Vt. farmer draws a line at US bid to bolster border-Homeland Security threatens to seize 4.9 acres

[The Straight Story]

Vt. farmer draws a line at US bid to bolster border
Homeland Security threatens to seize 4.9 acres

FRANKLIN, Vt. — The red brick house sits unassumingly on a sleepy back road where the lush farmlands of northern Vermont roll quietly into Canada. This is the Morses Line border crossing, a point of entry into the United States where more than three cars an hour constitute heavy traffic.


The bucolic setting of silos and sugar maples has become the focus of a bitter dispute that pits one of America’s most revered traditions — the family-owned farm — against the post-9/11 reality of terror attacks on US soil.

The Department of Homeland Security sees Morses Line as a weak link in the nation’s borders, attractive to terrorists trying to smuggle in lethal materials. The government is planning an estimated $8 million renovation here as part of a nationwide effort to secure border crossings.

It intends to acquire 4.9 acres of border land on a dairy farm owned for three generations by the Rainville family. Last month, the Rainvilles learned that if they refuse to sell the land for $39,500, the government intends to seize it by eminent domain.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2010/05/17/vt_farmer_draws_a_line_at_us_bid_to_bolster_border/

[RKP5637]

1. It seems to see such little use as a border crossing they could just

close it, as discussed, and be done with it all. In fact, it seems quite wasteful to make the investment there...

[zipplewrath]

3. Does seem strange

Looked at it on Google. It's maybe 10 miles to where I-89 crosses over.

Alternately, I can't imagine what they need 5 acres for. A wide spot in the road would seem to suffice.

[Greyhound]

2. The stupidity of this corporate welfare program is just infuriating.

We have "The Wall" down here. It is ugly, unbelievably expensive, and completely ineffective.

Still this, and all the preceding, administrations continue this obscene charade.
:grr:

[RKP5637]

4. Good point, "obscene charade." It gives the politicians something to

point at, "look at what we did, see, we are protecting you." It skirts all around the fundamental issues of why we have problems... the southern border because corporations are allowed to hire people below slave wages... and other border issues because of our inane foreign policy. Our inane drug wars, our wars in general, on and on... and if some attempts were to be effective, they could start with better container inspections on imports for one...

I'm certainly no expert in these things, but just casual observations tell me a lot of what this country does is really ridiculous and laced with BS, all administrations. And so financially wasteful. They all ride by the seat of their pants.