Border issues, fear and common sense

On Friday I had the privilege of sitting on a panel at the University of North Dakota’s annual Communicators Day.
The topic was border issues. There were two American moderators, three American journalists and two Canadian journalists from both radio and print.
I found it interesting and in some cases eye opening.
The Editor of the Grand Forks Herald, Mike Jacobs, spoke of the atmosphere of fear created by the current US government and how that could have dramatic ramifications for us all on the border.
Jacobs speculated that the fear may drive the U.S. to extremes that may see the majority of land border crossings cut dramatically. He speculated that all but a half a dozen crossings from here to the west coast may be closed, making commerce and social interaction with one another very difficult.
He also commented that activities like fishing on border waters such as the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods could get the axe if the fear continues to push his government to even greater extremes all in the name of security.
Of course Mr. Jacobs also stated his disdain for the current Bush Administration suggesting that a new government might bring some lessor level of fear to the people and rule with common sense.
I have to agree, there is a heightened level of fear in the US and Canada to some degree. And the huge number of new border guards at customs facilities, especially on the US side is definitely in response to that.
Personally I think that the show of greater force makes people feel safer, but my concern is the fact that any “bad guy” is only going to try and cross the border at a guarded crossing if he or she is stupid.
Efforts to monitor the longest unprotected border in the world (US and Canada) are in the works. Whether it is unmanned drones or sensor nets.
But a border issue that really frightens me is not a threat from the US or Canada to each other but that of someone shipping an weapon/bomb into either country via ocean vessel. Only 10% of all shipping containers are inspected at US and Canadian ports. That is really scary.
–Until then,
Ken