Immigration... yet again

[alfred russel]

So you're saying immigration should be considered principally from an economical point of view?

No, but humanitarian and cultural grounds are a bit more abstract and it seems as though a lot of people here reject those arguments.

[merithyn]

@Meri

I suggest you ponder the benefits of clitoris ablation alongside the wondeful new recipes you can get from the new ethiopean neighboors.




G.

Obviously, you didn't read my comment closely enough. I said that we can all learn from one another, and what we can learn is both positive and negative in nature. By bringing in Ethiopian people, they are learning from us that what they do isn't acceptable, and we're learning what they do, and why, and can help take steps to stop it from a more educated position.

To say that all immigration or multi-culturalism is bad simply because we find some things distasteful seems a bit like cutting our nose off to spite our face.

[Valmy]

If they are Americanized what's the problem again?

Did I say there was a problem?  I was simply questioning having them around was really useful for doing business in China.  I am not particularly useful for doing business in England but I don't think I am a problem.

[Ed Anger]

I need Helots to pick my grapes and strawberries.

[HVC]

If it wasn't for Immigration i would have grown up as a crazy leftist or getting rubbed on the beach. God bless Immigration

[Valmy]

No, but humanitarian and cultural grounds are a bit more abstract and it seems as though a lot of people here reject those arguments.

I have to say I am not too crazy about humanitarian immigration it strikes me as far too arbitrary.  I mean how can we take one group on humanitarian grounds and not then take everybody not in a similar situation or worse?

The cultural stuff is not necessarily always a positive good to some people.  Granted it means the birth of a new culture taking on new elements the immigrants bring with them but it also means that the culture that was there before is changed and gone forever in the form it once had.  Some people will see that as a good thing and others will be upset by it.  Ergo it is a bit tricky to sell that as a reason to encourage immigration.

[Ed Anger]

If it wasn't for Immigration i would have grown up as a crazy leftist or getting rubbed on the beach. God bless Immigration

Canada turned you from a worthless eggplant into a delicious, juicy porkchop.

[crazy canuck]

So you're saying immigration should be considered principally from an economical point of view?

I would say that is the principal short term benefit.

As well as the principle long term benefit. 

[Valmy]

As well as the principle long term benefit. 

I guess I should say the principal impetus for it.  People rarely immigrate someplace for the promise of something other than economic opportunities and they are rarely welcome when they arrive except as so far as they are useful economically.

[HVC]

Canada turned you from a worthless eggplant into a delicious, juicy porkchop.

Are you trying to seduce me Mrs. Robinson?

[Admiral Yi]

Canada turned you from a worthless eggplant into a delicious, juicy porkchop.

Angerbutt is coming on to you Hillary.

[alfred russel]

If they are Americanized what's the problem again?

Did I say there was a problem?  I was simply questioning having them around was really useful for doing business in China.  I am not particularly useful for doing business in England but I don't think I am a problem.

I think you were the only person who brought up americanized descendants of immigrants. I hate to use the words, but you were arguing against a straw man.

[Valmy]

I think you were the only person who brought up americanized descendants of immigrants. I hate to use the words, but you were arguing against a straw man.

Ok so when you mentioned being able to do business in China was an advantage to having a more diverse society...you meant what exactly?  Because then talking about white americans it seemed to mean if we had a different sort of Americans it would do us more good...

If that was not your meaning why specifically did you go out of your way to say WHITE Americans?  That makes no sense otherwise.

Perhaps I simply misunderstood you but I did not invent any strawmen intentionally.

[Grallon]

I would say that is the principal short term benefit.

As well as the principle long term benefit.

Citizens are more than consumers/tax payers - and a country exists for other reasons than allowing private corporations to operate and rake in money.

A society is a way life as much as it is a geopgraphical location and/or a legal polity.  Unplanned mass immigration may provide the private sector with plenty of cheap labor but it also introduces all kinds of tensions that could be avoided with some forethought and some precautions. 

Unfortunately politicians are creatures of the wealthy elite and do not take their responsabilities as custodians of the common wealfare. 




G.

[alfred russel]

I think you were the only person who brought up americanized descendants of immigrants. I hate to use the words, but you were arguing against a straw man.

Ok so when you mentioned being able to do business in China was an advantage to having a more diverse society...you meant what exactly?  Because then talking about white americans it seemed to mean if we had a different sort of Americans it would do us more good...

If that was not your meaning why specifically did you go out of your way to say WHITE Americans?  That makes no sense otherwise.

Perhaps I simply misunderstood you but I did not invent any strawmen intentionally.

Fair enough--I see where you were coming from.

Based on the thread, I figured it was understood that a diverse society would include immigrants, not just different racial groups.

I shouldn't have used the term white people from indiana--I started to refer to indiana, but parts of the state are actually fairly diverse so i wanted to put in another adjective.