A recent Youtube video, doubtless put together by an individual with a smug, south-of-the-border business school worldview, pointed out two remarkable phenomena that have taken place along border towns these past few decades.
The voice alleged, businesses on the US side of the border have shuttered while Mexico’s have progressed as a result. So far, so good.
The presenter, an obvious AI voice and host, made their point but, one suspects, they erred when they pointed fingers at the culprits, the actors that caused these changes.
The presenter blamed businesses on the US side for the mess, an obvious superficiality.
One submits a minor correction. These businesses and US border cities suffered the most from the changes wrought by policies from the nation’s capital.
This column’s view comes from someone who has lived along the border for a lifetime, one very familiar with cross-border rituals, businesses and laws.
Once upon a time, crossing the border from Mexico into the US entailed no more than either saying, “American citizen” or waving one’s passport/green card. Period. After a scrutinizing glance the border official would wave an individual or a car through.
Lines along the port of entry seldom formed, much less backed up. Crossing the US/Mexico border in either direction was actually an adventure, full of expectation, a matter of seconds.
Crossing and glancing inspections at designating ports of entry were no inconvenience. merely a courtesy to the host country one requested to enter.
One spent a few minutes or several hours visiting/shopping on either side of the border, then went home. Hassle free.
One day, zany presidents starting with Nixon, decided folks living on the border had time to waste waiting in long, hot, carbon monoxide‑saturated lines. So, by fiat, the border crossers’ precious time got shunted — if not stolen — wasted waiting in endless queues, life-time that had been set aside to shop, dine or visit with tias, compas, abuelas, brothers, sisters, mamas and friends.
Why should anyone waste their time, energy and patience over this pointless, new-and-improved, time-sapping regressive ritual?
Potential shoppers and visitors became discouraged with these hostile waits. They adapted and opted to remain in their respective countries to shop and recreate. Ham‑fisted, crossing‑delay government policies. Who knew?
Mexico adapted. It opened US franchises south of the border, from KFC to Wal-Mart to Costco, et al, for those who insisted on buying American‑brands, mainly for the cachet involved. Retail and wholesale trade on the Mexican side thrived!
Merchants on the US side went broke, landlords boarded up downtown buildings; border cities lost 100’s of millions in sales and property taxes — their main sources of operating revenue — thanks to blundering decisions made in DC by reckless, ideologue politicians and short‑sighted, ignorant policy‑makers. (Recall: Unlike the states, the federal government can print money to exchange for goods and services. So, its stupidest policies and outright blunders have little, if any, effect on policy makers …)
A multibillion, multi‑generational retail and wholesale export economy and cottage industries — not to mention personal and professional relationships — that had been nurtured for nearly a century along the border were all but destroyed by shortsighted presidents, all DC entitled officials oblivious to and unaffected by border delays they created from their ivory towers … Stupid.
From Brownsville to Nogales to San Ysidro one can witness the wasteland that once‑thriving US border cities have become.
What a waste.
Be well.
Carlos Acuña is an El Centro attorney.
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