Trans Texas Corridor with a Customs stop run by the Mexican gov't.

[03cavPA]

I must be living in a cave somewhere. I just heard about this yesterday. They're gonna build a 10 lane highway from Laredo to the Canadian border (eventually), with a MEXICAN customs stop in Kansas City.

Supposedly it will connect to a superport for Chinese goods down in Mexico.


http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=15682



Brochure from the Kansas City smart port website:

http://www.kcsmartport.com/pdf/SmtPrtOneRoute.pdf


Notice that the article in the first link specifically mentions the bypassing of longshoremen's unions and other transport unions as one of the many goals of such a plan.
Wonder how little Mexican truck drivers will work for, and how safe those trucks will be, especially if they don't have to pass US safety inspections?

WTF?

[Broke_as_****]

Eh...I'll believe it when I see it. Thats a huge expenditure of dough and looks to have substancial opposition from some powerful groups.

The bits about relaxed safety requirements and skirting US unions:

If you've ever driven a big truck cross country, you know how anal the DOT can be. I don't claim to know what the restrictions for trucks entering the US are but I would guess at some point (probably 26000+ GVWR) they require an inspection and US registration.

As for the unions getting cut out...I'm not worried about it. I'm confident they will find a way to get in on the money.


So there is that and the fact that the website in the first link has an ad for Ann Coulters book, which immediately throws anything written on that website into question.

[03cavPA]

Yes, I can agree that the first link is in question when the link to Coulter's book popped up, but that second link is from the Kansas City smartport site. Unless it's some elaborate hoax, it looks fairly easy to confirm/deny. Still, the first link provides plenty of other links for reference.

As for safety inspections, the information I can find suggests clear sailing for trucks until they reach the "port" of Kansas City, when they will then enter a customs stop run by, get this, the MEXICAN gov't. They envision the border crossing at Laredo as little more than a "speed bump."

While I don't generally like conspiracy theories, GW has been awfully chummy with the boys from both Mexico and Canada. GW would rather not ruffle any feathers in Mexico over border security, but he had to do something about all the uproar over the amnesty program and local citizenry taking up arms to defend their backyards. Interesting how it has all miraculously calmed down lately. I'm sure the illegals haven't suddenly stopped crossing the border overnight.

I'd have to get some links, but CAFTA was more of an Executive undertaking than it was Congressional.

This is all in the name of "globalism" which fits right in with that "New World Order" and all that.

[fredjacksonsan]

Not a good idea at ALL, for numerous reasons:

1) Illegal immigration. It will make things worse.

2) Drug trafficking. Same.

3) We can't keep the maintenance up on the current roads without ever increasing federal funds, so why build more that are not necessary?

4) Why have a superport in Mexico? (A: cheap labor) They can unload their ship cargo in Vancouver.

5) What real purpose does this serve?

IMO, it's