Immigration - Investment in Humanity
Immigration has been the hot topic of discussion in America recently. People have erroneously linked the topic of immigration and security. The recent focus on security after the attacks on 9/11/2001 in New York, has given an excuse to many who want an end to immigration, both legal and illegal. Sure, it is absolutely true that we should have better control of our borders, both to the North and South. As a sovereign nation we have every right to expect the government to protect the population from people wanting to spread illegal drugs, violence and chaos to our nation. Our border should absolutely be closed to illegals and be secured! Having said that, the majority of the people coming to this country, legally and illegally, do so for the economic betterment of themselves and their families; not to destroy our way of live, but to become part of it.
As I was trying to formulate my thoughts on this topic, it was a friend of mine from Boston who made me realize that whether we know it or not, America needs immigration. As the baby boomer generation begins to retire, a large number of Americans will be leaving the workforce. Not only will those jobs need to be filled, but the promise of Social Security will only be fulfilled if we can increase current ratio of workers to retirees. We must have more people paying into the system than drawing from it. As our economy becomes more and more based on delivering services as opposed to producing anything of value, people power is what will be needed and that is exactly what we lack. As our population ages, the developing world which has a more youthful population is ready and willing to deliver young, diligent workers to our services oriented economy. Instead of looking the other way as employers unscrupulously exploit illegal workers and thereby deflate wages of both immigrants and citizens, the government should be be making it easier for those who want a legal opportunity to work here and harder on those employers and industries that benefit from immigrants remaining illegal. Increasing legal immigration to face economic reality and bringing willing wage earners into the tax and social security system makes much more sense than allowing selfish employers to game the system and allow them to cheat the government of taxes and cheat workers of fare wages.
Of course, there are many whose views on immigration are formed not by economic concerns at all, but on those of cultural identity, religious purity, and the protection of values and a way of life they feel is under threat. They further the argument of security to shade their xenophobia. However, despite some of their obvious prejudices, they do present some valid concerns. It is extremely important that all immigrants are properly assimilated into the population. That means that immigrants learn to speak English, learn to be law abiding citizens, and learn to respect and even emulate some of the traditions and values of their adopted homeland; doing so does not mean that they have somehow lost their traditional identities.
One can see the tensions in communities where assimilation has not taken place. While a junior in college I spent 8 months in the UK participating in an overseas education program. In addition to my academic activities and travels, I spent a considerable amount of time with relatives and friends in London, Leicester, and Manchester. I was amazed to discover how limited the contact was between immigrants whom had been in England for over 30 years and even their children with their English neighbors. Under the mask of civility, there was great distrust and lack of appreciation of the others traditions or concerns. I blame both sides for this divide. Our identities are not merely frozen caricatures formed when we are born never to be enriched by experiences gained from travel or discourse with others. Yet it seemed that all sides felt that opening up to influence from the other would somehow corrupt their god given purity.
I do not see this divide in the United States. When my father came to United States in the late 1960's he came for educational advancement and honestly, economic opportunity. The economic engine that is America has always thirsted for people with motivation and talent. Throughout his studies and his employment I believe that he has been able to gain the respect of his peers and his neighbors. This is not to profess that my family was never the target of prejudice. We had our home vandalized numerous times when we moved into the community that I still call home. At that time there were very few minorities in our neighborhood and we certainly stood out as being different. However, much has changed. As more and more immigrant or minority families have moved to the area, it seems that a truly harmonic balance has been reached and there is mutual respect for the strengths each diverse peoples brings to the community.
Globalization has truly changed the world. America has spent a large part of the last century extolling the virtues of free trade and the virtues of the free movement of goods, services, and capital across borders. Globalization can not occur in a vacuum. It's forces will enrich many but will also displace many. Those displaced will indeed seek a new life in places where they can lead their lives with security and dignity. Investments in technology have helped us be more productive and more efficient, but it is investments in people that will raise the global standard of living. That is an investment that all should be willing to make.
As I was trying to formulate my thoughts on this topic, it was a friend of mine from Boston who made me realize that whether we know it or not, America needs immigration. As the baby boomer generation begins to retire, a large number of Americans will be leaving the workforce. Not only will those jobs need to be filled, but the promise of Social Security will only be fulfilled if we can increase current ratio of workers to retirees. We must have more people paying into the system than drawing from it. As our economy becomes more and more based on delivering services as opposed to producing anything of value, people power is what will be needed and that is exactly what we lack. As our population ages, the developing world which has a more youthful population is ready and willing to deliver young, diligent workers to our services oriented economy. Instead of looking the other way as employers unscrupulously exploit illegal workers and thereby deflate wages of both immigrants and citizens, the government should be be making it easier for those who want a legal opportunity to work here and harder on those employers and industries that benefit from immigrants remaining illegal. Increasing legal immigration to face economic reality and bringing willing wage earners into the tax and social security system makes much more sense than allowing selfish employers to game the system and allow them to cheat the government of taxes and cheat workers of fare wages.
Of course, there are many whose views on immigration are formed not by economic concerns at all, but on those of cultural identity, religious purity, and the protection of values and a way of life they feel is under threat. They further the argument of security to shade their xenophobia. However, despite some of their obvious prejudices, they do present some valid concerns. It is extremely important that all immigrants are properly assimilated into the population. That means that immigrants learn to speak English, learn to be law abiding citizens, and learn to respect and even emulate some of the traditions and values of their adopted homeland; doing so does not mean that they have somehow lost their traditional identities.
One can see the tensions in communities where assimilation has not taken place. While a junior in college I spent 8 months in the UK participating in an overseas education program. In addition to my academic activities and travels, I spent a considerable amount of time with relatives and friends in London, Leicester, and Manchester. I was amazed to discover how limited the contact was between immigrants whom had been in England for over 30 years and even their children with their English neighbors. Under the mask of civility, there was great distrust and lack of appreciation of the others traditions or concerns. I blame both sides for this divide. Our identities are not merely frozen caricatures formed when we are born never to be enriched by experiences gained from travel or discourse with others. Yet it seemed that all sides felt that opening up to influence from the other would somehow corrupt their god given purity.
I do not see this divide in the United States. When my father came to United States in the late 1960's he came for educational advancement and honestly, economic opportunity. The economic engine that is America has always thirsted for people with motivation and talent. Throughout his studies and his employment I believe that he has been able to gain the respect of his peers and his neighbors. This is not to profess that my family was never the target of prejudice. We had our home vandalized numerous times when we moved into the community that I still call home. At that time there were very few minorities in our neighborhood and we certainly stood out as being different. However, much has changed. As more and more immigrant or minority families have moved to the area, it seems that a truly harmonic balance has been reached and there is mutual respect for the strengths each diverse peoples brings to the community.
Globalization has truly changed the world. America has spent a large part of the last century extolling the virtues of free trade and the virtues of the free movement of goods, services, and capital across borders. Globalization can not occur in a vacuum. It's forces will enrich many but will also displace many. Those displaced will indeed seek a new life in places where they can lead their lives with security and dignity. Investments in technology have helped us be more productive and more efficient, but it is investments in people that will raise the global standard of living. That is an investment that all should be willing to make.
posted by MyView at 11:17 PM
1 Comments:
Your blog entry reminds me of a scene in the movie Blue Velvet in the very beginning of the movie where you see a shot of suburban America on a summer day, then a green lawn, then closer the dirt, then closer the worms and insects that invade the dirt, deeper and darker the picture turned...
i have no formed opinions on biases in America - one day i think there are and the next i think not.
me fear is that in the US, unlike the UK, it's the scene in Blue Velvet - green on the outside and dark deep down.
only experience will help form the opinion in one direction...or another.
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