[Muleteam1]

>>Personally I am endorsing this plan for the quality of inspections and I really just want those who are importing to pay the cost of detailed inspection of every container.<<

Any American who savors their freedom supports adequate inspection of imported cargoes that could pose a danger to American life and society. However, your plan for cargo inspection is simply too extravagant from my own perspective. Government works best in a free society when it seeks to be a "speed bump", and not a traffic cop. As a former Federal regulator, and as a proponent of nonintrusive government, I have always said, "the action that works best in government is the least action that works."

Muleteam1

[harpseal]

We will disagree on this as there is no right to free access into America from abroad. The specific danger from smuggled weapons madates a complete inspection fo all cargoes coming into the USA. Due to the nature of current weapons of mass destruction including most especially biological and chemical weapons along with componeents that could be assembled into nuclear devices the inspection is merely an expansion of programs currently in place to cover every port. Cargo Ships inbound to the Port of NY already are routinely boarded by the USCG for inspection. The importers should pay a fee for such inspection.

Already customs inspectors nspect and seal some containers in some foreign ports.

I find I must question your motives in not wanting such inspections. You seem to be objecting to their impact on teh cost of imports. I have merely stated that importers should bear that cost. The estimates on the costs of this were clearly not mine and I have stated repeatedly that the importers fees should reflect the actual cost of such inspections. Not performing complete detailewd inspections places too many Americans at risk.

Not having those whose actions cause the Coast Guard to expend time and money inspecting or the Customs service spending time and money inspecting is merely subsidizing these peopel at the expense of many who are harmed by imports.