Why are our lawmakers not privy to this information...they allow our jobs to be sent to third world countries, while we allow the import of cheap labor from those same countries...it is amazing how Washington is destroying our country...We will no longer have a middle class within about 20 years or so...
I live in one of those kinds of towns he was talking about. We now have overcrowding, gangs, crime. I don't live in California, but in Long Island. We used to be a equally mixed community, now we are the minority. I was just talking about all the illegal immigrants effects on our society. If you have millions of them - they are using up our fuel, water, food supplies, drove up school taxes. When will we be heard, also these immigrant woman don't have just 3 or 4 kids..they have 5, 6. They get pregnant at 13( yes in my daughter's Jr. High school you have 12 & 13 year olds getting pregnant). we need relief, and we need it now. What I don't understand, these people are in a sense criminals, If I pulled this crap in their country - we be arrested.
Nothing was brought up regarding another large reason why there aren't as many jobs available in the U.S., the loss of plants and companies overseas.
Nothing was noted that these schools employ Americans as teachers, parapros, food service staff, maintenance staff, etc..
Nothing was brought up that much of the reason why many of our rivers and lakes can't support fish which are safe is because of factory pollution, not population pollution.
I agree that immigration must be limited; everyone who wants to come here may not be able to do so, at least without a wait, but the "craze" and fear that has engulfed many Americans is causing "knee-jerk" reactions. Also, much of the immigration policies were initiated while Congress was majority Republicans. No explanation of that, despite the Republicans being behind much of the propaganda of immigration control.
ps: I find it interesting that there is a belief in these charts, especially the use of "off the charts" when referring to the immigration explosion, but many of these same people don't believe the data contained in charts about global warming...
The immigration issue didn't change for all of this while a majority of Republicans were in office. This has been a problem for decades that has been getting worse because it's easier for those politicians who want easy votes to garner them from people they can convince to go on the dole. That's a Democrat ploy and has been for decades. Issues and laws on dealing wirh illegal immigration have been consistently underminedsince the 70's and they've been slowly whittled away by many people.
It's disgusting that this country makes it more difficult for well-educated, law-abiding, experienced people in any number of fields to come here from other countries, either to emigrate, go to school or work using the legal visa system while allowing people with no education, no job experiences and no skills to speak of come in and use up resources that could be used to help our own citizens.
This video didn't change my opinion, it reinforced it. And Roy Beck wsn't even talking about illegal immigration. He was talking about LEGAL immigration. Add the illegals and disaster is compounded. I have compassion for the downtrodden, but I don't want my granddaughter to live in the world that Beck describes!
Dave H. our lawmakers do know in some way about the consequences of our current immigration policy, the trade deficit and global warming. Problem is they get their campaign contributions from people who don't want our policies or lack or policies in these areas to change.
As H. L. Mencken once said "If a man's livelihood depends on him not understanding something, then it is very hard to ever get him to understand it."
Donna: The welfare ranks have been shrinking dramatically since the Clinton administration. While I agree with you that they could get a lot smaller. Welfare was never intended to be generational support but rather a safety net that was temporary.
I have a friend in Venezuela who would love to come here and work and live. He speaks five languages fluently and has a U.S. college degree. He cannot, however, get a visa. On the other hand uneducated, illiterate, unskilled people are being promised amnesty for sneaking across the border. Something is out of whack.
I'm with Jack on this. I already felt this way; the video reinforced my feelings and put it clearly enough that I could pass it on to friends and family and if they will sit through it, it will make sense.
This has been an ongoing problem since the 1980's and now everybody is so concerned about it now?!? I worked in a slaughterhouse during the early 80's in the rendering dept. Immigration would come through a couple times a year send almost all the emploees back to Mexico, levy a fine against the company,which I don't think they really had to pay. But, in less than a weeks time they were all back in their places. Most of my friends at that time were appauled at the jobs I would get them at the plant and usually wouldn't hang for a whole days work. If they don't get the workers to come here to do the jobs for cheap, don't you think they'd just move the jobs there and really save on wages.? The meat and other foods grown in the US could be shipped to Mexico, processed and then shipped back here....$20 head of lettuce doesn't really make me happy. Her's one: lets make Mexico our 51st through 60th states....they'd have to follow the same rules as we do: The United States of the Americas...whoops, who really are Americans?
