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The way I see it: the more skilled labor we can import, the better. The U.S. owes its success largely due to migration (be it through merchants, slaves, or othe

The way I see it: the more skilled labor we can import, the better. The U.S. owes its success largely due to migration (be it through merchants, slaves, or otherwise). I don't agree with the notion that we must "close off" the country in order to preserve said success.

deleted 6y ago
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almost_usual 6y ago
> I don't agree with the notion that we must "close off" the country in order to preserve said success. I would argue our success would significantly decline. A majority of Americans believe they’re entitled to the lifestyle and resources they have. A lot of immigrants from poorer areas understand that’s false. It’s why you see hard working immigrants being successful and their kids riding their coattails.
- Retric 6y ago
  Immigration is self selecting. People with significant developmental disabilities for example are vastly less likely to immigrate. But, that says little about the genetics of the population so in the next generation regression to the mean kicks in.
  - almost_usual 6y ago
    > But, that says little about the genetics of the population so in the next generation regression to the mean kicks in. True but I do think America has a “dumbing down” privilege effect on the population. A lot of Americans are racist, angry, and think they’re entitled to their way of life. They don’t realize they need to do well in school because the high paying jobs they’re competing for everyone in the world is also competing for. If you’re against immigration you’re limiting your competitive edge and someone else in the world will put you of business (probably in China).
Retric 6y ago
It’s not about smarts. Funding, culture, infrastructure, and institutions mean on average someone in say India would be more productive moved to the US when doing just about anything. Advantages like cleaner air don’t care about how smart someone is, their useful across the bord.
joshum97 6y ago
I’d push it one step further and include “unskilled” labor too. The value added to society is measurably positive no matter the skill level of the immigrant.
- iguy 6y ago
  Lots of "unskilled" immigrants certainly find useful things to do. And live better lives than they would have at home. But I think the counter-argument is something like this. Countries with an unlimited pool of low-skill labor have a lot of bad features. One of these is a class gap, between haves and have-nots, who feel they don't share common interests. Another is that the incentive to invent ways to reduce labor input is reduced, why bother if it's cheap? And inventing ways to do more per person is precisely what economic growth is.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

almost_usual 6y ago

> I don't agree with the notion that we must "close off" the country in order to preserve said success. I would argue our success would significantly decline. A majority of Americans believe they’re entitled to the lifestyle and resources they have. A lot of immigrants from poorer areas understand that’s false. It’s why you see hard working immigrants being successful and their kids riding their coattails.

Retric 6y ago
Immigration is self selecting. People with significant developmental disabilities for example are vastly less likely to immigrate. But, that says little about the genetics of the population so in the next generation regression to the mean kicks in.
- almost_usual 6y ago
  > But, that says little about the genetics of the population so in the next generation regression to the mean kicks in. True but I do think America has a “dumbing down” privilege effect on the population. A lot of Americans are racist, angry, and think they’re entitled to their way of life. They don’t realize they need to do well in school because the high paying jobs they’re competing for everyone in the world is also competing for. If you’re against immigration you’re limiting your competitive edge and someone else in the world will put you of business (probably in China).

Retric 6y ago

It’s not about smarts. Funding, culture, infrastructure, and institutions mean on average someone in say India would be more productive moved to the US when doing just about anything. Advantages like cleaner air don’t care about how smart someone is, their useful across the bord.

joshum97 6y ago

I’d push it one step further and include “unskilled” labor too. The value added to society is measurably positive no matter the skill level of the immigrant.

iguy 6y ago
Lots of "unskilled" immigrants certainly find useful things to do. And live better lives than they would have at home. But I think the counter-argument is something like this. Countries with an unlimited pool of low-skill labor have a lot of bad features. One of these is a class gap, between haves and have-nots, who feel they don't share common interests. Another is that the incentive to invent ways to reduce labor input is reduced, why bother if it's cheap? And inventing ways to do more per person is precisely what economic growth is.