I know!! But when the US Government is doing it...
Now, these figures are high, because they are lifted from the costs of the Israeli wall. Here, we wouldn't have landmines and all the bells & whistles.
But that's okay- let em take the high estimate and compare it to the social costs. It just makes the economic point more powerfully, because it pales in comparison regardless.
Using Mexican labor.
You forget - this estimate is from the Federal Goverment - you know, the ones who spend $500 for a $12 Wal-Mart hammer and $2K for a toilet seat.... By the time the appropriate kick-backs are paid to interested parties, then the cost goes up to AT LEAST $568.18 (remember - government contracts always under-estimate the costs).
Remember.....
This is GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING here...
Prevailing Wage, environmental impact studies, endless paperwork, fees, permits, graft, lobbying, prefferred supplier, and minority set-asides all have to be included in the costs, lawsuits.....
The average person doesn't deal with all of that (and more) when putting up a fence......