EDITOR:

I do not think that a border wall with Mexico is justifiable based on its expense or necessity. On Jan. 26, 2017, Mitch McConnell is reported to have said that a wall traversing 1,300 miles on the U.S. Mexico border would cost between $12 billion and $13 billion. The idea would be to keep certain people out of the country.

A solid wall would stop animals from migrating and ranging in the area. It would also change the natural flow of water.

The Chinese were keeping out armies. Is the U.S. situation really equivalent? I’m not even sure that our drug problems aren’t becoming more about misuse of pharmaceuticals and locally made meth rather than imports.

On Nov. 12, 2015, Michigan’s U.S. senators said the Army Corps of Engineers wanted $600 million for a new lock at Sault Ste. Marie.

This was reported in a Detroit Free Press article on Nov. 16, 2015. And what if it was 1 or 2 billion? A new lock would allow newer, larger freighters to pass through. It would help avoid the millions in losses from a problem shutting down the Poe Lock.

Please encourage Congress to spend tax dollars on ambitious building projects that actually make common sense.

Mark A. Hannon

Rapid River