Very interesting video. I do live in California and in an area that has so many immigrants (both legally and illegally) and emigrants. Here in L.A., there are a documented (well, census bureau statistics in 2000) 1 million immigrants and emigrants. I agree that there is a problem with the illegals, but this guy is saying that the rivers and beaches are being polluted is true... but not by the illegal immigrants. If one remembers the history, the majority of the Western states did belong to Mexico before the Spanish-American war... which means basically that if the U.S. had lost the war, we would be the illegal immigrants. I am also part Native American, which has a big part of how I feel about this subject. The Angelenos here stick up their noses at the majority of the jobs that the immigrants are doing, since these Angelenos believe that they need to have a lot of money to do what the immigrants are doing for cheaper. The funny thing is that the immigrants (legal or illegal) make more than I do with SSI and Disability, which means that I'm barely ekeing out a living of my own. If it weren't for my roommates, which one is part Mexican (but some of her ancestors were born here, even before this was a state), I would be out on my arse and living on the streets since it is so expensive. (Which the immigrants are not responsible for that.) His outline/numbers did not include the illegals or ones coming in to learn at one of the schools (mainly colleges). California, especially Los Angeles, is building more schools because the teachers only want 5 to 10 kids per classroom, not because of the immigrants. Since I worked for the Census Bureau in 2000, the rest of the population for Los Angeles were: 1) Caucasian with more than 6 kids; 2)African Americans, with more than 6 kids; 3) Asian, with 5 kids; 4)Homeless; 5)Russians/Europeans, with 5 to 8 kids; and finally 6)Latinos, with 4 to 6 kids. Los Angeles' homeless are growing rapidly, at last count about 1.5 million. I have seen many things, outlining how immigration is taking its toll on America. If, perchance, we (the U.S.) were to make Mexico, Puerto Rico (which is a U.S. territory), and Central America all states (instead of erecting a wall between Mexico and the States), we may have some sort of relief. On the subject of immigration, look at how many Canadians (nothing against them) are coming to the States and taking good paying jobs from the people in the States. (All of the broadcast news stations have at the minimum 10 Canadians.) Then, look at the celebs: Michael J. Fox, William Shatner, ad nauseum, that come here for good paying jobs, which deprives the citizens from careers. I do apologise for the long-windedness of this, but as I said earlier, I'm part Native American,and I believe that people have the right to a better life. The people in other countries that have multiple talents can't even get a visa to come into this country.
I have stated this over and over on a million articles. One immigrants can come in legally all they need is an offer of a job. The illegal alien is a non issue, for it sets precedent for all people to come in illegally be they friend or foe, or terrorist. This is the only country in the world that is allowing itself to be governed by everyone else. And further try entering Mexico illegally, see how long you live.
Thanks for the info. everyone! It certainly raises questions that we probably should be more aware of. We're always looking through the front door we forget about the back one! Very interesting video.
WOW that was an eyeopener considering he was talking about the statistics regarding how LEGAL immigration affects our economics. That strengthens my stance on what I think about ILLEGAL immigration. I don't want for any man to suffer hardships and I feel compassion for those countries less fortunate than ours. However, I do demand that people in this country be law abiding aka be here legally then we can talk about patriotism, which is a whole other ball of wax.
Our country can show compassion and help curb immigration by continuing to provide foreign aid and education to stabilize third wold countries, spread democracy, and put pressure on leaders to be responsible for their citizens by providing basic human rights.
On the flip side, we have a responsibility to not be over consumers, which leads to exploitation of third world countries' citizens and natural resources. Where is the equilibrium?
Can't watch the video. For some reason, my computer won't show videos from Google or Youtube. Each time I try to view such a video, I'm asked to download the software needed to view it, and when I click download, my computer locks up. I have Real Player, Quicktime and Windows Media Player, but I still can't view videos from those sites. That's why I never comment on video links that are posted.
its a interesting video but I am sorry to say I have mixed feelings on this , I live in Georgia and here I have meet some very decient immigrants I have an illegal immigrent in our home that lives with us we are helping her get her greencard , and in the next couple years we are helping her become a legal citizen she is a great girl who graduated from highschool her on May 26th with honors and a scolarship. I am as proud of her as I am my own children!
oh yes I forgot to add this my granparents were immagrants, one from Germany one from England one from France the only true american grandparent was an Mowhark indian ! some one in everyones family was an immagrant to this country at one time or another !
It's just time to do something about the illegal immigrants. My family came here leagally 4 generations ago. My great grandmother was born in the United States though within 3 years they got homesick and left the U.S. When she was 21 she said she was an American and belonged here. She came back and got a job in Struthers, OH. One year later her fiancee came here legally, lived 4 hrs. north of where she was working. They hadn't seen one another in over two tears. When he made enough money to support her he move to a small community where she was working and they married. I don't feel sorry for illegals or their children. Never in the history of our family has anyone been on relief or welfare. We were taught it was disgraceful to do so though I do believe there are Americans who need this help until they get on their feet. My first husband died coming home to OH while working in LA. He died on his way home for our daughter's forth birthday. He was 1 quarter short for us to receive social security. I went out and got another full time job and put my college education on the side burner. GET RID OF"EM!!!!!
