Traffic Week: American Border Control Should Be Optimized

I'll be honest, I've always been for opening the borders further.

For one thing, I know that illegal immigrants take jobs for which no American citizens would ever apply. For another thing, I've met good, honest people from both Jamaica and Arizona* who struggled to immigrate legally. I remember one good woman who tried no less than four times to enter the United States legally, but corrupt border officials destroyed her papers every time. Finally, she gave up and hopped the wall illegally.

At the same time, I know that weaknesses in our current border policy have allowed crime between countries to flourish. I don't feel comfortable asking our local police forces to tackle crimes that technically shouldn't be America's problem in the first place.

So I propose a compromise of sorts.

Make immigrating legally easier.

America can accomplish this by removing unnecessary bureaucratic red tape (which you know exists) and doing a better job investigating the current border guards for corruption.

Run more extensive background checks.

I don't know the current procedures for background checks, and I imagine they're quite extensive. However, I believe most background checks are composed primarily of lists of deeds, like criminal records and employment histories. I think background checks should be more focused on the character of the immigrant. Search for character references and observe them in their day-to-day life.

My confessions.

I don't really know a lot about border control. I suspect this post is riddled with holes in my arguments. However, I have met illegal immigrants who represented America well, and I have met individuals who would represent America well if given the chance. I don't think we should make things even more difficult for them.

And as CougarMan quoth below, "I was a stranger, and ye took me in."

*Where I served my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This Week's Top Comments

Traffic Week: The Angry Lady

I have written two posts this week, both of them detailing various aspects of my road rage.

Here is the incident that prompted me to begin changing my ways.

I recently made the decision to make a quick run to Wal-Mart at 4:00PM.

You know. The hour before 5:00PM.

RUSH HOUR.

Once I realized my tactical error, I gave in to the madness. Turning up my jams, I rocked out as the cars slowly inched their way forward.

When I say traffic was packed, it was packed. It took me about two or three tries to get through each green light before it turned red again. Movement was a rare commodity.

At one point, I made it through a green light just as the light a block ahead of me turned red. One of my personal peeves is tailgating, so I gave the car ahead of me ample room as I slowly coasted forward.

The only reason I mention this is because I have no other explanation as to why the lady behind me got so mad.

I first noticed her because of the erratic movement of her vehicle. She kept swerving back and forth behind me, like she was trying to peek into the lanes on either side of her. She looked angry, and she kept throwing up her arms with these huge, exasperated motions. I assumed she wanted me to catch up to the car in front of me, but I didn't really see the point, considering I was about two car-lengths behind and coming up on a red light. Even after we came to a stop, she kept waving her arms.

Finally, she appeared to have had enough. When she had the chance, she pulled into the next lane over and shot up beside me. I was fairly certain she was going to do something interesting, so I looked over at her.

Sure enough, she threw up her arms and sneered at me, shaking her head with the most disgusted expression.

Unfortunately for her, the lane she'd commandeered was moving more slowly than the lane I stayed in. I cruised far ahead of her before she pulled into the shoulder and zoomed past everyone.

I shook my head at her retreating bumper. Man, it's not like I or anyone else really have control over the traffic. Why is she so angry?

Why is she so angry?

Why do I get so angry?

And thus Traffic Week was born.

Traffic Week: Tight Parking - Throwback Commentary #61

Hey there! This is a commentary about the post I wrote on the 8th of September, 2014. Be sure to click this link before you read on!

An Analogy: Tight Parking, the featured post for the day, represents a time in the history of Change and Cherish Blog when I focused much more on the spiritual aspects of my day-to-day life. I used to tell people C&C was a journal/pseudo-religious blog. Now, I think it leans more toward an author opinion/political blog.

I think Traffic Week has reminded me more of the early days of the blog than recent days. Either way, while the featured post has an analogy all about parking, I have a new question for you ... all about parking.

I live in Provo, Utah, a city that seems intent on maximizing parking wherever possible. As it is, the parking spots are REALLY TINY.

Whenever I try to park between two cars, I am faced with a dilemma threefold.

1.) I could park closer to the left side, thus giving the owner of the right car ample space to get in and out of the driver's seat. However, this option gives me insufficient space, forcing me to squeeze out my own car.

