a Blogger:
http://rchaimqoton.blogspot.com/
A bunch of Orthodox Jews, and I suppose I'm the kofer (heretic) in the yeshivah.
Posted by: J
Posted on: October 20, 2006 11:13 AM
It was reasonable enough that a destination country won't let you in, but it seems too weird for your own country not to let you out.
Why do I need the government's permission? I got a US passport and a license! I have official documentation to travel, but why would I need further permission???
Posted by: Eldan Goldenberg
Posted on: October 20, 2006 04:04 PM
That permission to travel story is utterly terrifying.
At this stage, it wouldn't exactly be permission to leave the country, because it doesn't cover ground transport to Mexico or Canda, but if implemented I wouldn't want to bet against it spreading to those sooner or later.