A Cup Half-Full; Pelosi's Choice -- May 11, 2019

The transition might be a bit rough -- transitions always are -- but the southern surge, or Pelosi's Choice as some call it -- is going to be a huge economic boost for the US over the next ten years. There will be a huge transfer of wealth and huge amounts of government spending at the federal and state level that will flow through the system. The new immigrants all need to eat; they all need housing. Our federal, state, and local governments won't let them remain homeless.

Conservatively, each family member in the southern surge will need $5,000/year on which to live. The first year the funding will be easily available -- relatively easily available compared to each additional year. The families won't be hiding that money in mattresses or putting it in savings accounts. They will be spending it. It will flow through the economy. One can start to think about investing opportunities.

The numbers coming across the border are incredible. Apparently 1% of two Central American countries entered the US last year illegally. I assume the numbers will be greater for at least one more year.

From LMTonline, this headline: border detention cells in Texas are so overcrowded that the US is using aircraft to move migrants.

That headline is not quite right. The US is not using aircraft to move migrants because the detention centers are so overcrowded. It's because the US has run out of .... drum roll ... buses. Are you kidding? Was there even a nationwide call for buses? You mean the US is so well endowed financially the country has more air seats than bus seats. I find that simply incredible. What a great country.

Overcrowding at Border Patrol stations in South Texas has become so acute in recent days that U.S. authorities have taken the rare step of using aircraft to relocate migrants to other areas of the border simply to begin processing them, according to three Homeland Security officials.

The first flight left McAllen, Texas, on Friday, transferring detainees to Border Patrol facilities in Del Rio, Texas. There are daily flights scheduled for the next several days, with two planned for Tuesday, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the operations.

What a hoot for these families who probably never dreamed of flying anywhere. I assume they get an in-flight snack.

The US government is taking a page out of Amazon's playbook. When you positively, absolutely have to get something (someone, in this case) somewhere overnight, use airplanes.

Speaking of Amazon.

Just the first of many, madeinAlabama:

Amazon’s 855,000-square-foot facility is being constructed on 133 acres of property formerly owned by U.S. Steel off Powder Plant Road in Bessemer, located just minutes away from Birmingham. Total investment in the project is $325 million.

Amazon officials joined Governor Kay Ivey and leaders from Jefferson County and the City of Bessemer at a ceremonial groundbreaking this afternoon at the site, where construction is already under way on the facility.

Ryan Lively, operations manager for Amazon, said the company’s first Alabama fulfillment center will house the latest technology, including state-of-the-art robotics, to help the 1,500 workers pick, pack and ship items such as books, toys, health care products and electronics items to customers in the Southeast and beyond.

Jeff Bezos must see the same cup that I do: half full, and getting fuller.