Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] Timely article about IE (ROI?)-UK<br/>
Date: Sep 24, 2004 @ 15:09<br/>
Author: Lowell G. McManus (&quot;Lowell G. McManus&quot; &lt;mcmanus71496@...&gt;)<br/>
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<div id="ygrps-yiv-1512253108">Kevin wrote:<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt; How is this different to the borders between Schengen countries? The UK and<br/>
&gt; the ROI operate a common travel area, so there doesn&#39;t need to be<br/>
&gt; immigration controls.<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>If that&#39;s their choice, they shouldn&#39;t be surprised that the border attracts<br/>
various misconduct.  They have invited it, so they shouldn&#39;t complain.  When<br/>
they wake up, they know how to stop it.  That doesn&#39;t mean that legitimate<br/>
travel or commerce should stop.<br/>
<br/>
Leaving an international boundary totally unguarded (and in this case even<br/>
blatantly unmarked) is like leaving ones door unlocked.<br/>
<br/>
Mike D. wrote:<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><span title="ireply"> &gt; & of course most of what is called border crime comprises<br/>
&gt; supposed offenses that wouldnt even exist if the borders didnt<br/>
<br/>
 </span></blockquote>True, but a boundary must exist if Ireland wants to be a separate nation from<br/>
the United Kingdom,  which it became in 1921 after long agitation.  Sovereign<br/>
nations are free to have differing laws and governmental systems.  (That is why<br/>
we have different nations.)  This, and not the boundary, is what creates the<br/>
opportunities and incentives for misdeeds.  In the unlikely event that two<br/>
separate nations had precisely the same laws, there would be no such incentives<br/>
or opportunities.<br/>
<br/>
Lowell G. McManus<br/>
Leesville, Louisiana, USA</div>