Open immigration: the benefits are great. The right is unquestionable. So let them come.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This is a defense of phasing-in open immigration into the United States. Entry into the U.S. should ultimately be free for any foreigner, with the exception of criminals, would-be terrorists, and those carrying infectious diseases. (And note: I am defending freedom of entry and residency, not the automatic granting of U.S. citizenship).

An end to immigration quotas is demanded by the principle of individual rights. Every individual has rights as an individual, not as a member of this or that nation. One has rights not by virtue of being an American, but by virtue of being human.

One doesn't have to be a resident of any particular country to have a moral entitlement to be secure from governmental coercion against one's life, liberty, and property. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, government is instituted "to secure these rights"--to protect them against their violation by force or fraud.

A foreigner has rights just as much as an American. To be a foreigner is not to be a criminal. Yet our government treats as criminals those foreigners not lucky enough to win the green-card lottery.

Seeking employment in this country is not a criminal act. It coerces no one and violates no one's rights (there is no "right" to be exempt from competition in the labor market, or in any other market).

[...]

One major fear of open immigration is economic: the fear of losing one's job to immigrants. It is asked: "Won't the immigrants take our jobs?" The answer is: "Yes, so we can go on to better, higher-paying jobs."

The fallacy in this protectionist objection lies in the idea that there is only a finite amount of work to be done. The unstated assumption is: "If Americans don't get to do that work, if foreigners do it instead, we American will have nothing to do."

But work is the creation of wealth. A job is a role in the production of goods and services--the production of food, of cars, computers, the providing of internet content--all the items that go to make up our standard of living. A country cannot have too much wealth. The need for wealth is limitless, and the work that is to be done is limitless.

[...]

A popular misconception is that immigrants come here to get welfare. To the extent that is true, immigrants do constitute a burden. But this issue is mooted by the passage, under the Clinton Administration of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which makes legal permanent residents ineligible for most forms of welfare for 5 years. I support this kind of legislation.

[...]

America is a vastly underpopulated country. Our population density is less than one-third of France's.

[...]

People want to live near other people, in cities. One-seventh of England's population lives in London. If population density is a bad thing, why are Manhattan real-estate prices so high?

[...]

Open immigration: the benefits are great. The right is unquestionable. So let them come.

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0329-Binswanger.shtm

Edited March 29, 2006 by Agent Smith

[rebeccajo 14]

*stands up and cheers*

[almaty 19]

hmmmmmmmmmm ....i need to think about this..could be a cluster....

[cmartyn 0]

Ummm, I, Like Im sure somewhere around 70% of the country votes "No" to your plan :-)

[Kajikit 65]

I'm inclined to agree... One of the biggest 'reasons' for restricting immigration is the fear that 'everyone will want to come here and we'll be drowned in migrants' but I don't think that's the case at all. Just look at the number of people who jump through all the hoops required to immigrate to the US and who post on this board and then for various reasons turn around and go some place else in six months or a year...

[mawilson 2,133]

It's going to get seriously crowded....... great idea, but I think we should let a European

country try it first -- see how well it goes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Ummm, I, Like Im sure somewhere around 70% of the country votes "No" to your plan :-)

methinks Arijit wants a flame war.

To Agent Smith:

If open immigration is a right, then why does India make a major issue of it with Bangladesh? Or are you applying a different standard for US because it's more prosperous?

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm inclined to agree... One of the biggest 'reasons' for restricting immigration is the fear that 'everyone will want to come here and we'll be drowned in migrants' but I don't think that's the case at all.

Everyone will not want to come here, but a couple of hundred million people might

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

To Agent Smith:

If open immigration is a right, then why does India make a major issue of it with Bangladesh?

pssst. There's a URL at the bottom.

[cmartyn 0]

I dont think Agent Smith was promoting the idea, he was just putting it out there. I kind of like the wild westness of it.. I mean tear down the border, the next thing would be to remove private property.

Yee haw, better stock up on ammo now.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I mean tear down the border, the next thing would be to remove private property.

Yes, who wants to live in that house? Let's have a shoot out over it. Whoever's left alive gets it. Until the next round of shoot outs, that is.

[almaty 19]

well, it is great..i got a couple of out buildings i plan on renting out...hmmmmmm dr. dean, slumlord

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's one of the dumbest and most ignorant things I've read in awhile. So many holes in it I don't even know where to start...

[rebeccajo 14]

Oh well.....I just kind of like it cause that's the way it used to be.

[I'm Gone 60]

This is a defense of phasing-in open immigration into the United States. Entry into the U.S. should ultimately be free for any foreigner, with the exception of criminals, would-be terrorists, and those carrying infectious diseases. (And note: I am defending freedom of entry and residency, not the automatic granting of U.S. citizenship).

What other country allows anyone to come in and live? I say if that happens the U.S. is no longer a country, but a colony of the world.

Edited March 30, 2006 by mdyoung