On a recent snowy morning in Derby, Letourneau accompanied a reporter up to the hill near his home, pointing out along the way a large “Trump 2024” flag he had strung up nearby. Along the road at the foot of the hill, he has a large white and red sign telling state and federal law enforcement to “beware” and stay off of his land.
But he does allow the government to lease a slice of that land to operate a surveillance tower, a deal Letourneau said he signed off on because he thinks the tower is an important tool for local U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. He said he’s heard for years about those same agents arresting people who attempt to enter the U.S. on the road that runs along the hill and, at points, parallels the Canadian border.
“We need something they can work with to catch those aliens,” he said, referring to people who cross the border without authorization. “They’re coming right and left.”
Authoritarians know people will want to escape, so “the border” issue is dual-purpose. It’s to get numbskulls to join in a dumbass plan to get rid of “undesirables” while not realizing these borders go two ways, and when things get so bad that we’re trying to sneak into other countries… it won’t be the other countries trying to stop us.
They know people will try to escape their fascism, that’s why step one is to make it harder to escape.
Leia was wrong, the tighter Vader gripped, the more star systems were crushed in his palm.
My first thought was absolutely “they’re getting ready to keep people in.”
Only a matter of time before a dmz-style border fence goes up and guards are posted facing inward. I hope I’m being hyperbolic.