Immigration

I haven't written for quite a while, but an article I read in the Inquirer really spoke to me.  It was by Mark Zandl and it was well researched.  He sees immigration as a real plus for our economy.  He first addresses the fable that immigrants will take away American jobs.  He states correctly that immigrants come here with low education and very few skills, so they take jobs that Americans do not want, i.e. working the mushroom fields.  That is a smelly back-breaking job that most Americans would not even consider.  Without the immigrants, Mark asserts, "..prices for everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to child care would be higher."  We already know what prices at the pump has done to our personal budgets.  Can you imagine what it would be like if we fruits and vegetables went sky high, too????!!!

Mark also adds that other immigrants are highly educated, as in they earned their PH.D.  "Immigrants file for patents at a rate three times that of U.S. born citizens.  These are the scientists and researchers who drive innovation and technological change.  Their talent is key to America's ability to create what the world wants and needs."

The immigrants are also much more likely to be the entrepreneur.  "Immigration is also important to promoting foreign trade and investment, which are keys to long-term economic growth and more jobs.  Immigrants naturally have very strong relationships with overseas businesses and the capital necessary to make these ties."

Then he addresses one of my favorites:  that immigrants don't pay taxes.  He calls this fallacy for what it is and states: "Taxes paid by legal and illegal immigrants and their children dwarf the costs of the government services they use."  Most people do not realize that immigrants do pay taxes.  If the government doesn't allow guest immigrants, there will be a great diminishment of funds for the government through taxes.

I appreciate Mark Zandl's research.  It matches my own experience of the many immigrants I have faced through the years.  Thanks, Mark.