Lazarus411 on 25/6/2006 at 19:07
You know I was just looking at the population figures for the US and I found that the US has a total pop. of roughly 300 million, which is a lot but when you look at the pop. density it's only about 30/sq.km. Contrast this with your average european country (i.e. UK, France, Germany etc.) which typically has a few hundred per sq.km.
So my question is, do you think America could take in a few hundred million more migrants from poorer countries around the world? There's no reason why it should an adverse effect on the economy as long as the economy grows to match the influx of migrants which in theory it should. I think when you consider how absolutely massive the continent of America is and it's relatively low pop. density I think that America could do a lot more to help people from the poorer parts of the world by taking them into their country with open arms, so that they too can enjoy the benefits of the western lifestyle. What do you think?
jtr7 on 25/6/2006 at 19:14
Environmental issues.
Gang-activity/drugs/prison issues.
Hospitals.
Schools.
Employment.
Homelessness.
Welfare.
Terrorism.
We've gotta fix a few things first, and I ain't too hopeful that it'll happen in my lifetime.
TheGreatGodPan on 25/6/2006 at 19:27
People don't want migrants here for the same reason that migrants want to come here: we prefer living in the U.S to their crappy countries.
paloalto on 25/6/2006 at 19:42
Actually migrants move from place to place or they wouldn't be migrants.You mean immigrants I bielieve.There are many reasons for having an immigration policy or else why have them in the first place.Our politicians just ignores ours
because there are jobs that we just won't do.And we are now competing in a global labor market so it would be hard for american companies to compete without the cheaper labor.It sucks,but that is the reality of it all.
OrbWeaver on 25/6/2006 at 20:08
What's in it for the US?
Like it or not, most entities act in their own best interests. Countries are no different.
demagogue on 25/6/2006 at 22:01
I don't have time to make my thinking so clear right now ... but two things that are clear is that (1) every State must have an immigration policy for a number of reasons, economic and national security being the two biggest; and (2) the US (at least) cannot take that policy 100% seriously, e.g., because let's face it: employers like cheap Mexican labor. So it actually turns a blind eye to a very great number of illegal immigrants, just like your post suggests we do (a perverse paradox being that it subjects good-faith immigrants taking the legal route to the fire, giving them a beweildering set of hurdles to jump over so it's practically impossible to do in one lifetime ... It might actually be much easier to go the illegal route, at least if you're Mexican).
Anyway, there's a lot to say about US immigration policy; it's the hot topic of the day. Most people are disatisfied with the current policy, though, that's for sure ... either too harsh or too lenient.
SD on 25/6/2006 at 22:25
Quote Posted by TheGreatGodPan
People don't want migrants here for the same reason that migrants want to come here: we prefer living in the U.S to their crappy countries.
I surely can't be the only one who felt a huge WTF when I read this. Is it your honest opinion that immigrants necessarily bring down the quality of the host country when they immigrate? You do realise that your country (and mine, for that matter) is pretty much
entirely made up of immigrants?
jprobs on 25/6/2006 at 23:02
Immigrants are welcome in the US... As long as they are "LEGAL" immigrants. This country was built by immigrants and there is no problem with taking all we can get. The problem is the millions of illeagal immigrants who don't pay taxes, medicare, social security, etc.. but seem to be able to vote!?
Basically, quit living off of my back and pay your fair share and you can immigrate all you want to.
Phydeaux on 25/6/2006 at 23:23
All the cheap labor arguments aside, one of the biggest problems is that illegals are a drain on the system (medial services, etc) without putting back into it (taxes, social security, etc).
Er, jprobs beat me to it.
I work and have worked with many non-Americans. A few permanent residents, some on visas. All legal. Oddly, none of them came from Mexico (lots of Russians, interestingly enough).
demagogue on 25/6/2006 at 23:35
Quote Posted by jprobs
Immigrants are welcome in the US... As long as they are "LEGAL" immigrants.
I know my post said this point, but maybe didn't have the right emphasis. I think this quote by jprobs is exactly
backwards. Immigrants are welcome in the US as long as they are "ILLEGAL".
That's right: we want cheap Mexican labor, so Mexicans swim across that river and start "illegally" working for our construction companies and authorities will turn a blind eye to you until Judgment Day, all 10,000s of you that have been living here unharasses for years and keep pouring in. But try to take the legal route and the authorities will hound and threaten you every step of the way. (This coming from living with my girlfriend taking the painful, long, difficult legal route.) And of course if you are an unskilled Mexican worker, I think the US literally allows about a dozen a year on a legal track to get into the US, and the road is very long and very hard.
On the other hand, 1,000s continue to pour across the border illegally, sometimes sent back to Mexico, and they just come right back without consequence. To my eyes, it seems like the illegals are significantly more welcome here than the legals. We might not *say* it, but it's the message we are giving.
I read an editorial that gave all the statistics to support this point; I'll try to find it because I don't want to make them up. But this is the gist of it.
