Isn't the heart of the problem that we have a serious drug problem of untold thousands of American drug addicts and so-called recreational users? What are we doing to prevent addiction in comparison to the millions spent trying to shut down the suppliers with little or no obvious results. Seems that we have a thriving market that many are more than willing to supply. It somewhat analogous to prohibition. Perhaps the government should use some of the money that is going into building walls could have greater returns in drug prevention programs. Something similar to the cigarettes campaign that was effective in prevention of addiction that stressed the serious health consequences might be move effective than trying to cut off the supply.

Gawd, he even got cute with the name. Taking a break from eating immigrant orphans, Ted?

I don’t think the drug lords even come close to the billion $ range.

According to the Rand Corporation El Chapo's take was around $6.6 billion per year. The Justice Department estimates all the cartels combined bring in anywhere from $18-39 billion each year, with El Chapo's take anywhere from 40-60% of that.

No one really knows the exact amount, but United State's citizens insatiable desire to get high adds up to many billions of dollars per year. That's a staggering amount of money.

LOU REED
Waiting For The Man Lyrics

I'm waiting for my man, 26 Dollars in my hand
Up to Lexington 125
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I'm waiting for my man
Hey white boy, what you doing uptown
Hey white boy, you chasing our women around ?
Oh, pardon me, Sir, it's furthest from my mind
I'm just lookin' for a dear, dear friend of mine
I'm waiting for my man
Here he comes, he's all dressed in black
P.R. shoes and and big straw hat
He's never early, he's always late
First thing you learn is that you always gotta wait
I'm waiting for my man
Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares
He's got the works, gives you sweet taste
Then you gotta split
Because you've got no time to waste, ah
I'm waiting for my man
Baby, don't you holler
Darling don't you bawl and shout
I'm feeling so good
I'm gonna work it all out
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
I'm waiting for my man

That is a serious chunk of change. How much does a comparable fix cost now days, or did they overestimate the cost back then.

Three fixes pays for a 1 br apartment in our area.

However that’s how much they take in, they do have high overhead costs, guns, ammo, hookers, private jets, the costs of running an operation like that can kill you!

Yeah, their overhead costs must be enormous. However, if someone gets in your way it costs about 75 cents for a .45mm round of ammunition. That's really how they'd rather settle their disputes.

I always wondered; why did they keep going when they could see what the end result was going to be? I mean, if I'm bringing in 5 million a month and everyone wants to kill me, and every other drug kingpin, I'm pretty sure that after a few months, I've accumulated 20-30 million. I'm gonna pat my number 2 guy on the back and say "Good luck, partner, I'm out". Take my millions and LEAVE before I get killed or arrested.

Wherever there's a simplistic idea to be floated, Cruz will be there
Wherever there's an opening for pathetic, silly, stomach turning opportunism, Cruz will be there

I just wish there were hungry man-eating Lions wherever Cruz was

here is an idea. How about using that money for rehab centers? Drug education in schools? A stupid wall is just that - STUPID. Ted's whiskers do not hide enough of his ugly mug. He should be required to wear a bag over his face.

Please let it be so.

And on top of that, they must pay for the cost of the Iraq War. I am sick and tired of paying for Republican stupid mistakes.

It's also was an idea that's been floated since at least by 2016.

Criminal asset forfeiture already happens. They are looking to seize 14 billion from Guzman. I can't find a estimate for annual criminal asset forfeitures. The DOJ site shows 2.2 billion annual forfeitures but I'm not sure if that's all assets or just criminal (I think all). But I don't think that includes other agencies.

Wikipedia says the money is already distributed for law enforcement uses

What I this bill does is create a special slush fund for the border security by taking the money from other agencies. The money can be used for any politically motivated reason such as building walls which have nothing to do with preventing drug trafficking. Congress should be directing where money is spent.

At a minimum this is a trick to use the potential 14 billion Guzman forfeiture for the wall.

I also think that once border security latches on to this funding source they will want to add civil forfeiture to the mix.

paid for by all the laundered drug/sexslave/oligarch money that has gone to repub senators and representatives and president*s.

Does that count?

will end up in this "wall fund?". And subsequently given to Russia.

to allow Rethugs to say Democrats voted against border security. I doubt this bill passing in the House.

In reality, a large portion of any seized drug money should be used for drug prevention and rehab efforts.....

Then again, go for it Ted Cruz.

a few 50 foot long steel 'i' beams and let them get after it....Let those idiots build a few miles of the wall..Show everyone just how bad they want it..

won't be a problem because it's going on federal land. I remember when Shrub built his fence, ranchers and farmers along the border wouldn't accept the money they were offered by eminent domain they threatened to fight Shrub in court. I remember Shrub threatened to condemn their land so that they wouldn't get fair market value. Many were afraid of their land being condemned so they accepted the offer for their land.

I say let them do it, few people who own private land along the border want a fence. I envision this wall will bring more people into the Democratic party. Why fight this, even if it is a ridiculous waste of money? The right wing corporate controlled M$M will be all in favor of this stupid idea. I can hear Chuck Toad now asking, "why not?"

Heck, when Trump gets prosecuted for laundering money and tax evasion when he gets out of office, we can use his forfeited money to pay for his wall.

Let them do it, that leaves Republicans with one issue to run on in 2020, abortion. Maybe when we look in Pecker's safe we can find out that Trump paid for one or 2 abortions in his day. Just something to think about.

And they need to bring cash. Anyone who may have had one for him would NOT come out for nothing. And they better have GOOD proof.

Giving the plan for your heist to the Senate generally isn't the smartest of idea, but Raphael isn't the brightest bulb.

and it should go to them since they by far suffered more from El Chapo than the people of the United States. Oh who am I kidding, the government of the United States is both a farce and a criminal enterprise. Expecting it to do the right thing is like believing pigs can fly.

Saw on "What On Earth" last night that there is series of small blimps along border that have drastically reduced the number of drug planes crossing the southern border.

No eminent domain, no change in wind/weather, no blocking fauna migrations, ...

NOTHING worse for this country than a FUCKING REPUBLICON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You, Mr. Lyin' Ted, reimburse the US for the $$$ lost during the shut-down you caused over your childish tantrum thrown over the Affordable Care Act, you Santorum on the Ass of the country.