Is immigration the problem?

[IndianaGreen]

Is immigration the problem?

Author: Art Perlo

People's Weekly World Newspaper, 04/26/07 13:37

Roy Beck, head of the anti-immigration group Numbers USA, has been circulating a slick video. Over 1.8 million viewers have seen its frightening picture of the U.S. overwhelmed by immigrants. But beneath the surface is a mix of inaccuracies and misdirection.

Beck starts with this thesis: 1926-1965 was a golden era in America, when immigration was limited to an average of 178,000 per year. As a result, the labor market was tight, and workers enjoyed high wages and prosperity. Since 1965, immigration has increased, now reaching over 1 million per year. The result: surplus labor which has lowered wages and living standards for American workers.

In short, Beck says (low immigration) = (tight labor market) = (high wages).

The facts don’t support Beck. In the 1920s, immigration was almost entirely choked off, and the 1930s had the lowest immigration in the last 100 years. So there should have been low unemployment and high wages, right? Wrong! We had the Great Depression, with 25 percent unemployment, and miserable wages for those who could find jobs. Then, as now, some people blamed immigrants, as well as Blacks, Jews and probably sunspots, for the disaster.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/10965/1/369/

[blueworld]

1. The only surplus labor is in D.C., specifically Congress

Our jobs have emigrated, so we can bring in immigrants until every municipal politician has a nanny and a maid, who cares?

If India turns against immigration, my retirement plan is shot.

:scared: