immigration

[topaz]

So I don't understand the big ruckus over immigration.

Specifically, I don't understand why immigration is restricted.  I don't understand why we perceive a need to have a category of "illegal immigrants" at all, why we don't classify anyone who comes to this country as a potential citizen if they pass all of the appropriate tests, and a non-citizen resident until then.

I understand the problems with having a large number of aliens who place a burden on public resources and don't contribute to the tax pool.  But it seems like a problem that would be more effectively addressed by taxing resident aliens than by trying to block them from coming here to live at all.

Anyway, happy immigration protest day to everyone!

Comments

[macthud]

The ruckus over immigration stems from -- misunderstood and misplayed arguments about overpopulation, and about the large broods of the underclasses, and about eugenics, and lots more...

Lots of the current ruckus also comes from fuddled memories of the not-too-distant past -- the Italian floods, and the Irish, and the German, and the English, and the Chinese, and the Vietnamese, and the Korean, and.... and most of these floods did not quite correspond to the wars most immediately associated with these folks' nations of origin.

As with so much American future -- we're condemned to relive the past, for we cannot be bothered to learn and study its facts (which differ radically from most of what is taught in school)....

And as with so much American politics -- logic is barely visible from within the picture, never mind extending to be within the picture, itself. Statesmanship is a dying practice, sadly.