US/Mexico Border: not so dangeorus after all (and other silly arguments to keep immigration on the front page)

Published on June 4, 2010 By dan_l In Blogging

Sometimes you read something, and you know there's some bad statistics going on somewhere. You can just smell the problem there:

The top four big cities in America with the lowest rates of violent crime are all in border states: San Diego, Phoenix, El Paso and Austin, according to a new FBI report.

"the top 4 big cities". Really? Austin? San Diego? Wow. Austin is a 'big city' now? Who the hell figured this out? Barney Fife? Don't get me wrong: I like Austin, San Diego is a good time, El Paso isn't bad---but none of these would I really call "big cities".

Also this:

And an in-house Customs and Border Protection report shows that Border Patrol agents face far less danger than street cops in most U.S. cities.

Also a little weird considering the difference in the environment and the responsibilities.

Comments

BONEHEADdb

on Jun 04, 2010

msnbc?

"The border is safer now than it's ever been," said U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Lloyd Easterling.

Do ya think this guy might be lying? Na...he couldn't be, he works for the government.

Dr Guy

on Jun 04, 2010

El Paso and San Diego are indeed border cities. But Phoenix and Austin are just cities in border states. Not really near the borders (Yuma is, as is Calexico and Brownsville).

As for size, I guess that is just a matter of taste preference.

Also this:

And an in-house Customs and Border Protection report shows that Border Patrol agents face far less danger than street cops in most U.S. cities.

Also a little weird considering the difference in the environment and the responsibilities.

Indeed! IRS agents face less danger too. Perhaps the author was just trying to get orange juice from apples?

CharlesCS

on Jun 04, 2010

Great story. I didn't know border patrol agents were doing the same job cops in cities do. Their not? Well I'll be damned. Who would have thunk?

dan_l

on Jun 05, 2010

Yeah, this is one of those bits where you know you're hearing crap. It's a lot like when the other side of the argument insists that there is a chronic trench warfare between some drug lord named El Gato Gordo and people on the border.

I'll never understand what it is about this issue that results in so much BS.

Dr Guy

on Jun 05, 2010

I'll never understand what it is about this issue that results in so much BS.

The truth will not sell newspapers.

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