Good point about human capital but depending on circumstances, this doesn't necessarily translate into success in the new land. It has the potential to do so but that is very dependent on other factors. The thing is that while smaller Midwestern communities might benefit economically from more legal immigration over time, in states like California, Florida or the northeast in general (among others) high levals of immigration have actually become a huge economic and social capital strain for many working to lower middle class Americans in those parts of the country. Or at least it is widely percieved that way (And as one such person myself, I think there is significant truth to the sentiment but like other beliefs it's a mix of truths, partial truths and falsehoods).
Some of Trumps statements are downright scary, but if one looks at the politics of non Black working class Americans from non immigrant backgrounds, they are majority pro Trump even in much of the northeast and California. Working class Black Americans also frequently lean pro immigration restriction even if mostly Democrats, and so you see Harris having recently moved to the right on this issue. This is also a huge part of why states like Texas and Florida have become more Republican recently after previously trending Democratic, and why states like Arizona or Pennsylvania or NC are still purple. US immigration law simply does not allow for the government to restrict where migrants can live within the US and ultimately, fewer immigrants choose the Midwest for the same reasons that fewer Americans choose the Midwest.
In the long run I think it is probably larger Midwestern cities and their suburbs that could probably benefit the most and with fewer problems from increased immigration. But that woukd really require a much stronger marketing campaign to existing migrant communities, not more immigration at the national level. It might not seem like it from a small town Midwestern vantage point, but we really have a very high leval of immigration to the US as it is, not even considering the whole illegal immigration issue.
100% in agreement on this post and especially appreciative of the explanation of how even “low-skill” immigrants are high in human capital (which I have rarely seen explained well)
"Pete has more than twenty years' experience in planning, economic development, and community development, with stops in the public, private and non-profit sectors. He lives in Chicago"
With this background, Pete you sound like part of the problem. If you have an answer for Chicago I would like to hear it. Frankly I would trust Trump's knowledge of business and the American economy more than someone with stops in the public and non-profit sectors. Certainly, more than someone who says, "What can be, unburdened by what has been." As if a current candidate's imagination could be better than our Founders who studied 2000 years of government history in writing our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Note 176 years passed between landing of the Mayflower and ratification of our Constitution in 1787. Seven generations is a lot of time to think about getting it right.
Trump's rhetoric is bombastic at times, but during time in office his focus was on getting good RESULTS for Americans of all flavors. That despite constant opposition from progressives, probably including yourself. Trump blundered on our Covid response, relying too heavily on the likes of Collins, Fauci, and Walensky in an area far from his own experience.
If our leaders would follow our immigration laws, you may be right. Immigrants would be vetted before being allowed into our country. Criminals, drug dealers, gang members, pimps, and those with a specific intent to harm our country would be largely excluded. Harris makes no bones about it, she wants our invaders set on a path to citizenship while reducing police forces, increasing bail money, and reducing sentencing. These bad guys are going to be with us, causing grief for many, many years. And on they come obviously with help from Biden, Harris, Mayorkas, and NGO (speculation on my part) incompetents.
Good point about human capital but depending on circumstances, this doesn't necessarily translate into success in the new land. It has the potential to do so but that is very dependent on other factors. The thing is that while smaller Midwestern communities might benefit economically from more legal immigration over time, in states like California, Florida or the northeast in general (among others) high levals of immigration have actually become a huge economic and social capital strain for many working to lower middle class Americans in those parts of the country. Or at least it is widely percieved that way (And as one such person myself, I think there is significant truth to the sentiment but like other beliefs it's a mix of truths, partial truths and falsehoods).
Some of Trumps statements are downright scary, but if one looks at the politics of non Black working class Americans from non immigrant backgrounds, they are majority pro Trump even in much of the northeast and California. Working class Black Americans also frequently lean pro immigration restriction even if mostly Democrats, and so you see Harris having recently moved to the right on this issue. This is also a huge part of why states like Texas and Florida have become more Republican recently after previously trending Democratic, and why states like Arizona or Pennsylvania or NC are still purple. US immigration law simply does not allow for the government to restrict where migrants can live within the US and ultimately, fewer immigrants choose the Midwest for the same reasons that fewer Americans choose the Midwest.
In the long run I think it is probably larger Midwestern cities and their suburbs that could probably benefit the most and with fewer problems from increased immigration. But that woukd really require a much stronger marketing campaign to existing migrant communities, not more immigration at the national level. It might not seem like it from a small town Midwestern vantage point, but we really have a very high leval of immigration to the US as it is, not even considering the whole illegal immigration issue.
100% in agreement on this post and especially appreciative of the explanation of how even “low-skill” immigrants are high in human capital (which I have rarely seen explained well)
"Pete has more than twenty years' experience in planning, economic development, and community development, with stops in the public, private and non-profit sectors. He lives in Chicago"
With this background, Pete you sound like part of the problem. If you have an answer for Chicago I would like to hear it. Frankly I would trust Trump's knowledge of business and the American economy more than someone with stops in the public and non-profit sectors. Certainly, more than someone who says, "What can be, unburdened by what has been." As if a current candidate's imagination could be better than our Founders who studied 2000 years of government history in writing our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Note 176 years passed between landing of the Mayflower and ratification of our Constitution in 1787. Seven generations is a lot of time to think about getting it right.
Trump's rhetoric is bombastic at times, but during time in office his focus was on getting good RESULTS for Americans of all flavors. That despite constant opposition from progressives, probably including yourself. Trump blundered on our Covid response, relying too heavily on the likes of Collins, Fauci, and Walensky in an area far from his own experience.
If our leaders would follow our immigration laws, you may be right. Immigrants would be vetted before being allowed into our country. Criminals, drug dealers, gang members, pimps, and those with a specific intent to harm our country would be largely excluded. Harris makes no bones about it, she wants our invaders set on a path to citizenship while reducing police forces, increasing bail money, and reducing sentencing. These bad guys are going to be with us, causing grief for many, many years. And on they come obviously with help from Biden, Harris, Mayorkas, and NGO (speculation on my part) incompetents.