Despite the way the book is being presented by some, the focus of the book is on the taking over of the culture-forming institutions in the West by quasi-Marxists, who have used their position of influence to preach hatred of Christianity of the West. The end result is the triumph of political correctness we see today. Buchanan treats the declining birth rates throughout the West primarily as a symptom of this broader Marxist-inspired malaise.
Since people seem focused on the immigration debate, though, Buchanan has the facts on his side there as well. As Harvard economist (and Cuban immigrant) George Borjas has shown, current immigrants are MORE likely than native-born Americans to get government handouts. As the National Reserach Center's study showed, mass immigration is NOT necessary to the American economy: that study found the net contribution to the economy from immigration was on the order of ten billion, a paltry sum in an eight trillion dollar economy. And economists have also found that this benefit has come at a cost, the declining wages of working-class Americans. Finally, as the 2000 election returns showed, immigrants are MORE likely than native-born Americans to vote for liberals.
As usual, Buchanan has facts and logic on his side, and all the politically correct can do is whine and call him names.
That is the fundamental problem with his position. The reality is that declining birthrates are the result of the transition from subsistence agriculture (the state of most of mankind for most of its existence) to an industrial economy. The same effect is now kicking into effect in the developing world generally -- it is simply more advanced in the West because the West got a head start.
Haven't read it yet, intend to do so, and will be very surprised if it has the racism characterized by the comments I've read here. I'll believe it when I see it.
Too bad the demonism will keep good points from being made about the changes in attitudes on American immigration. Traditionally, immigrants were expected to assimilate, to become Americans. Borders and immigration numbers were controlled to avoid being overwhelmed and destabilized.
Any attempt now to control the flow is met with the tedious but perennially effective charges of "racism." And, of course, any expectation of Americans that new immigrants will cherish their new country is also "racism." Immigrants arrive with a whole list of ancestral grievances, ready to insist on litigation and handouts. Small but significant example--they won't get car insurance, so become an economic menace on our roads. Yet, they fully expect easy drivers' licensing...