My FRiend, the country was finished when FDR was elected in '32 - we just didn't know it then. FDR begat the Kennedy clan with their hatred of the ruling class, with Teddy marshaling in the '66 immigration act as a supreme act of retribution, which in turn launched us on the path we are now.
CIRA 2007 is going to pass. Nothing last forever - all civilizations from Egypt, Greece, Rome to today have fallen from internal corruption.
It's weird seeing history repeat before our very eyes. This is probably the same exact process as before: low-skilled immigrants flocking to centers of commerce, king makers & politicians aligning themselves with new constituents, and the smart-money taking off for greener pastures.
Eventually, the whole thing is re-constituted someplace else. Where is it this time? Australia?
The liberal politicians in this country will be promising our hapless compesinos free medical care, subsidized food, and welfare payments. The rich will leave because they can, and the middle class will be stuck paying the bill.
Based on census figures, we have gained 100 million people since 1970, 53 million since 1990, and 20 million since 2000. Policies have consequences and since the disastrous change in our legal immigration policies in 1965, we have increased our annual intake sixfold. And now we want to add a "guest" worker program where the "guests" never go home. Is this a great country or what? Throw another shrimp on the barbie.