Build a wall?

"We need to build a wall!"

That was the rallying cry by Donald Trump during numerous campaign rallies leading up to the 2016 election. A wall on our nation's border with Mexico to k eep out illegal immigrants, drug dealers, cartels, drug runners, etc.

The cost was $7 billion, $10 billion, $15 billion or $20 billion depending on the day he was speaking. It continued as his rallying cry after taking the oath of office. Mexico would pay for the wall, he said. The trade agreement will pay for the wall, he said. I never said that Mexico would pay for the wall, he said.

In the end, to distract the nation from the Mueller investigation, Donald Trump held up government funding to force lawmakers into providing $5.7 billion in funding for a wall. A wall which he clearly stated would cost $7 billion or $10 billion or $15 billion or $20 billion.

Cost forward 35 days and the partial government shutdown drags on. 800,000 government workers have now missed two paychecks. But they'll receive back pay when things are settled. Yes, WHEN things are settled. but when will that be? It doesn't look like it will be in the next 14 days so that's another missed paycheck. How would you be doing in terms of cash flow if you missed three consecutive paychecks? I know that I'd be completely fucked but that's probably because I voted for Hillary in 2016. I'm sure all of the MAGA mouth breathers out there wouldn't miss three consecutive paychecks what so ever.

But the biggest question is this: will a southern border wall solve anything? The likely answer is no. This is all grandstanding. Donald Trump gets a Viagra-induced boner over building big, shiny things. Lawmakers will continue to become increasingly divided on the issue of a southern border wall. Trump will continue to tweet and give out folksy and insulting names to those who disagree with him and the shutdown will drag on.

Today though, air traffic controllers at New York City's LaGuardia airport called in sick (as they rightfully should after 35 days of no pay and no end in sight) leaving flights to be grounded as the ripple effect begins to delay and cancel flights across the country. This is good. This is what would happen in any other industrialized country where workers aren't getting paid. A sick-out or an all-out strike is logical and the right thing to do. Delayed or canceled flights get attention. The person responsible gets even more scrutiny fo this actions. Reporters put the screws to him and his spokespeople. It may not end the current government shutdown any sooner but it may actually wake up some of the borderline Trump supporters and change their minds about who they voted for. Sure, he'll likely win a second term in 2020 but if being shamed into doing the right thing actually works, then a pile of inconveniences is a small price to pay.