Welfare workers know who those people are, they should limit their resources when they see they aren't taking advantage of schooling and other programs which would help them live on their own resources, or just kick them off cold turkey. If they don't want to be members of society on their own accord then I don't feel sorry for them.
It's funny how so many commenters didn't quite realize the video was arguing againts legal immigration (even after some pointed this out in the thread).
So let me clarify:
1. The US already has a large population (but also a large territory).
2. There are a lot of legal immigrants coming into the US.
However,
3.) Legal immigration to the US is already a very difficult and time-consuming process, and most people who would like to come do not qualify in any way. (By most, I mean over 99%, just like Mr. Beck says too.)
[3b.) Because of the difficulties mentioned in 3.), there already are many people, among the best educated of the world, who are choosing not to come to the US but go somewhere else instead.]
4. As almost all legal immigration today is either family-based or high-end employment based, reducing current levels of legal immigration would mean
a.) US citizens would not be able to bring non-citizen family members to the US to live. (Don't let your kids travel internationally or talk to foreigners, folks, they might fall in love and you'll never see them again); and
b.) Universities, research labs and high-tech companies would be a lot less competitive internationally. A lot of what takes place in the US now would simply be taking place somewhere else.
So yes, legal immigration can be reduced, but people should first understand what it would mean to do so. Who should be cut? Will the next Einstein get in?
Other comments:
Overpopulation is a global problem, as is the resulting environmental degradation. They cannot be solved in one country. You can keep people outside the borders, but water and air pollution doesn't need a passport or a visa.
The history is sort of shaky there too. A bit of research of newspaper material through the different decades would show that the exact same arguments were made about immigration in that "golden age" as are heard today: immigrants take away jobs, they bring diseases, there's crime and gangs, they don't speak English, they're not as intelligent and/or educated as the native population, etc. It's always the same list.
As for the 1965 Immigration Act, Mr. Beck fails to mention why it led to increased immigration. It's because the previous Act allowed a large quota for Europeans, but practically nothing for Asians and other areas of the world. In the 60's, that was felt as wrong, and the 1965 Act shifted the focus toward the Third World, and from "preferred national origin" to the family and skills-based immigration we have today. (Before that, people from the preferred countries didn't need to have either American family members or special skills or education).
The 1965 Act was, of course, influenced by the principles of equality expressed in the Civil Rights Movement, and is the most important factor behind the shift from a mostly white country to the multi-ethnic country the US is today. Some people don't like that shift and will criticize the Act for this reason, but then they should be honest enough to tell us what they think is wrong with it.
In the same vein, I find that green-red population chart rather curious. Why is it that the descendants of immigrants since 1970 remain red forever? How did the descendants of previous immigrants get to be nice and green? What are the new immigrants doing wrong, apart from most of them coming from the Third World, while previously most came from Europe? Could we just change the green to white, with a (neatly seperate) black stripe, and the red to a mixture of beige and brown? I think the diagram would look almost the same.... (Except brown doesn't say "danger" and "be afraid" as well as red does, I suppose.)
Does anyone think that the president could do something about the immigration problem? Basically i think lot of illegal immgrants are getting away wiht lot of things that we can't even get. It bugs me that they can have fancy cars or whatever and not even have a good eduation or a good job to get those kind of things. In my opinion they think coming to America is also a way for for them to get whatever they want and take advantage of the system. I think they are bad drivers; you can tell they never drove before the way they drive. Make you wonder if they have a license they shouldn't have and have been buying those license without doing it by the rules. Where i live is full of illegal people; it is scaring away lot of people who live here for so long and have left town. They have basically taken over all our stores and stuff.. The prices are so crazy and they can basically get whatever they want and we suffer the consequences for their actions. they don't even pay taxes; they should pay taxes like we do. It amaze me that they still haven't caught all the illegal people out in this country. There is so many all over the world that it not being stop by the INS for those who hasn't come here properly then do it legally.I don't mind those who come legally but it make me upset that the one who come here illegally is really tearing up what America really stand for. I just don't like the power they get. How ever they are more involved in lot of crimes that are happening these days. I think they did something wrong they should be sent back to their country.
Well, Aniko, thanks for clarifying, but why they would reduce the number of legal immigran but just close their eyes on the illegal one? & thanks to Gaelyn for this link.
