an example of the confusion today

http://fbihopopeds.blogspot.com/2006/03/paul-krugman-north-of-border.html

In an earlier post I pointed out my belief that what so-called "Conservatives" are alleged to believe about immigration...and my argument that it was falsely held to be a conservative position. Along comes a more "Liberal" view that pretty much slams the Bush policies trying to make it easier for illegals...no, I did NOT see that one coming!

First, the net benefits to the U.S. economy from immigration, aside from the large gains to the immigrants themselves, are small. Realistic estimates suggest that immigration since 1980 has raised the total income of native-born Americans by no more than a fraction of 1 percent.
You may or may not have picked up on my crack about simply redistributing money among people...the U.S. economy is not about the income of individuals on most models...it is about total dollars circulated. It is similar to GIMROY for you business majors...how many dollars circulated how many times? I stand by my statement that immigration results in more money LEAVING the states, at least in regard to Mexican immigration. And I still don't have an issue with that.


That's why it's intellectually dishonest to say, as President Bush does, that immigrants do "jobs that Americans will not do." The willingness of Americans to do a job depends on how much that job pays - and the reason some jobs pay too little to attract native-born Americans is competition from poorly paid immigrants.

I already mentioned I thought that statement by Bush was dubious. Well, this answer is just as bad. As a nation we are unwilling to work for less than we want...not less than we need, less than we want. That does not mean it is not what the job is worth. Or that other jobs are not paid much more than they are worth. (see Congress, cops, etc.) To me, that is never a good reason. "We need to pay them more because they want more."

Basic decency requires that we provide immigrants, once they're here, with essential health care, education for their children, and more.

Bull smurf. Basic decency requires people to obey the law. If you can't provide for yourself and break laws to get here, don't ask me to take care of you because I have no interest in that. It is hard enough to take care of my own family. Basic decency has little place in a debate about people who, by virtue of location, are intrinsically criminals.

. Realistically, we'll need to reduce the inflow of low-skill immigrants. Mainly that means better controls on illegal immigration

Ironically, if you read this chowder head's opening, he loves the poem about "give me your hungry and your poor" What did I miss? Who do you think is hungry and poor? The highly skilled and trained?

We need to do something about immigration, and soon. But I'd rather see Congress fail to agree on anything this year than have it rush into ill-considered legislation that betrays our moral and democratic principles.



Amen.