The Stupidity of Open Borders

Property rights are recognized by virtually everyone on the planet - whether they admit it or not. E.g the far left greenie considers all the planets resources to be the "rightful" property of the racial group that was occupying it in circa 1500….. Or the legacy for future generations…. Or for the benefit of "the people"…. Depending on the audience. More locally, other more moderate left and green, think of protecting "national" parks by limiting pollutants … like people. Even more locally, most people object when "publicly owned" space is taken over by any people or group. And finally, most people get apoplectic when someone wanders into their "personal property" (even when it is unoccupied) and settles down for recreation, rest or shelter.

So the "open borders" catastrophe occurring in Europe, where a huge movement of migrants (accompanied by a smaller population of refugees) is a threat to every level of the above rights. How can you argue for pristine wilderness or parks, when people could be living and working on that land ? More locally, surely the needs of a homeless family, trumps your bourgeois need for a children's playground ? Closer to the bone, how can you keep your spacious living space when next door people live in tents ? Where you refuse to give property, it, and other rights, will be taken. First, and most easily, by your government - tax, regulation, free speech (we can't have you expressing opposition when there is a crisis), free movement (we can't have you taking your property out of the country. The people need it.)

To support open borders is to live in a fantasy land where cultural clashes do not occur; where technological, human and inanimate resources are abundantly and evenly distributed; where movements are multidirectional, low volume and spread over time.

Many proponents of open borders have an extreme left subtext of hatred of nation states because of their artificiality and historical association with conflict. Many have a hatred of culture because it is so often the pretext for conflict, as well as promoting extremely primitive behaviors and beliefs (in public discourse, they usually express this hatred only towards their own culture).

The open borders of Europe during 2014-2016 are a far greater disaster than would have been closed borders with military and humanitarian aid. The people in the Middle East will continue to be the principal sufferers of the paroxysms powered by the resources that flow from oil that they want to sell to the world.

Due to negligent immigration programs, the people of Europe are increasingly victims of the same violence.

Many on the left find it hard to conceal their satisfaction that what they see as "the sins of the fathers" are visited on the children of Europe.