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> For example, like many Asians, my dad has a very paternalistic view of government and elites. He thinks the job of leaders should be to “educate the common pe

> For example, like many Asians, my dad has a very paternalistic view of government and elites. He thinks the job of leaders should be to “educate the common people” to accept what’s good for them. This drives my wife nuts when they argue politics, because she fully embraces traditional American populism (“wisdom of the ‘common man’”). Are you trying to say the whole of America is made of your wives? You say "culture matters" but Silicon Valley would certainly not embrace the "wisdom of the common man". As a matter of fact most of the ideological stuff that comes from SV is hugely paternalistic in nature, such as the cult personalities of their CEOs. On top of that wasn't America made by immigrants so allowing them in is actually a more conservative choice than not?

xyzzyz 6y ago
> On top of that wasn't America made by immigrants so allowing them in is actually a more conservative choice than not? There were relatively many immigrants in America at times, and relatively few at other times. However, overall, there were too few immigrants to say that the America was “made” by them, as opposed to being made by people who were born here. At best, you could argue that it was made by people who were descendants of immigrants, but then this is true about most nations of the world, as most nations comprise of people who are descendants to immigrants.
- pm90 6y ago
  Most nations of the old world have had people living in its constituent lands for several centuries at the least. Immigration has not meaningfully shaped them, unless we talk about specific instances of forced population movement (partition of nations, ethnic cleansing etc.). The US has for most of its history had a significant population of immigrants, rising up to 10% of the population at the turn of the 20th century. It has absolutely been made by immigrants; people who decided to move to the US in search of better opportunities.

xyzzyz 6y ago

> On top of that wasn't America made by immigrants so allowing them in is actually a more conservative choice than not? There were relatively many immigrants in America at times, and relatively few at other times. However, overall, there were too few immigrants to say that the America was “made” by them, as opposed to being made by people who were born here. At best, you could argue that it was made by people who were descendants of immigrants, but then this is true about most nations of the world, as most nations comprise of people who are descendants to immigrants.

pm90 6y ago
Most nations of the old world have had people living in its constituent lands for several centuries at the least. Immigration has not meaningfully shaped them, unless we talk about specific instances of forced population movement (partition of nations, ethnic cleansing etc.). The US has for most of its history had a significant population of immigrants, rising up to 10% of the population at the turn of the 20th century. It has absolutely been made by immigrants; people who decided to move to the US in search of better opportunities.