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> no risk to be taken I can't believe the parent means that literally. > people whose forefathers built the country You don't get credit for what some ancest

> no risk to be taken I can't believe the parent means that literally. > people whose forefathers built the country You don't get credit for what some ancestor did; you get credit for what you do. I'd say that trying to lean on your ancestors is 'un-American'; earn your own way. Also, the U.S. has been 'built' continuously and it continues today. The work and progress didn't stop in 1776 or 1930 or whatever date the parent is assuming. The question is, what are you going to leave for the next generation? > How much risk is an immigrant really taking on, when there is a safety net in terms of social services available to them, that pays multiples of their yearly earnings back in "the old country"? This comment ignores the great burden of most immigrants: Leaving your home, moving to a foreign culture where you don't speak the language, where you have no contacts or network, and bringing few resources. I'd like to see most Americans pick up and move to a non-English speaking, completely foreign culture, with no money and no contacts. It also assumes a decent quality of life in the U.S. 'social safety net', which is pretty awful, especially compared to other first world nations. No health care and terrible education, for one thing. Even people with jobs have a tough time, and need several of them just to get by.

patrickg_zill 8y ago
Although the USA has problems, it is a "no-risk" to "little-risk" proposition provided you make it to the USA. (I am talking about the legal routes.) I can't quite articulate it, but I have a serious problem with the attitude that seems to say "well yes, your family for 5 generations struggled to clear the land, make it productive, worked in factories, sent sons off to die in wars, but, if you aren't being 100% economically productive RIGHT THIS MINUTE, just get out of the way already and let immigrants take your place..."
- forapurpose 8y ago
  > it is a "no-risk" to "little-risk" proposition provided you make it to the USA. (I am talking about the legal routes.) That's just absurd. People who were born in the U.S. face many risks. > get out of the way already and let immigrants take your place Nobody is taking anybody's place. Economics is not zero sum; the better your neighbor does, the better you do. Your successful neighbors are your employers, customers, taxpayers, etc. > if you aren't being 100% economically productive RIGHT THIS MINUTE, just get out of the way already ... That's not a problem with immigration; it's a problem with U.S. government policy that doesn't educate, provide health care for, feed, or house its citizens, and concentrates economic opportunity in the hands of a very few. Those things are clearly doable, because almost every other wealthy country does them much better. And the political leaders who oppose such things, and continually try to 'shrink' government, try to distract attention from their responsibility (and the responsibility of their wealthy constituents who try to avoid paying taxes) by blaming immigrants.

patrickg_zill 8y ago

Although the USA has problems, it is a "no-risk" to "little-risk" proposition provided you make it to the USA. (I am talking about the legal routes.) I can't quite articulate it, but I have a serious problem with the attitude that seems to say "well yes, your family for 5 generations struggled to clear the land, make it productive, worked in factories, sent sons off to die in wars, but, if you aren't being 100% economically productive RIGHT THIS MINUTE, just get out of the way already and let immigrants take your place..."

forapurpose 8y ago
> it is a "no-risk" to "little-risk" proposition provided you make it to the USA. (I am talking about the legal routes.) That's just absurd. People who were born in the U.S. face many risks. > get out of the way already and let immigrants take your place Nobody is taking anybody's place. Economics is not zero sum; the better your neighbor does, the better you do. Your successful neighbors are your employers, customers, taxpayers, etc. > if you aren't being 100% economically productive RIGHT THIS MINUTE, just get out of the way already ... That's not a problem with immigration; it's a problem with U.S. government policy that doesn't educate, provide health care for, feed, or house its citizens, and concentrates economic opportunity in the hands of a very few. Those things are clearly doable, because almost every other wealthy country does them much better. And the political leaders who oppose such things, and continually try to 'shrink' government, try to distract attention from their responsibility (and the responsibility of their wealthy constituents who try to avoid paying taxes) by blaming immigrants.