Immigration seems to be one of the most contentious issues of this decade. I say “seems” because much more is going on than immigration itself, and the issue isn’t a single issue, but encompasses a wide variety of issues all across the spectrum.
I asked my readers if they thought immigration into the U.S. should be permitted, and the results are in.
Not surprisingly, almost everyone thought immigration should be permitted, either with or without conditions. The completely unscientific and probably meaningless vote totals broke down like this:
| 51% | Yes |
| 28% | Sometimes |
| 19% | No |
| 2% | I don’t know |
I’ve been studiously avoiding the issue of immigration precisely because of its complexity. Simply to attempt to state an informed opinion on the matter would require one to be informed of all the relevant issues, and while I can’t say I’m sufficiently informed on all of the relevant issues, I can say that as a supporter of liberty for all, I can’t oppose immigration outright.
Anyone who feels he must move to another place in order to make a better life for himself should not be prevented from doing so. At the same time, such a person should not be allowed to make himself better by violence or fraud. We already call these crimes, and making more laws, either against them or to perpetuate them, is pointless.
It’s equally pointless to build a fence; as long as there are people who want to either improve their lives or get a free ride on welfare at the expense of others, they will find a way here. Rather, the solution to the immigration problem, if it can even be said to be a problem at all, is to allow those who want to work to work, and to deny welfare to those who could work, but refuse to do so.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Karl Marx would love the popular moves among politicians in various state governments and the federal government to ban so-called "junk" food in schools, and to "put healthy food in" convenience stores and on the tables of those they define as poor. It's a very elitist and arrogant mindset that promotes this ideology, and it needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, the war supporters in Congress prevailed in the vote on the resolution. Still, the vote was significant because it places every member of Congress on the record as supporting or not supporting the unconstitutional, costly, violent occupation of a country that never attacked us. This vote should serve as an important reminder to the American people of where their representatives really stand when it comes to policing the world, empire building, and war.
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Firas
Apr 24, 2006
I think borders should be literally open–just walk across :)
Then the only barrier to living/working anywhere in the world would be property values etc., which is definitely a ‘real’ barrier, but less horrid than immigration services…
(Do you think this will eventually happen? Or will we always be tribalistic enough to have ‘nations’? Hmmm…)
Michael Hampton
Apr 24, 2006
Firas, one would have to effectively eliminate government to achieve that sort of utopia. I don’t know if this can be achieved in my lifetime, though I hope our descendants will someday look back on history and wonder how it could ever have been that one man could rule another.
Firas
Apr 25, 2006
Well, I don’t think you need global utopia to get the right to unfettered travel and relocation, just less governmental militarism and better police force cooperation between countries.
You’ll need an ‘earth citizen’ ID, of course, but you need passports nowadays anyway, so…
(Regarding one man ruling another, I don’t think the causation starts with the ‘empowered class’, ie., I think it’s:
* Humans are insane -> Hence power centralization -> Hence government,
Not:
Power centralization -> People in power want to stay there -> Hence government.
I think utopia would require a less fucked up human consciousness, not just ‘dissolution of power’… My PoV is Marxistic in a sense I guess, that at some point of societal progress government will just ‘melt away’.)
Michael Hampton
Apr 25, 2006
I’d love to believe that at some point the government would just melt away, but government has never gone down without a fight. Not at any time in human history. I suspect Marx was smoking something illegal when he wrote that.
May 04, 2006
What’s wrong with high gas prices? - Homeland Security or Homeland Stupidity
chris
May 07, 2006
i am a son of an immigant and i think that it should be toufer on it but to cut off all is wrong it would cut off are supply to the forgin trade and that would be wrong and plus it helps to bring more jobs too
Mike
Sep 15, 2006
“pointless to build a fence”
Just like it’s pointless to have police.
For that fact, it’s pointless to have laws. People are going to break the law if they want to!
Michael Hampton
Sep 15, 2006
Having a border fence has little to do with having police, or laws, generally.
Marisela
Dec 09, 2006
I thing that being an ilegal immigrat is not bad because you are working to send something to eat to your family, and the fence in the border is not going to stop ilegal immigration.
anonymous
Apr 30, 2007
sweet
Kyle
Jun 04, 2007
O.K. I am not entirely against the idea of imigration nor am I entirely for it. I would like to say that to allow the border to be open completely is just an idea that would lead to an economical demolition and though I would not be against the idea of not have a government like the one I live in now. I would like to say that immigration is a great idea, but to let them flow in from all around the world is to simply go and live in a city where there are no backyards which some may find not to bad to live with, but frankly I like to have my green land. I also and i repeat am “NOT” against the idea of having people some in, but a leading reason for most of the crime in the world is the lack of jobs and money for some people. There will also be people taking other jobs from people leading them to collect off of the social security that this country has made for those who cannoit help themselves. You might try to come back with “You have to be an american citizen to collect it”. The I will reply with the new people coming in no matter what ethnicity will lead to loss of other jobs for people who are citizens and then those who aren’t citizens will work for less to get a job and the people who are citizens will have to collect social security.
