I don’t think you can really call what was there before a wall. This talking point doesn’t jive at all with reality. The old thing was basically just a vehicle barrier in vast stretches. That’s been
/being replaced.
While drugs are a problem, I’d consider the human trafficking a much greater humanitarian concern. This will cut that down and make it harder for the cartels. Human trafficking by the cartels was on a steep incline. Stricter border security will help refocus assets strategically to better combat the drugs and human trafficking components as opposed to utilizing them for open desert. The wall is also something that wasn’t a new idea, it was actually something the previous couple of administrations promised and punted on, including President Obama.
In any event, anything that makes it more expensive for the cartels to operate is a plus. As is declaring war specifically on them. We’re able to bring to bear a lot more budget and Intel collection mechanisms we didn’t have at our disposal previously.
Stock growth is indicative of the health of industry, also reflected in the employment numbers.
Literally anyone with a 401k was benefitting, and many companies offer 401k matching through their corporate stocks. If businesses are healthy, they can and we’re using the money for additional direct to employee benefits. Wage growth was also up across the targeted demographics. Internal trainings and benefits were also up. Industry driven infrastructure projects previously held were being completed which was also sprawling financial impacts in all sectors.
And those companies were in turn growing and providing additional employment opportunities. We were at full employment, so much so that people previously left uncounted were actually coming back into the job market.
Something that wasn’t mentioned were the gains made in the small business sectors directly a result of regulatory changes ushered in by this administration. Minority small business ownership and growth were waaaaay up.