Mass Immigration Hammers the Working Class

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Mass Immigration Hammers the Working Class

by David Frum Jan 3, 2013 8:57 AM EST

Jobs? Schmobs. The fiscal cliff debate proceeded with impressive disregard for the economic concerns of ordinary Americans.

That disregard does not augur well for the coming debate over immigration reform.

Nothing shows the class bias of American media like the way we talk about immigration. We almost always talk about it from the point of view of the employer seeking to pay less for labor, rarely from the point of view of the displaced or undercut employee.

Let's try to keep in mind through this debate that large-scale low-wage immigration has costs as well as benefits, that it creates losers as well as winners. And let's practice the humility that ought to follow from the fact that most of us in a position to write about these issues belong to the winner class, with all the unconscious biases that follow from that belonging.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

No, just immigration for VJ'ers who want to uphold the parts of the Constitution and laws that benefit them personally.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I'm with Spooky, if it doesn't benefit me in any way, then I'm against it. Doesn't really matter what it is.

[decocker 7,198]

as an american i have a healthy predisposition towards self loathing and apathy. considering these inherit traits i think all current americans should be deported to a forgotten pocket in hell and we should import all new improved foreign models to fleece for a new breed of real americans® - the hungrier the better.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It really depends on where you live...

In an area with low taxes, low cost of living, plenty of jobs, etc. it can be beneficial.

In an area with high taxes and a place where businesses are looking for cheap labor to circumvent that, then yeah it can be taxing on the citizens that live there.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Yes. Immigrants drive down wages. Lower wages mean lower labor costs, increased profits. Increased profits free more capital for investment. More investment means more jobs. More jobs means less unemployment, more consumption, higher tax revenues.

Edited January 3, 2013 by The Patriot