Changes

::: The fundamental reason our country, the US of A is a magnet for the rest of the world is the simple fact that each person has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  By any measure, we have benefited enormously by both legal AND illegal immigration, I know you disagree.  Fine.  The workers who are "exploited" are still better off than they would have been in their own country (yes, that includes legal AND illegal immigrants).  In fact what is happening is that because the world is slowly trying to catch up to the US and as more opportunities are made available to people in those countries, there is less and less interest and pressure for many to emigrate from their native lands and immigrate to the US - these trends are evident in Higher Education, for sure.  Unlike other countries, we are dynamic - people who are laid off, do find other ways to survive/thrive.  Yes, many are hurt irreversibly and never recover.  No system is perfect, what we have in the US comes close.  Adam Smith explained it best - supply and demand.  It is OUR demand for goods/services and OUR refusal to pay any more than what we WANT to pay that results in producers trying to find ways to reduce their costs and OUR costs.  Yes, the producers DO MAKE money by using cheap labor, but millions of people do have jobs and do very well.  No matter what I say or write (or what the Wall Street Journal writes), you will hold steadfast to your view that "illegal" immigration hurts us all and does not help the economy.  I disagree.  You can make a difference.  Stop shopping at Walmart, do not buy a car or a computer or a shirt or a pant that is NOT made in the US A and before you buy anything, ask if the people who made them were paid a "decent wage" and were "not exploited" or whatever.  [[User:Seekcommon]]

::: The fundamental reason our country, the US of A is a magnet for the rest of the world is the simple fact that each person has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  By any measure, we have benefited enormously by both legal AND illegal immigration, I know you disagree.  Fine.  The workers who are "exploited" are still better off than they would have been in their own country (yes, that includes legal AND illegal immigrants).  In fact what is happening is that because the world is slowly trying to catch up to the US and as more opportunities are made available to people in those countries, there is less and less interest and pressure for many to emigrate from their native lands and immigrate to the US - these trends are evident in Higher Education, for sure.  Unlike other countries, we are dynamic - people who are laid off, do find other ways to survive/thrive.  Yes, many are hurt irreversibly and never recover.  No system is perfect, what we have in the US comes close.  Adam Smith explained it best - supply and demand.  It is OUR demand for goods/services and OUR refusal to pay any more than what we WANT to pay that results in producers trying to find ways to reduce their costs and OUR costs.  Yes, the producers DO MAKE money by using cheap labor, but millions of people do have jobs and do very well.  No matter what I say or write (or what the Wall Street Journal writes), you will hold steadfast to your view that "illegal" immigration hurts us all and does not help the economy.  I disagree.  You can make a difference.  Stop shopping at Walmart, do not buy a car or a computer or a shirt or a pant that is NOT made in the US A and before you buy anything, ask if the people who made them were paid a "decent wage" and were "not exploited" or whatever.  [[User:Seekcommon]]

:::: Apparently illegal border crossings have slowed by more than 10% this year according to a report cited by the Wall Street Journal, today May 2, 2007.

Apparently illegal border crossings have slowed by more than 10% this year according to a report cited by the Wall Street Journal, today May 2, 2007.

But instead of rigorous enforcement as many would have us believe, this reflects supply and demand, again according to the Wall Street Journal.  The slump in the housing market is cited as the main reason as to why fewer illegals are crossing the border and it indicates, again as the Wall Street Journal  reports, that immigrants come here to work and not idle and collect welfare.  I should add they work and improve OUR standard of living while accepting jobs that go abegging.  Many on our unemployed rolls are unwilling to take these jobs or perhaps do not even have those skills necessary or simply refuse because they can and sit and complain about illegal immigration or something else.  I'd recommend that  they complain to the Wall Street Journal and tell them that the Journal is being unpatriotic and UnAmerican. [[User:Seekcommon]]

But instead of rigorous enforcement as many would have us believe, this reflects supply and demand, again according to the Wall Street Journal.  The slump in the housing market is cited as the main reason as to why fewer illegals are crossing the border and it indicates, again as the Wall Street Journal  reports, that immigrants come here to work and not idle and collect welfare.  I should add they work and improve OUR standard of living while accepting jobs that go abegging.  Many on our unemployed rolls are unwilling to take these jobs or perhaps do not even have those skills necessary or simply refuse because they can and sit and complain about illegal immigration or something else.  I'd recommend that  they complain to the Wall Street Journal and tell them that the Journal is being unpatriotic and UnAmerican. [[User:Seekcommon]]