2.) I could park closer to the right side, thus giving myself ample space to get in and out of the driver's seat. However, this option gives the owner of the right car insufficient space, forcing them to squeeze into their own car.

3.) I could park directly in the middle. This will give both myself and the owner of the right car an equal amount of barely more than insufficient space.

So what do you guys usually do? Be sure to leave a comment below!

Hey there! This is a commentary about the post I wrote on the 8th of September, 2014. Be sure to read it!

Traffic Week: Fire Trucks and my Personal Idiocy

I find myself running late for work quite often. When I'm feeling stressed about this potential tardiness, I usually get much more impatient and annoyed with things like stoplights and slow-moving vehicles.

On at least two recent occasions, the traffic around me came to a standstill because of emergency vehicles, specifically fire trucks. People slowed down and pulled over, and I slammed my head against the steering wheel in frustration.

No, the wheel, not the horn.

Of course, looking back on these incidents, I realize I was being stupid.

It's not the fault of the fire truck that I'm running late for work, it's my fault. And if my house was burning down, I'd want the fire truck to ram people in their way.

Okay, maybe not actually ram people, but you know what I mean.

The point is, I find it easy to get angry about obstacles I can't control. Even worse, I allow these obstacles to fuel my resentment toward others. And the absolute worst is that, sometimes, something I perceive as an obstacle is the means for someone else's relief.

So, like my post from Monday, my road rage often gets the better of me. It's time for me to get a new perspective.

Did you notice when I mentioned I looked back on the fire truck incidents? The sad thing is, I didn't realize how dumb I was being until some time after. It took someone else to show me I need to change my ways.

But I'll tell you all about that on Friday ...

Traffic Week: Should the US Strengthen Border Control? - Thinkjoust Tuesday #39

Ok, so maybe border control is only loosely related to traffic, but I'm counting it, anyway.

The borders of the United States are under heavy scrutiny right now. After all, many of our current presidential candidates are demanding major changes in immigration policy. The question is, should border security be increased? Decreased? Or just stay the same?

I plan to use Saturday's post to present my up-to-date opinion about the minimum wage. However, I want to gain a full understanding of the different viewpoints about this issue. My studies will include any arguments you deliver via the comments section or social media engagements.

I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.

For those of you looking to understand more about this issue, here are some recent articles discussing the subject:

US Southwest Border Remains Vulnerable to Illegal Activity

House Democrat: U.S. Muslims Are Being Radicalized by Politicians Calling for Border Control

UNM students protest border control agents at job fair

Pope Francis, Illegal Immigration And Border Security: How Mexico Became Tougher Than The United States on Migrants

Full Measure: Border Control

Traffic Week: Rubbernecking and Why I Hate It

That's right, folks, I have a whole series of posts chatting about traffic! Will I have fun writing them? Definitely! Will you question my ability to write six different posts about traffic? Absolutely! Will I write them anyway?

HECK YES.

Thank you, Meme Faces, for illustrating my rage in ways I never could have written.

Seriously, why do people rubberneck? Let me give you several reasons why you should never rubberneck.

1.) Rubbernecking is pointless.

No matter how long you look at the aftermath of a car accident, you will never be able to figure out all the details. If you start rubbernecking so you can 'figure out what happened,' guess what? I can already tell you what happened. AN ACCIDENT, GENIUS/.You'll never know who was at fault, how many people were injured, how much property damage was caused, or, really, any other detail. An accident's an accident. Move along!

2.) Rubbernecking is rude.

So somebody just got into a car wreck, they're pretty shaken up, police are firing hundreds of questions at them, and now they got the ENTIRE HIGHWAY gawking at their plight. Hey, listen up, rubberneckers, didn't your mamma ever tell you it's rude to stare? And if she didn't, let me tell you something: IT'S FLINAZZLING RUDE TO STARE,

3.) Rubbernecking is selfish.

Let me expose the mindset of a rubbernecker. "Oh, hey, look, someone having a bad day! I'm just going to slow down and stare at them for a while. Who cares that there are hundreds of people behind me, trying to reach home or work or other important things. Yep, I'm just going to slow down and take my time to ogle the accident. I'm in no rush, so why should anyone else be?"

Yo, listen up.

STAHP IT.