Just a general immigration comment:
I hate it when we are told “We are a nation of immigrants.”
Yes, that is true. For the most part.
What I also dread saying is that immigration is essential for the country to remain strong. And not just smart coders or engineers immigrants. We need the entire spectrum.
The baby boom is leaving the work force. The Gen X family is, demographically, a lot different than the boomers. There are a lot fewer of them, many more are childless, and even more only have one or two offspring.
The Millennials are putting off starting families for years.
Altogether, we are facing a demographic cliff. This means that not only will we be in need of engineers—we are going to need adult elder care personnel as well. The people doing this stuff now are retiring and/or leaving the workforce.
The US is about twenty years behind Japan in this aspect—and the economic impact is going to be huge.
So...the only way to maintain the economic lead is to build up our working population by a huge number. Sure, people are living longer—and that is simply going to stress the system more.
AI and Robotics will help. A lot. But they are not going to push our wheelchairs around.
Agree:
1. The proposal in this thread is far too complicated.
2. End the current immigration process
3. Replace it with a merit based immigration policy
We need skilled workers with qualifications already or the ability to meet qualifications. We have a demographic cliff that is essentially here right now. What I would not give to be a millennial. There are more jobs and opportunities for them than there are numbers of them.
If I could hire good workers, train them and retain them in certain trades and wanted to work hard enough to manage them I’d make a fortune.
What we don’t need are a bunch is leeches that can’t leave the old country behind.
“we are going to need adult elder care personnel”
Millions of Americans support their elder relatives.
Just because no money changes hands and no FICA tax is paid doesn’t mean the work isn’t being done.
I took care of my aunt and I’ll be there for my uncle.
In Florida, couples take in an elderly person and pay their bills and put some money away to boot.
“The people doing this stuff now are retiring and/or leaving the workforce.”
One can say that about lawyers living in mansions practicing law too.
Our workforce participation rate is low by historical standards.