What if...
...every port, airport, and border crossing in America were to become or become again, the gateway to liberty and justice for all?
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Lets forget for a moment that
in a Libertarian world, with open borders, there would be no taxation or publicly funded
healthcare to worry about. In the current reality it is popular to cite
all the costs to society imposed by illegals. It is good that our guest
columnist (see Jose Cancela's commentary, below) gives a math lesson to the hate-mongers. Even as things stand
today, illegal immigrants contribute substantially more to the state in
social security and Medicare taxes than they receive back (precisely
because they are illegal and therefore can't collect), and
contribute substantially to the economy in ways that could not
be replaced without them.
The
bottom line is that our aging society is desperately in need of an
infusion of new workers and younger workers. Other than the immigrant
population, Americans are not even replacing themselves any more. The
"zero population growth" movement of the last century has succeeded too
well. Each year the United States is in need of more young workers to
take the place of older retring ones. The infusion is necessary to
keep the current tax burden spread as thinly as possible and to
contribute more consumers.
Having said that, lets remember that when
the Libertarian Party is the majority party in the United States there
will be no taxation and no public services, therefore there will be
much less fodder for xenophobic obfuscation.
Our national economic woes will all be
resolved with enough new consumers entering the country. More
consumers means more cash into the economy and more demand for goods
and services. The greater the demand, the greater the postivie impact
on employment at all levels, on business, and on the overall economy--
regardless of the price of gasoline or the value of housing. In fact, a
large infusion of new residents creates pressure on the housing market
and may restore value to this sector of the economy much more quickly
than could ever be achieved otherwise. Further, immigrants save money
at a much higher rate than natives, and their presence here will
relieve pressure on financial institutions and ease credit restrictions.
That's
the economic argument. What about the moral argument? In my humble
opinion, we cannot be the "Land of the Free" or the party of Liberty if
we don't continue to be the world's one refuge to the "tired,
the poor, the teaming masses yearning to be free." Our newcomers remind
us how fortunate we are, even in a down economy or a bear market. They
remind us it is still possible to be upwardly mobile in this country--
more than any other-- if one is willing to risk everything, work hard,
and be frugal. Without a constant influx of (potential) new
citizens it is too easy for the rest of us to grow complacent, elitist,
even paranoid-- all at our own peril.
Obviously
there are the usual concerns about criminals, deadbeats and terrorists
coming across the border but these people can be intercepted by routine
police action and intelligence. These are the people most likely to
find a way into the country no matter what. This risk should not be
used as a pretext for tighter border controls, or any border controls!
Those
of us who grew up on the Canadian border understand how much can by
gained by contiguous nations with essentially open borders. Every entry point in the United States should be managed like the Canadian border. A quick stop, a friendly greeting: "Where do you live? Where are you going? How long will you be there? Enjoy your stay." -jwh-