Reader comments
Immigration leads to wealth

Cheap labor | 6:00 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Immigrants work cheap. This makes the boss-man very happy (also very rich).
Perhaps this idea will spread and GM won't have to put up plants in China.

Anonymous | 9:09 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Cheap labor does keep wages down, but it also lowers prices. Who is to say which effect is greater? So far as immigrants accepting the american dollar and sending it back home, there can be no doubt this has a good effect. If foreigners weren't willing to hold dollars, our inflation rate would be much greater than it already is. They act as a sink in the supply of dollars. This includes Chinese that buy our bonds as well as Mexicans who send their dollars home and are then willing to hold on to them.

What's YOUR net worth? | 9:54 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Don't kid yourself anon 9:09.
Immigrants spend their money just like you and I.
You should direct your argument to the CEO's and other bosses who are getting very fat these days due to the downturn in the economy - that's the way it always goes. In fact there are more millionaires today than the entire population of New York City.
Are YOU one of them?

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:10 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

To "Whats your Net Worth". No I am not a millionare but I wish I was. By the way I am pro-labor, very pro-labor, although I do not concur with labors reasoning 100%. Labor Unions tend to see only the labor side of the people they represent. I see "both" sides, the consumer side and the labor side. I suspect we would agree on more than you believe now.

leveling the playing field | 10:23 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

During the Great Depression labor was really getting the shaft. Through collective bargaining the fat cat business owners and CEO's were forced to let their employees eat more than just cake.
I see we are in that cycle once again with the middle class all but disappearing, and the CEO's buying their 3rd or 4th vacation homes, etc.
And of course, unions are labled as "communistic" people buy off on this negative term and the richie-riches win again.

Legalized Slavery | 10:53 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Stop legalized slavery by preventing illegal immigration.

tenx | 11:08 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

The new laws in Arizona and Oklahoma seem to be working. Since 85% of you who write comments on this subject are in favor of the rule of law and enforcement of existing laws regarding Illegal Immigration, please write or email to your Legislator to support Sen. Bill Hickman's bill that he will propose in the coming legislative session. It is patterned after Oklahoma's bill 1804 which follows closely to EXISTING federal laws that are not being enforced by the clowns in Washington

legalized postings | 11:52 a.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Stop legalized far-right points of view by preventing far-righters' unrealistic postings.
(wink)

Thomas | 2:07 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Economic libertarians echo Marx in their failure to understand that there is more to a civilization's health than its GDP.

It may well be true that importing a class of serfs to exploit may make a society nominally richer (hey, it worked for Rome!), but you simply can't ignore the stresses mass immigration places on a society's institutions and the unwritten understandings of a culture.

It's unfortunate, but true, that while a little diversity enriches a society (if nothing else, by providing some cultural spice and decent restaurants), too much diversity tends to isolate people. There has been research that suggests that once a neighborhood reaches a certain level of "diversity," people start interacting with their neighbors less. Interestingly, they close off not only to ethnically-different neighbors, but also to neighbors of the same ethnic group.

Los Angeles is the ultimate laboratory for this experiment in how mass immigration changes a society. While LA is fabulously wealthy, and culturally rich in many ways, it can't be denied that these things come at a serious cost.

Jim R | 2:31 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

No where is the tremendous costs this nation is paying in health care, and all social programs abuse by these illegal immigrants mentioned. Nowhere has the Deseret Morning News EVER acknowledged that we have a serious crime problem and an evergrowing Mexican Gang problem in this state. Additionally, Illegals are bringing their 3rd world ways of living to a society that won't condone garbage being thrown out into the streets, trashed homes and neighborhoods, etc. There are endless examples of that in Odgen, SLC and Utah Valley. Our prisons nationwide are beyond capacity because of Illegals committing crimes. More than 55% of all prisoners in California are illegals (documented, check it out). Our own penal system is burgeoning with illegals. There is absolutely no benefit to this nation for open borders that are supported by our entire congressional delegation. Guest workers is a fine idea if they return to their native lands following harvest or some employment. If they want to become American Citizens, apply through normal channels like everyone else; NO EXCEPTIONS! Right now, illegals are a complete and total burden to the American Taxpayer and will bankrupt us if our borders don't close immediately.

all of time devoted to this | 3:48 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

I yearn for the day when 100 percent of all workers are illegal immigrants and we as a nation can devote all our time to whining about them.

American Dream is alive | 4:23 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

The American Dream is alive and well in Mexico. If a person works hard, saves his money, and plans well, they will be able to send their children to a good schoolï¿½and who knows? If they study hard, perhaps they will get jobs someday at the new plant General Motors is building in China.

Stewart | 4:24 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Immigration at the present level pouring into the United States does have its advantages; cheap labor and wealth for employers, in some cases lower prices, and diversity, but you can't take diversity to the bank.

There are many more and serious disadvantages in our socialistic American society. Depressed wages is the worst because of "Subsistence Wage Theory" taxpayers have to not only support the immigrants, but also citizens working below a subsistence level wage. Wages are determined by supply and demand, and flooding the unskilled labor market increases supply, good for the employer but bad for the employee & taxpayer. Illegal immigration is actually "scab" labor on the American unskilled worker.

Other problems include making it very difficult for teenagers to find entry level jobs, explosive population increase(oops that is actually a good thing if you are a business that needs more consumers) adding to the sprawl and pressure on resources, increased crime and other social costs such as education, and a few more, but I am running out of space.

What is the end game? A population of half a billion by 2050 and a billion before the end of the century, our children ought to love that.

Thomas | 5:38 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

Another thought: All things being equal, it's more economically efficient for people to stay and work in their native countries. Migration between countries that use different languages involves transaction costs. Learning a new language takes time, and until the learner is proficient, he's a less efficient worker. In addition, the immigrant has to adjust to different cultural norms and different legal and institutional systems. That also imposes costs.

It would be better for both Mexico and the United States if Mexico could reform its dysfunctional economy and government.

Anonymous | 5:59 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

When all is said and done, people from time to time migrate in larges masses.
Accept this fact and you'll sleep better tonight.

To Anonymous 5;59 | 6:23 p.m. Jan. 4, 2008

How'd that work out for the American Indians?

Nobody in his right mind condones what happened to the American Indians. And nobody in his right mind would sign up himself, his children, nor his nation and culture to receive similar treatment.

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