NP Rank:
Confusing and conflicting facts about immigration
If your assumption is that economic growth must be fueled by population growth, then you are probably going to lean in the direction of “Let them in,” approach to immigration. It has to do with engineering the right balance of people in the work force to support the portion of society that is dependent on them. For that, there is an ideal mix.
Since there was a boom in babies following WWII, the ratio of dependent people to working people is increasing, for awhile. A new mix in the general population will emerge and a new equilibrium will be reached.
However, the entire world is coming to grips with the stark truth that there are too many people on our fragile planet. The population must be controlled and brought into alignment with sustaining resources.
This places great demand from people for governments and institutions to respond responsibly.
America's competitive advantage, in part, comes from having limited the number of people to resources, and from creating a free society such that people can concentrate on quality of life and not just day-t-day survival as is the case many places in the world.
Do Americans want to preserve and sustain a high quality of life, or let it erode by opening the doors in pursuit of an antiquated growth model?
I am surprised that some conservatives seem to think that wide open is OK. They do that because they plan to cash out now, and don't really care what happens down the road when they are gone. (I think)
It is time to get a grip on immigration – manage it optimally.
Forbes published a special report in the June 28th edition that I reference here.
Forbes Special Report: Immigration
By Philippe Legrain
Opening America's borders is morally right, economically beneficial--and would even make America safer.”
"Immigration: When My Heart And My Chart Collide
By John Zogby
Tolerance is the key to the growth and health of nations.”



Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 10:19 on June 16th, 2010
By the way, I don't buy that "tolerance" is the key. Respect might be, beginning with self-respect, self-knowledge, and self-control.