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Fertility rates are dropping globally. That is the current trend, even in Africa, which has the highest ones in the world. Places like Pakistan and Bangladesh have experienced huge population growth, in part because of religion (the same applies to India).
Western countries , including the US, are below replacement level. The only way they can grow their numbers is via immigration. If that growth happens too quickly, it will lead to a reduction in QOL, as there won’t be enough jobs to accommodate those numbers.
I get tired pointing out that population density in the US is relatively low, like less than 10% of Belgium or Holland.
The belief that the ideal population of the US is ~200 million which is roughly what it was before immigration laws were changed in 1966 has become a mantra among millions.
If the entire population of the US moved to Louisiana we would have a similar population density as Bangladesh.
I keep hearing all of these claims that the US needs young immigrants to help take care of our aging population, but what makes people think these immigrants will want to? They may decide to vote to decrease social security and Medicare, after all, their parents aren't here to benefit from it so what are they getting out of it?
I think these expectations of immigrants coming here and paying taxes for our Medicare and wiping our old asses are pretty far fetched.
I keep hearing all of these claims that the US needs young immigrants to help take care of our aging population, but what makes people think these immigrants will want to? They may decide to vote to decrease social security and Medicare, after all, their parents aren't here to benefit from it so what are they getting out of it?
I think these expectations of immigrants coming here and paying taxes for our Medicare and wiping our old asses are pretty far fetched.
Immigrants today want the same things that immigrants of previous generations wanted: A better life and a better chance for their children to grow up and study to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, musicians, accountants, architects, designers, etc. Just like the immigrant ancestors of most people living in the U.S.A. today. I'm sure that no immigrants anywhere, ever, wanted to wipe anybody's "old asses" -- but they're willing to do so in order to give their children a better chance at success -- as well as contribute to the continuing success of our still relatively young nation. Just as your own immigrant ancestors did.
Matt Yglesias has written a book titled One Billion Americans. I've not read the book. The basic premise is larger families and more immigration to juice the population in order to maintain US hegemony, primarily against the rise of China.
As an immigrant myself, I'm broadly in favor of the idea. In a typical year the US issues 1M+/- green cards, divided roughly 50/50 between students already here who want to stay, and new arrivals. Between 6-8M a year apply for green cards, and the 1M noted are granted.
The last major immigration reform was in 1963. I once calculated that if everyone who applied since then had been granted, they plus their offspring, would have the country close to 1B today.
Keep in mind that the US is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, and could easily support 1B.
Vote early and often
I vementely disagree. We don't need more people in our country and a less dense population is healthier for all. You need to learn what ariable land space is to.
Immigrants today want the same things that immigrants of previous generations wanted: A better life and a better chance for their children to grow up and study to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, musicians, accountants, architects, designers, etc. Just like the immigrant ancestors of most people living in the U.S.A. today. I'm sure that no immigrants anywhere, ever, wanted to wipe anybody's "old asses" -- but they're willing to do so in order to give their children a better chance at success -- as well as contribute to the continuing success of our still relatively young nation. Just as your own immigrant ancestors did.
Legal immigration in measured numbers of whom we actually need while keeping population growth in mind should be our desired immigration policy. Foreigners need to fix their own countries so they have opportunities there. We cannot be the flophouse and employment agency to the whole world. Many immigrants coming here today do not want to assimilate into our society and tend be poor so they end up being a burden to our society and poverty begets poverty. Most do not produce kids who end up being skilled professionals but compete with Americans for blue-collared jobs. Those in the IT industry have done the same.
I'm curious to know why the OP is only looking at America? Sadly, these types of questions ARE being analyzed at more of an elite, global level and unfortunately their goal is depopulation, massive depopulation. Increasing population is not in their realm of thinking at all.
I'm curious to know why the OP is only looking at America? Sadly, these types of questions ARE being analyzed at more of an elite, global level and unfortunately their goal is depopulation, massive depopulation. Increasing population is not in their realm of thinking at all.
Because the book cited in the OP was exclusively about US....and the US is one of the least densely populated countries.
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