Open Borders, what I think: A border, whether your skin, the door on your house, or the disputed lines on a map are a physical mechanism for the protection and preservation of life. If this idea intrigues you, or upsets you, I invite you to continue to read.
A border has a simple purpose. Its most base purpose is to keep contained that which is valuable to the sustaining of life, to let in the same, and to filter that which is detrimental to life. It exists as a passive defensive mechanism, and therefore, in its function, does not violate the Non-Agression Principle. It could be argued that the "ultimate" border for humanity as a whole is the edge of our atmosphere, and our line of sight to the sun. I think this is correct, however, for so long as there exists within this border those that would do others harm, weather by murder or enslavement, or theft, for those that seek to freely associate with others who prefer the voluntary exchange of property and ideas, it is incumbent upon them to establish the means by which their pursuit of life, liberty, and their happiness can be jealously guarded. The border is the first guard. Arms are the next. Thomas Paine put it succinctly in regards to the principle and means of self-defence, "The peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the vile and abandoned while they neglect the means of self-defence. The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside....Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them;... the weak will become prey to the strong."
I support our border. I support a strong Canada. I support the policy that would allow through our border those who value tolerance, freedom of association, the Non-Agression Principle, and the voluntary exchange of property, and value. I support a policy that would effectively keep out those that do not agree with the above mentioned values. No border is foolproof though, and that is why I also support the keeping and bearing of arms. I will write on that next in a post about the "The Balance of Power, The Government vs the Citizen".