Is it a coincidence that the United States is both, the worlds economic superpower and the country that takes in the most immigrants? In the last 25 years alone, the United States has let in more immigrants than were admitted by all other industrialized countries combined. What has been the economic result of that?
The Wall Street Journal answers that:
The latest U.S. Census Bureau data confirm that America is in the midst of one of the most dramatic demographic transformations in our nation’s history. Driving this transformation is what has been called the “fourth great wave” of immigration to these shores. The first wave came from Western Europe during the nation’s founding. The second wave arrived in the middle of the 19th century when the U.S. first began to industrialize. The third wave was the great Ellis Island influx in the first two decades of the 20th century, when nearly one million immigrants arrived each year–from every corner of Europe.
Those earlier immigrant groups generally prospered here and were instrumental in the building of America’s economic might. How about this latest fourth wave? Since 1980 about 20 million immigrants have come, with about three of four arriving from Asia and Central America. Over the past quarter-century the percentage of the U.S. population that is foreign born has about doubled from 6.2% in 1980 to 12% today–which means that about one in eight of us is an American by choice, not by birth…
One can only marvel at how over the past 20 years the U.S. free-market system has absorbed millions of new immigrants into the economy and labor force almost seamlessly. The 1980s and ’90s were two of the fastest economic growth decades in American history, in overall and per capita GDP growth, at the very time when immigration was peaking. Financial and housing assets in the U.S. have more than quadrupled in real terms since the early 1980s, making the past 20 years the most rapid period of wealth creation in American history.
The article also goes on to debunk many of the myths associated with immigration. The full article can be found here.
Thanks for this information. Can I post this on my website?
DD what is your website, I’d like to add it to my favorites.
WNM
Hey WNM,
Her website is a forum, LatinoRepublican.com. I also have the link placed under “Best Sites”.
DD,
You sure can.
It is obvious that the author of this article you cite is referring to skilled, educated Asian and Indian LEGAL immigrants, who are included in both official census and unemployment documentation.
Anyone who has lived and been educated in districts with a high illegal alien demographic will attest that the quality of life for everyone is compromised by their presence. That they tend to be Mexican is of no particular import other than to provide fodder for racist rabble.
The concern should be their legal status, not their work ethic. If the (official) immigration policies of this country-which require the posting of a $250,000 USD bond- for sponsored immigrants is enforced for people like my English nanny, they should be enforced for ConAgra’s Mexican potato pickers, and your neighbor’s gardeners. If not, the law should be changed to allow open borders for all.
Otherwise, the resentment factor leads to activities like the Minuteman Project…which although regrettable, at least addresses this thorny issue.
Thanks for the forum,
Allena Hansen
Caliente, CA USA.
Ahansen,
Actually, you’re wrong. They are talking about both types of immigration, with a very large percentage being low educated immigrants.
For the record, I have “been educated in districts with a high illegal alien demographic”, and I strongly disagree with your statement. I grew up in Compton California, an area known for very high levels of illegal immigration, and I found immigrants (legal or not) to be an overall net gain, not a loss.
As for the resentment factor, I see your point, and I agree that it has some merit, but that is precisely why I push for more open immigration for all.
WNM:
HP has me listed.
Ahansen wrote:
“If not, the law should be changed to allow open borders for all”.
Yes, the law should be changed.
DD,
I got your site on my favorites, now I have to figure out how to navigate it. Like Alfonso, I work and go to school so it might take me a while, but I’ll be over there.
Alfonso,
Actually Linda Chavez discussed immigration in one of her columns “after the minute-men”. I wonder why it isn’t covered more? It seems to make sense. I’d post the link, but I am not too computer savy, it is dated 5/4/05.
I’ll check it out, thanks!!
W.NM:
No prob. Thanks!
If you have a website or a blog, let me know and shoot me an e-mail! Pleasant meeting ya!
DD,
Nice to meet you too. No website/blog yet but I would like to when I finish school.
W.NM.,
You need to, I am still planning on making the Conservative Familia group, I am just trying to round up a few more bloggers.
Great,
What are the requirements other than being conservative? There are some pretty good ones out there, I have thought of doing one geographically, as in the border states (there is the the Bear Flag League, porque no La Linea Grupo?)and yes, it would be conservative. Pero that is probably 2 more years from now, but I would enjoy it.
Hmmm.I haven’t fleshed out all of the requirements yet, but at a bare minimum, one would have to be conservative, Hispanic/Latino, and probably be reasonably conservative in two out of three areas (social issues, economics, or foreign policy).
Can you give me the links of all the conservative Hispanic blogs you know of? I have never heard of the two you just mentioned, links to them would be much appreciated as well.
Bear Flag League is an affiliation of bloggers in or from California. It is a big group of bloggers, Baldilocks is one and she has a list of the others.
La Linea Grupo is just a name I came up with for an affiliation of bloggers geographically located in the border states, (from Cali to Texas. It would most likely include Colorado, Nevada and Utah). Again, it is still only “make believe” since I am still in school, but one day I would love to have a blog. Yes it would be Conservative, politically and socially. I don’t think I could do as good as you though, you have one of the best sites on the ‘net.
I’ll try to scan the web for tomorrow at lunch. I once landed at (and have been looking for ever since) a latina’s site who appeared to have a conservative mil-blog. Her name was Jennifer, I remember when you first started talking about the familia, I was going to mention her to you but never did. Jeff Blanco from Louisiana may fit in too, but I don’t know. I’ll keep you posted.
I gotta crash, it’s late.
Umm, you’re not following the party line…I’m tellin!
Alfonso,
I found 2, do I e-mail them or do I post them here? If so, do I just cut and paste?
Bofo,
I checked your site, good stuff dude. Hey, you had a comment on teaching, don’t give up. There are too many teachers who just “float” if you have the drive for it then go for it!
Good Luck.
Bofo,
My liberal friend, how you doing bud? I’m lost, what do you mean by me not following the party line?
W.NM.,
Go ahead and post it here, that is fine. Btw, careful with Gustavo, he is a libie (although a good guy).
Here is the mil-blog:
http://www.jenmartinez.com/mt/
Here is a fellow New Mexican ( I grew up there part of the time and I moved here from Albuquerque)who goes by Rancher, good site.
http://dunellanoestachato.blogspot.com/
I’ll keep digging. I see you have Babalu already
Yo se, I gathered as much from Gustavo’s site, pero he wants to teach and I think everyone should be encouraged to pursue their dreams. Pobrasito, I hope he see’s the “light”, and swings right.
LOL. See’s the light and swings right…I Love it!!
Thanks for the links.
Awesome blog. Peace out until next time TabathaOster
W.NM:
I addressed the minute men patrol too, and called them vigilantes.
Click on this thread and click the video.
http://www.latinorepublican.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=884
“Anyone who has lived and been educated in districts with a high illegal alien demographic will attest that the quality of life for everyone is compromised by their presence?”
Allena Hansen, the passive manner in which you express your bigotry is far more offensive than bigotry itself.