Comments on: President Bush’s Immigration Speech

By: Dave Justus

Dave Justus — Thu, 18 May 2006 17:22:12 +0000

I don’t know that it is possible to weigh immigrant costs vs. benefits. The economy is a complex interconnected system and trying to analyze that would be very difficult. Our current debates, focusing on illegal aliens who obviously are not easy to track makes it even more difficult in that narrower scope.

I have also observed quite a bit of anti-immigrant views from the left as well. Not as loud as from the right, but this is clearly not an easy left-right issue.

By: Patrick Lightbody

Patrick Lightbody — Thu, 18 May 2006 15:13:22 +0000

Good point on the guest worker program. I have to admit that the immigration debate is something that I haven’t really tuned in to much. My only thoughts are that the right seems a little too xenophobic in their efforts to curb immigration and the left is simply asking to turn a blind eye by simply saying that illegals “probably” result in a wash when you weigh their costs against the benefits they provide. I would prefer an approach where first we analyzed how much they cost taxpayers, and then compared that to their benefit. No one has done a real study on that. The best you’ll see on talk shows is a “guess”, which typically reinforces a pre-existing opinion.

I don’t think we can properly combat any problem without first knowing what the problem is and how much impact it has.

By: Dave Justus

Dave Justus — Tue, 16 May 2006 18:15:37 +0000

Well, Bush talked about that some, proposing a new ID card for immigrant workers to allow greater enforcement.

Certainly I have seen plenty of people, on both sides of the spectrum advocating for greater enforcement against employers.

I have my doubts that going after employers will be that effective overall. There are a few areas, the ag sector in particular, where pretty descent gains could be made here. However, day laborers, housekeepers, and people like that will be hard to go after the employers of in an effective manner.

By: Bob Morris

Bob Morris — Tue, 16 May 2006 18:01:49 +0000

I have maintained that the way to curb illegal immigration comes from a combination of increased border security and enforcing the labor laws.

Simply put, illegals are highly unlikely to come to this country if they can’t find work. Yet few seem willing to suggest that we go after the employers who hire them in the first place.

True, some will argue that if employers can’t hire illegals that prices will go up. These people need to ask themselves what is thus more important to them… stopping the flow of illegals coming to the United States, or saving a few bucks on their grocery bill that they wouldn’t if an employee was demanding a higher wage and getting it.

People can’t have it both ways.