felicia
Oct 26, 2007
I AGREE WITH MOST OF YOU GUYS! I DONT NOT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT HUMAN BEINGS LIKE US HAVE TO BE TREATED AWFUL AND FORCED TO STAY WERE THEY DISLIKE AND STRUGGLE SO MUCH TO FEED THERE FAMILY, IT IS NOT RIGHT AND BELIEVE IF THERE WAS NEVR A BORDER THERE WOULDNT B SUCH VIOLENCE! I BELIEVE ONE DAY THINGS WILL CHANGE AND IT TAKES EVRYONE TO DO SO. I PLAN TO CHANGE THE WORLD OR TRY!!!
FELICIA
ashley
Nov 07, 2007
illegal immigration should be allowed after all our ancestors did it! what would this country be without it thats what makes the american melting pot
jacky
Nov 20, 2007
our lives have been enhanced by immigrants creating new forms of work. Rather than what people think of them as just taking U.S jobs that Americans were not willing to take in the first place. America, also know as the “nation of immigrants”, have always stood for its diversity and freedom. So why must we deprive these foreigners of a better life and national security? By what means shall we deny those who come here in search of help and a better future?
Opening up these borders to illegal immigrants whom truly wish to benefit our country would better the future ways of life. For instance, it would create new better paid jobs and opportunities for local workers..
yes? no? i dont know.
but life sure would be better without all these problems :/
michael hitchcock
Dec 06, 2007
ok i thing this is stupid i believe you should stay where you live and thats that
ricardo vega
Dec 19, 2007
-let immigrents to the U S
CLS
Jan 17, 2008
I think think dat immigration should be allowed because everyone somehow is a immigrant because of there ancestors not everyone in the U.S. was born here some were but what about their mom grandma greatgrandme ect. U.S. is a state of oppurtunity why not give immigration an oppurtinity dats wat i think.
clitn
Feb 19, 2008
i think that one should follow the heart and if that means movin well get your ass there, and if your doing it to help somone heck ill help (not really) but would it be right if we had to stay somewhere we didnt want to be??? didnt think so, so whne i get older im gonna blow up the border so no one can bitch about it any more cuz its driving me INSANE (not really either) but you get my point
Navneet
Mar 04, 2008
Hell no. Immigration SHOULD NOT be allowed. It is ruining the face of America. This is rediculous. Gas prize are rising , everything is rising, Jobs are decreasing. Is everyone out of their head, Being an indian, yes my family are immigrants. But that doesn’t mean everone should have the right to just pack their bags as they please and come tro the U.S there should be certain regulations with immigartion. For example: If you have good past record in the previous country, only than are you permitted to come to the U.S. The u.s is being poured by immigrants left and right. We have to think better for the country and its future. It is going insane. If i ever became the president i would make sure ILLEGAL immigartion is stopped and certain regulation agaist immigartion should be made. There has to be a limit. People come to the us because its a rich country. If this continues IT WON’T BE RICH COUNTRY. Even Chia with its tremendous population will be richer than the U.S around 2050. It is stupid and IMMIGARTION SHOULD BE BANNED WITROUT QUESTION.
\
Thank you very much.
Navneet
Mar 04, 2008
BTW… excuse my typos, i am just pised off.
Onyx
Mar 05, 2008
it is bullshit to them out.
Onyx
Mar 05, 2008
this is so much bullshit to keep immigrants out. they deserve to have a happy life aswell
SHORB
Nov 09, 2009
where not saying that you can just pack youe bags and move in. i just think that the laws of immagration sould allow more people in. more money will curculate in our economy and the government will have more money from taxes, hence we have better roads,more goverment jobs, more jobe for lae enforcement,ect…
jose
Dec 02, 2009
man why can we live in peace,why does the government has to ban immigrants from ome to the u.s it is just a regular country is not like the most important thing in the world come on mannnnnnnnnnn
jose
Dec 02, 2009
hey you racist navneet why do u say that imagine if u where a immigrant what will u do tell me @##$
Anonymous
Jan 06, 2010
i think immigration in the U.S should be allowed as well but if you open the borders it would be hard to find a good job cause there would be more low payed jobs and they can easily find people to take the jobs.
junior
Jan 06, 2010
(Navneet) you are wrong about banning immigration. you are right about first checking an immagrants backround if they have not done anything wrong then they should be allowed in the U.S. They just want what is best for their families SINCE THIS COUNTRY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM
junior
Jan 06, 2010
(Firas)
i think immigration in the U.S should be allowed as well but if you open the borders it would be hard to find a good job cause there would be more low payed jobs and they can easily find people to take the jobs.
~!OK
Jan 20, 2010
i have to kno if they should or should not and im not gettin any kind of help so please help me thank u
hestes
Mar 17, 2010
immigration should not be allowed because they are lazy and wrothless
gygug
Mar 18, 2010
ithink there should be immagration