tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post110853516208986975..comments2024-03-19T01:48:39.709+00:00Comments on Power and Control: Immigrants depress wages or: capitalism is hardM. Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1109009032823525142005-02-21T18:03:00.000+00:002005-02-21T18:03:00.000+00:00After reading your post, Michele's post, and the u...After reading your post, Michele's post, and the underlying WSJ article, the only problem seems to be with Americans recognizing the economic shift occuring and the best strategies to adjust to the shift.<br /><br />The WSJ article mentions a welder who is looking to replace a lost job. The welder is seeking the traditional solution -- another welding job at the same pay. What the welder should be doing is starting his own welding company and using his years of experience to hire out the same "low paid" workers he complains about. He's holding lemons and doesn't have the good sense to make lemon aid and sell it.<br /><br />Ditto for the $7/hour wife working at Head Start. There's a shortage of quality child care in the NW region of Arkansas. By running her own child care business, she could easily triple her earnings. She's holding lemons and doesn't have the vision to make lemon aid and sell it.<br /><br />Rather than print sensational "Woe is me" stories or "Lock the borders" stories, America would be better served by stories about how to cope with the Third Wave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8282587.post-1108565986423950062005-02-16T14:59:00.000+00:002005-02-16T14:59:00.000+00:00I don't actually believe that we have an immigrati...I don't actually believe that we have an immigration problem in this country. But I do think that there's a problem with Mexican immigration (particularly illegal Mexican immigration). And social and economic policies on both sides of the border are abetting the situation. The reason I think it's a problem is that illegal (and unreported) workers enable employers to offload costs onto taxpayers.<br /><br />My solution isn't closing the border. I think that the Bush Administration should be putting a lot more pressure on the Mexican government to change its policies. These changes include removing restrictions on investment in the Mexican economy by foreigners (particularly land ownership). Increased opportunities in Mexico will do more to slow illegal immigration from there more than closing the border. Actually, I've heard arguments that the militarization of the Mexican border after 1986 increased illegal immigration.<br /><br />It's also important to recall that the situation won't last forever. The Mexican population (like Europe's) is greying faster than ours is.Dave Schulerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06932517048962562233noreply@blogger.com