Just was discussing what to take on my planned trip to Cuba this season.  Seems like the best bet is stuff like nails, concrete screws, Romex, drill bits, power saw blades if you are constrained by space on your travels.

So many first world folks don't realize what it is like to live in places where you can't just drive 15 minutes to Walmart or Lowes and buy what you need.  One thing I always think I take too much of, but never do, is toilet paper.  In many countries you simply can not buy toilet paper at any price.

The spaghetti models seem to be slightly different on every channel and that is because they are predictions.  Most of them show this thing turning north just before the Florida keys.  Miami may get hit harder than us down here.  They love to make predictions.

fwiw, I believe Trump often keeps his mega-yacht in St. Maarten, and he does have a home there also, so perhaps there is some potential that some may enjoy a little schadenfreude to his detriment.

I probable doomed Tampa by buying those tickets last week.

Bottled water is already sold out at the local stores in Orlando. But they will restock twice before whatever happens is anywhere near here next week.

Prime Minister Minnis says the Category 5 storm poses a dire threat to the islands of Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay and Ragged Island.
People who live on the islands will be flown Wednesday to Nassau on the island of New Providence. Minnis says it will be the largest hurricane evacuation in the history of the Bahamas

The facts are pretty simple and straightforward:
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America, due to its growing economy, has had a need for the type of labor Mexico (and, other Southern countries) has/had in abundance.

Americans, for all sorts of debatable, psychological reasons, have been resistant/disinclined to fill those job openings......at least in sufficient numbers.

Every American President knew, or, became educated to the fact that, even if by a magical act,  every "illegal" simply vanished, the result would be a major recession/depression.
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Of course, complicating our ability to "fix" this, seemingly, intractable problem has been America's unique obsession for self suicide, popularly known as "Politics." Somewhere along the line our representatives decided that hurting the other party politically was a higher calling than aiding and improving the lives of America's citizens.

Also, what has been most unhelpful in the quest for a solution has been the dissemination of rumors, distortions, untruths, and, politically motivated exaggerations......Lies.

1."They're taking American jobs.".........wrong
2."They're driving down wages.".........wrong
3."Employers want cheap (even below min. wage) labor.".......wrong again.

Look, people have been doing criminal, inhumane things to their fellow human beings like, forever. But, the all too common canard of evil, money grubbing employers looking to cheat and exploit desperate foreign workers is, simply, unequivocally, untrue.  I have been an employer for something like 50 years, in almost every state East of the Mississippi. And, I have wanted what, virtually, every other employer I've ever known has wanted: honest, dependable employees, willing to do a productive day's work in return for a safe, competitive income providing work environment.

I could go on and on discussing this, but, I want to wrap up by asking the question I started with: "Why are we still having this debate?" We are not the only country on the planet that has a border with a country less economically prosperous. How do they handle their "illegal" problem? What is so hard about making these workers available in a legal, efficient manner?

p.s.

My heart and hopes go out to everyone possibly in danger from the awful hurricane, Irma. What can I say? The danger is real, this is not a time for perceived heroics, or, tempting the hands of fate. Listen to your public officials and those trained to deal with these things. If you're even thinking: leave, or, don't leave?