Okay, Jonathan, I promised a rebuttal to your article on open immigration, so here it goes (and it might be less of one than you thought):
America isn’t a little island with ten people and limited resources – we are the gorgeous, huge, most prosperous country the world has ever seen and there is room for all. But that “all” needs to come here and obey our laws, including the ones aimed at bringing immigrants INTO the fold. Skirting the protections put in place to protect America and her guests is not being a productive member of society, it’s being a parasite.
Yes, I agree that in a free economy the potential for markets is unlimited, but we don’t live in a free market and we haven’t in quite some time. Before we can have open immigration we must FIRST AND FOREMOST eliminate the entitlement state. But we haven’t done that, and until we do, we can’t have open immigration.
Frankly, I think most people welcome those who want to come to America and who want to be industrious; however, we’re resentful as all heck that these folks waltz across a porous border, expect – nay, DEMAND – that they be given all the benefits of being a citizen, but don’t return the graciousness of their hosts. When 85% of the violent crimes in Los Angeles are committed by illegals, we have a problem! They’re not “coming here to produce,” they’re coming here to loot.
To get back to your island analogy, if those 10 new people came ashore and demanded to be fed, stole from the other 30, killed a few of them, and only 1 or 2 of them contributed to making island life better, then hell yes, it would be an immigration crisis and they should be stopped from ruining the country.
So while I agree with your premise that hard-working (legal) immigrants are an unquestionable asset, I disagree with you putting the cart before the entitlement horse. Let’s rein THAT in before we start throwing wide the doors to our prosperity.
I posted something recently about the Arizona protests (who were against SB 1070) to one of my other blogs, and it goes like this:
Let’s say I break into your house.
Let’s say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave.
But I say, ’No! I like it here. It’s better than my house. I’ve made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors… I’ve done all the things you don’t like to do. I’m hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).
According to the protesters:
- You are Required to let me stay in your house
- You are Required to feed me
- You are Required to add me to your family’s insurance plan
- You are Required to Educate my kids
- You are Required to Provide other benefits to me & to my family
My husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest (except for that breaking in part).
If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there.
It’s only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I’m just trying to better myself. I’m a hard-working and honest, person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house.
And what a deal it is for me!!!
I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior.
Oh yeah, and I DEMAND that you learn MY LANGUAGE!!! so that you can communicate with me.
The John Galt Line 
For God’s sake, Jonathan Hoenig — THINK — What kind of a country do you forsee in the future with high rates of new immigrants, be they the result of open borders or an amnesty program. When 20 million new immigrants bring in 30 more million family over a period of 5 to 10 years, do you think these 50 million new citizens are going to are going to support the principles of free market enterprise, low taxes and minimum government that you hold so dear? Never mind how industrious and hard working they may be, taking those jobs you say no one else will take, do you for an instant entertain the delusional wish that their industriousness will somehow translate into voters with CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES? Here they come, hoardes of poor and needy newcomers into a country whose economic and political system they do not understand and have never experienced in their culture. Look how the signs and slogans of the protestors in Arizona and elsewhere read. “YOU OWE US, AMERICA! GIVE US, FREE HOMES, FREE HEALTH CARE, FREE BENEFITS AND NO TAXES! or we will shoot more law enforcement officers. Does that sound like an entitlement mentality, energized by anger and motivated by a sense of victimhood, that is supportive or in any way compatible with your political philosophy and entreprenurial spirit? Sure, there will be those creative and rugged individualists who embrace the entreprenurial spirit and shun demands for the redistribution of “unfair” income and the fruits of your labors, who will make good on their own, as many immigrants have always done in this country. But, how long do you think it will take for those who mow your lawn and perfrom all of those menial tasks that you say they are eager to do, before they are rounded up, and willing, through dire need or coercive influence, (given a deal they cannot afford to refuse) are impressed into the service of the unions, who will then make ever increasing demands on an economy already smothered and dangerously teetering on the precipice of debt. And when they listen to those Spanish radio stations, urgining them to take what is rightfully theirs, and vote for what every liberal or socialist opportunist is promising them, how long will it be before the America as you know it, is gone with the wind? No matter how eloquently articulated the conservative message, all that you and your company stand for will be undone by the fertile demographics of a group even larger and more potent than the black voting bloc that votes 90 to 96% for a larger share of every entitlement program imaginable, regardless of the long range health and viability ofthis nation. (I wish I had the time to hone and edit this — I am just hoping that somehow, you are sent or pick up on this poorly constructed message, just enough that it gets your attention and gives pause for you to engage that high octance brain of yours that youi so evidently posess. We are headed for a socialist society; the only question is, can it be paced or delayed long enough for an electorate to mature, adjust, incorporate and fuse the most effective features of socialism with “compassionate” capitalism or economic freedom, whatever it may be euphemestically called some day. Without fair and sane immigration policy, crass politics will trump sound economic policy to the point that you may never see another truely conservative administration in your lifetime. Are you that much in love with the tide of rampant, senseless, unrestricted multiculturalism, popularized into vulgarity?( my interent connection is about to go and can’t write this again –hopefully someone will get the general idea) Just in case anyone thinks this is racial –I have just enrolled in the CELTA (sponsored by Cambridge University) 160 hour language program — as I study Spanish — primarily to teach English as a 2nd language
You are fucked up.