This story in the LA Times gives food for thought.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested . . . : “We can do so much better in the prison system alone if we can go and take inmates, for instance the 20,000 inmates that are illegal immigrants that are here, and get them to Mexico.”

I assume here that the governor is speaking of illegal immigrants who have committed additional crimes in California, and whom the state therefore, quite rightly, wishes to punish. A person whose only crime is illegal residence should just be deported.

The trick would be getting Mexico to agree. What’s in it for them? For decades the Mexican authorities have been exporting their crime problem to the U.S.A. for us to deal with, along with their unemployment problem, their education problem, their race problem, and some of their health problems. From Mexico’s point of view this has been a wonderfully successful policy. Why reverse it?

On the other hand, the governor’s proposal should have the support of the tranzis. Since national borders are mere artificial impediments to the free flow of goods and labor, why not let Comparative Advantage work its magic?

Indeed, why restrict ourselves to illegal immigrants and Mexico? California could run a corrections program at a fraction of the present cost by sending all state prisoners for incarceration in, say, Ethiopia. If put to one of those referendums the Golden State is famous for, I bet this idea would have overwhelming support.