OPINION:
With the federal government shutdown now approaching a month in length, I know federal workers are beginning to feel the financial pinch, and for their sake hope the impasse is resolved sooner rather than later.
Living in Northern Virginia, I know and am friends with a few of these federal employees, so I can get their views on the issue of a border wall firsthand. For Americans living outside the federal bubble that is Washington, the concept of a dispute over a border wall may seem ridiculous. Many Americans have never visited our southern border with Mexico, and may not have a grasp of the necessity for a border wall, fence or other physical barrier. Let me try and put things in perspective.
Say your local grocery store, maybe a Safeway or Giant, had 10 entrances and exits, but only one checkout counter. The store had security cameras at all the doors, but only one security guard at the checkout counter. The other nine doors were not secured. I wonder if the local hoodlums would soon realize that they could visit the store, do their “shopping” and just walk out without paying. Sure, they might appear on the security camera, but the lone guard can’t leave his post, so they leave unimpeded.
Meanwhile, law-abiding customers patiently stand in line at the checkout counter, waiting their turn to make their purchases.
RANDALL STEPHENS
Falls Church, Va.
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