Our Insane Immigration Policy
George Will today tees off with the story of Dallas icon Jack Kilby, inventor of the microchip, to ask why we are deliberately requiring the smartest people in the world to leave our country. (Of course, Kilby was no immigrant; I think the point is that he was very smart.) Those who opposed the comprehensive immigration policy (hello, fellow Republicans!) should have to answer for the consequences. I can hear them now: we didn’t mean those people, we meant those other people. The blunt fact is, though, you ended up keeping the status quo, and the status quo is hurting America. Good work.
11 Comments to “Our Insane Immigration Policy”
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They took our jobs!
Read the article, Wick!
“It is, however, politically difficult, partly because this reform is being held hostage by factions — principally, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — insisting on “comprehensive” immigration reform that satisfies their demands.”
It is the hispanic groups, not Republicans as you claim, that are preventing an increase in green cards for doctoral students because they want an open border with Mexico in exchange for that concession.
I lost some respect for George Will when he said that most americans are better off today then they were 8 years ago.
Wick - an immigration policy should allow people that contribute to the state and are productive, pay taxes, follow the law, to reside in the U.S. Of course a coveted chip engineer or heart surgeon is going to take higher precendance over an hourly worker. That is what free markets are about. The best rise to the top. If you don’t like it, go to North Korea and live like a robot.
Americans have a sense of entitlement to a standard of lifestyle. The free market world says many immigrants would love to have the lifestyle of a lower class American or less. This is why jobs get moved elsewhere. While we are ******** about jobs, China is building a new middle class that is far more thankful than an American in the same class. Welcome to globalization.
“They took our jobs!”
How many of your friends are lined up to do yard work, shingling, laying concrete, heavy construction, washing cars, slaughtering chickens and cows, house cleaning, agriculture and much more? I doubt many jobs have actually been lost to immigrants. They take the jobs at the bottom rung very often.
Lee, watch southpark much? Guess not.
I though Bob Noyce invented the microchip… Anyhow, I couldn’t agree more, Wick. Why does the US educate the smartest engineering students from China, India, South Korea, and Japan, and then not allow them to work here? Of course they are going to utilize their education for economic advantage back at home. Makes no sense at all.
They Took Our Jobs!!!
Jason, what about the Hispanic female VP at a telecom or chip manufacturer who has 2 small children, and so wants to bring her 65-year old Mother over from Mexico to help watch the children while she travels on business?
According to your rationale, Mother would be at the end of the line.
Devil’s in the details, as usual.
Here’s a current Rasmussen poll about illegal immigration and here’s a quote from it -
By a 63% to 28% margin, voters continue to believe it is more important to gain control of the border than to resolve the status of those who are already in the country illegally. Democrats are more evenly divided than other voters, but a plurality (49%) agree that controlling the border is the top priority.
And one more quote -
Republicans and unaffiliated voters are a bit more supportive of a welcoming policy than Democrats
The only people who will have to answer for the consequences for the failed comprehensive immigration bill are those who supported amnesty for illegals.
@Julie
An immigration policy shouldn’t give immigrants carte blache access to bring over their family members.
In your example, she can hire a nanny like a lot of other people. No policy will address all scenarios and make it easy for everyone. Nothing can.
However, an immigration policy should allow people in who will contribute to the well being of the nation not be a burden on tax payer resources.
Working in the tech biz - immigrants often times bring a lot more to the table than Americans. They typically work harder, complain less, and are happy to have opportunities than Americans think they are entitled to.