News, Michigan Governor to Washington: Detroit Needs Immigrants

[snoopygirlmi]

I do agree that highly skilled immigrants would be helpful to grow Detroit's economy.

However, I disagree with just bringing in more unskilled immigrants to compete with native-born workers, given the unemployment rate in Detroit. (Especially for African-Americans).

Just wanted to clarify and address the actual topic of the post.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by snoopygirlmi

2) As a Republican, I need to point out that a yes, in general, we all like "legal" immigration. However, for a lot of people in the "business class" it's about being able to exploit immigrants by paying them cheap wages and marginalizing native-born Americans who will work at these labor-intensive jobs for reasonable wages.

I agree that Republicans want legal immigration because of the cheap wages they allow, however I disagree that the business class is "exploiting" immigrant labor. These immigrants make MUCH more than they would in their own country. It is a tremendously generous gesture to allow them to come here and make what would be considered a small fortune back home.

I also agree that the consequence of this has not been good for the American worker, but try explaining that to the "pro-labor" Democratic Party.

[Michigantown]

Originally Posted by jackmichigan

Encouraging more immigration to the U.S. is a bad idea no matter where they settle. The U.S should not be the pressure cooker relief valve for the world's overpopulation! Sorry, but all countries need to learn to take better care of their own, including the U.S.

That means that countries worldwide need to provide better educational opportunities and better women's rights primarily. We should have an immigration policy geared towards no net loss--or gain--from immigration. But our long term goal should be to reduce the world's population levels. The U.S. should set an example by acknowledging and working towards a stablized, then gradually decreasing, population right here at home. Encouraging more immigration is sheer folly.

Ironic considering that's one of the reasons Britain started the colonies.