Thank you for the link and I believe that the video has probably started alot of conversation. The problem is with all that is happening in this world we have to stop thinking totally as individual countries and more as brothers and sisters of mother earth. If we don't start thinking about each country and peoples as part of our family on this earth it really won't make a lot of difference who goes where legally or illegally. No place on the earth will be able to sustain the numbers of people. If we assist the underdeveloped nations to our current levels of poverty and non poverty here in the states without coming up with sustainable energies then the earth's resourses will run out faster than our population goes up. Then everyone in all countries are in major trouble.
Such an interesting video, Gaelyn! He's not even differentiating between legal and illegal so this just corroborates and solidifies my thoughts on illegal immigration. What's even more interesting is that the people who advocate illegal immigration are the same people so concerned with depletion of our resources, both natural and economic. (Yes, I really want to pay for a new school to be built every day to keep up with the flow of immigrants.) Thanks for making me aware of this. Glad I watched it.
I agree with Julie and Jack C. If you want to see the rising effects of immigration, just come through my neighborhood. Some of them are nice families, some of them are just Trash. Im shaking my head thinking of the cultural differences...like how the people from one part of the world steal water from their neighbors to water their lawns. And I live in a high end neighborhood.
I have something to say about another subject. Everytime we as Americans support a company that out sources, we cut our own throats. Where ever I can, I kick those companies to the curb and choose to do business with a company who employes people living in America. If Everyone did that, we would no longer have to deal with outsourcing.
I wasn't going to watch this because I am sick of immigration articles, but I must admit this was very unique to what I have been seeing and reading. Almost makes me glad that I don't have kids! I wonder how difficult it would be for me to move to Switzerland?
Gaelyn, I am not so generous as those who came before me. When I come to an article, I expect there to actually be something there for me to read. A link without an explanation or opinion feels like a cheap shot to me. You invested more time in the question marks in your title and clicking boxes for groups than you did in telling me why I should care about clicking on your link.
The problem isn't immigration. The problem is the big corporations who don't care about people. We need another Teddy Roosevelt to step in and put corporations out of the fleece business.
I just feel there is to many coming over also We need to take care of what is here and be able to find enough jobs and resources before we allow any more to come in I also feel if they want to be an amirican they can speak english and learn our ways I feel we should not have to learn spanish to cater to them I feel they should fly our flags and not the ones of their old country. They left that one because they thought ours was so much better then they should show respect for our country and learn our language and ways
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Comments: 53
Nothing was noted that these schools employ Americans as teachers, parapros, food service staff, maintenance staff, etc..
Nothing was brought up that much of the reason why many of our rivers and lakes can't support fish which are safe is because of factory pollution, not population pollution.
I agree that immigration must be limited; everyone who wants to come here may not be able to do so, at least without a wait, but the "craze" and fear that has engulfed many Americans is causing "knee-jerk" reactions. Also, much of the immigration policies were initiated while Congress was majority Republicans. No explanation of that, despite the Republicans being behind much of the propaganda of immigration control.
ps: I find it interesting that there is a belief in these charts, especially the use of "off the charts" when referring to the immigration explosion, but many of these same people don't believe the data contained in charts about global warming...
It's disgusting that this country makes it more difficult for well-educated, law-abiding, experienced people in any number of fields to come here from other countries, either to emigrate, go to school or work using the legal visa system while allowing people with no education, no job experiences and no skills to speak of come in and use up resources that could be used to help our own citizens.
Dave H. our lawmakers do know in some way about the consequences of our current immigration policy, the trade deficit and global warming. Problem is they get their campaign contributions from people who don't want our policies or lack or policies in these areas to change.
As H. L. Mencken once said "If a man's livelihood depends on him not understanding something, then it is very hard to ever get him to understand it."
I have a friend in Venezuela who would love to come here and work and live. He speaks five languages fluently and has a U.S. college degree. He cannot, however, get a visa. On the other hand uneducated, illiterate, unskilled people are being promised amnesty for sneaking across the border. Something is out of whack.
The Angelenos here stick up their noses at the majority of the jobs that the immigrants are doing, since these Angelenos believe that they need to have a lot of money to do what the immigrants are doing for cheaper.
The funny thing is that the immigrants (legal or illegal) make more than I do with SSI and Disability, which means that I'm barely ekeing out a living of my own. If it weren't for my roommates, which one is part Mexican (but some of her ancestors were born here, even before this was a state), I would be out on my arse and living on the streets since it is so expensive. (Which the immigrants are not responsible for that.)
