[PapaNew]

Milton Friedman said, “You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.”

Right, but his argument as well as mine is to undo the welfare, collectivist state so those who want to come here may without the valid but socialist argument that they're taking socialist government benefits away from the rest of us.

[kabar]

There is no political will to undo the welfare state from either party or the public. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, food stamps, etc. have become part of the fabric of this country. The politicians want to mend them, not end them. The 47% want more benefits.

Americans want all the benefits the wefare state has to offer, they just balk at paying for it. That is the main difference between us and the Europeans. At least, they are willing to pay the costs. Even then, the welfare state is destroying them as well. Eventually you run out of other people's mopney.