Who Really Pays?

I'm all for privatizing many government programs. Like brothels for instance (yes, Baylan I'm shamefully linking back to a previous post). But, I'm extremely uneasy with the so-called "minutemen" who voluntarily patrol the border looking for illegal immigrants to turn in. For starters, it costs me money. Sure, they volunteer their time. But, every person they capture is incarcerated and deported on my dime. And since most of these "vigilantes" are retired soldiers and law enforcement officers who collect government pensions, us taxpayers are actually paying for them to sit on their butts all day. Talk about welfare queens.

Sadly, their ranks grew by one today. But, that's one too many.

Minuteman volunteers have been responsible for the apprehension of hundreds of illegal aliens since they started their border vigils in April, but their biggest catch may be a prominent Texas veterinarian. Dr. Michael Vickers, a cattle rancher and a leading Republican Party committeeman in south Texas, has joined the Minutemen, bringing what many say is credibility to an organization labeled as "vigilantes" by President Bush, a fellow Texan. "He believes in America. He believes in the rule of law. He believes in what we are doing, and his help has been invaluable," said Al Garza, Texas president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, which began foot and horse patrols here Saturday that will continue indefinitely.