His outline/numbers did not include the illegals or ones coming in to learn at one of the schools (mainly colleges). California, especially Los Angeles, is building more schools because the teachers only want 5 to 10 kids per classroom, not because of the immigrants.
Since I worked for the Census Bureau in 2000, the rest of the population for Los Angeles were: 1) Caucasian with more than 6 kids; 2)African Americans, with more than 6 kids; 3) Asian, with 5 kids; 4)Homeless; 5)Russians/Europeans, with 5 to 8 kids; and finally 6)Latinos, with 4 to 6 kids. Los Angeles' homeless are growing rapidly, at last count about 1.5 million. I have seen many things, outlining how immigration is taking its toll on America. If, perchance, we (the U.S.) were to make Mexico, Puerto Rico (which is a U.S. territory), and Central America all states (instead of erecting a wall between Mexico and the States), we may have some sort of relief. On the subject of immigration, look at how many Canadians (nothing against them) are coming to the States and taking good paying jobs from the people in the States. (All of the broadcast news stations have at the minimum 10 Canadians.) Then, look at the celebs: Michael J. Fox, William Shatner, ad nauseum, that come here for good paying jobs, which deprives the citizens from careers.
I do apologise for the long-windedness of this, but as I said earlier, I'm part Native American,and I believe that people have the right to a better life. The people in other countries that have multiple talents can't even get a visa to come into this country.
Our country can show compassion and help curb immigration by continuing to provide foreign aid and education to stabilize third wold countries, spread democracy, and put pressure on leaders to be responsible for their citizens by providing basic human rights.
On the flip side, we have a responsibility to not be over consumers, which leads to exploitation of third world countries' citizens and natural resources. Where is the equilibrium?
So let me clarify:
1. The US already has a large population (but also a large territory).
2. There are a lot of legal immigrants coming into the US.
However,
3.) Legal immigration to the US is already a very difficult and time-consuming process, and most people who would like to come do not qualify in any way. (By most, I mean over 99%, just like Mr. Beck says too.)
[3b.) Because of the difficulties mentioned in 3.), there already are many people, among the best educated of the world, who are choosing not to come to the US but go somewhere else instead.]
4. As almost all legal immigration today is either family-based or high-end employment based, reducing current levels of legal immigration would mean
a.) US citizens would not be able to bring non-citizen family members to the US to live. (Don't let your kids travel internationally or talk to foreigners, folks, they might fall in love and you'll never see them again); and
b.) Universities, research labs and high-tech companies would be a lot less competitive internationally. A lot of what takes place in the US now would simply be taking place somewhere else.
So yes, legal immigration can be reduced, but people should first understand what it would mean to do so. Who should be cut? Will the next Einstein get in?
Other comments:
Overpopulation is a global problem, as is the resulting environmental degradation. They cannot be solved in one country. You can keep people outside the borders, but water and air pollution doesn't need a passport or a visa.
The history is sort of shaky there too. A bit of research of newspaper material through the different decades would show that the exact same arguments were made about immigration in that "golden age" as are heard today: immigrants take away jobs, they bring diseases, there's crime and gangs, they don't speak English, they're not as intelligent and/or educated as the native population, etc. It's always the same list.
As for the 1965 Immigration Act, Mr. Beck fails to mention why it led to increased immigration. It's because the previous Act allowed a large quota for Europeans, but practically nothing for Asians and other areas of the world. In the 60's, that was felt as wrong, and the 1965 Act shifted the focus toward the Third World, and from "preferred national origin" to the family and skills-based immigration we have today. (Before that, people from the preferred countries didn't need to have either American family members or special skills or education).
The 1965 Act was, of course, influenced by the principles of equality expressed in the Civil Rights Movement, and is the most important factor behind the shift from a mostly white country to the multi-ethnic country the US is today. Some people don't like that shift and will criticize the Act for this reason, but then they should be honest enough to tell us what they think is wrong with it.
In the same vein, I find that green-red population chart rather curious. Why is it that the descendants of immigrants since 1970 remain red forever? How did the descendants of previous immigrants get to be nice and green? What are the new immigrants doing wrong, apart from most of them coming from the Third World, while previously most came from Europe? Could we just change the green to white, with a (neatly seperate) black stripe, and the red to a mixture of beige and brown? I think the diagram would look almost the same.... (Except brown doesn't say "danger" and "be afraid" as well as red does, I suppose.)
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977058173
& thanks to Gaelyn for this link.
I have something to say about another subject. Everytime we as Americans support a company that out sources, we cut our own throats. Where ever I can, I kick those companies to the curb and choose to do business with a company who employes people living in America. If Everyone did that, we would no longer have to deal with outsourcing.