You’re right about the people on the ground - yes, but as your last line correctly puts it, there is a declining number of workers per retiree. That’s what we’re not escaping. You’ve got the situation correctly summed up - we’re drowning in immigrants, and it isn’t helping - the number of workers per retiree is still going down. It has only stalled the inevitable (and it has - we’d be down to under 2 workers per retiree right now if not for immigration).
I don’t think we’re going to add all the projected people in the next 50 years. Just how attractive is the US going to be as the bills for the last 50 years come due? “Welcome to America - fork over your paycheck so we can sit on our plump buttocks!” isn’t what I’d call a hugely successful PR campaign. The benefits gravy train is quickly going to come to a stop - if anything, the recent financial turmoil is a precursor to what is coming down the pike.
You’ll see other countries cut bennies too. Keep an eye on Germany - they’re the country that started many of the schemes that we all “enjoy” today - socialized medicine, free public schools, old age pensions... all go back to the Kaiser’s time in Germany. They’re not only out of money as they’re bailing out their banks, the worse thing is that they’re an export-dependent economy. And I dunno about you, but from what I see, there are some really hard times ahead for the employee base of German exprt production - like autos - as the US consumer slams their wallet shut.
I think coming out of this economic recession (or possible depression if the Democrats get their way and play Step-n-Fetchit for the unions, which was what helped prolong the Great Depression in ‘37 to ‘38), there is going to be a serious examination of just how much we want immigration into the US. It is one thing to spout the twaddle that is on the base of Lady Liberty, it is quite another thing to have said policy while you can’t get a job.
Citi this morning announced 50K+ layoffs in one fell swoop. Betcha that woke up some people in DC.
Actually the projections have been understated in recent years. In 2000, the Census Bureau predicted that by 2050, the US population would be 403.7 million; in 2004 the number was revised to 419.9 million, and in 2008, it was revised again to 439 million. That's a 36 million increase or about the size of the population of California. The Census Bureau also moved up the date when non-Hispanic whites would make up just 50% of the population from 2050 to 2042.
And a surge may be on its way in just months. “Surge Two”: Northward Flood of Mexicans Likely to Increase after U.S. Election
You’ll see other countries cut bennies too. Keep an eye on Germany - they’re the country that started many of the schemes that we all “enjoy” today - socialized medicine, free public schools, old age pensions... all go back to the Kaiser’s time in Germany. They’re not only out of money as they’re bailing out their banks, the worse thing is that they’re an export-dependent economy. And I dunno about you, but from what I see, there are some really hard times ahead for the employee base of German exprt production - like autos - as the US consumer slams their wallet shut.
The entire world will suffer when American consumerism declines. Germany will no doubt be impacted as will China, Japan, Europe, etc. The US is the engine of the world's economy.
I think coming out of this economic recession (or possible depression if the Democrats get their way and play Step-n-Fetchit for the unions, which was what helped prolong the Great Depression in ‘37 to ‘38), there is going to be a serious examination of just how much we want immigration into the US. It is one thing to spout the twaddle that is on the base of Lady Liberty, it is quite another thing to have said policy while you can’t get a job.
You are correct historically. People forget that the labor unions were among those pressing Congress to limit immigration after the Great Wave, which prompted the Immigration Acts of 1920 and 1924. The US became a low immigration country for over 40 years until the 1965 Immigration Act, which changed the demographics of this country forever.
The current black unemplopyment rate is 11.1% and for Hispanics, 8.8%. This would not seem to be the best time for guest worker programs and an amnesty. The only fly in the ointment for Obama is the growing political rise and pressure from Hispanic groups that want Obama to pay up on his political debts. There will be a mass Hispanic demonstration in Washington on Jaunary 21, the day after Obama is sworn in, demanding legalization of illegals.
If the GOP is smart [and it isn't], they would take a stand on immigration essentially calling for an attrition thru enforcement approach and reducing legal immigration from the current 1.2 million annually to 300,000 and to go to a merit based system. It will take some guts because it is going to be attacked as nativist and racist, but it will lay down the marker and set the stage for what will be the coming battle over immigration similar to what happened in the 1920s. Our current level of one immigrant out of 8 residents in this country is the highest it has been in over 80 years and in a decade it will be one in 7. There is going to be blowback and it is important to make the Dems accountable and responsible for the consequences.