ImmigrationI have two reactions to the issue of immigration and the recent debates on the subject. My first reaction, specifically regarding the discourse in the media, is that much of the “debate” is unfair and inflammatory. It seems essentially “unsporting” to target only the immigrants without addressing the employers who attract and hire them. The immigrants have negligible political voice in the process, the employers have ample influence, so should we be surprised that the less empowered are scapegoated? Further, much of the demagoguery in the media has been fortified with dubious claims of terrorist threats, and thinly veiled xenophobia against the immigrants. The heart of the matter is much more legitimately linked to competition for economic resources. That concern is valid – yet when corrective economic measures are proposed, many revert to more visceral objections against immigrants, their language, even their music. Economics should be the foundation of the discussion and US policy. I support free trade, and the free movement of labor – within the bounds of fair burden on local economies. So, the fundamental problem with undocumented immigration is the disparity that might exist between immigrant demands on local governments versus their contribution to the tax base. If immigrants are paying appropriately into local tax bases, any remaining arguments against their presence is little more than bigotry. Immigrant movement should be documented to limit safety concerns, but movement should be relatively free. Citizenship, and the benefits it carries, should not be a default process for those who simply “outlast” the system, but it should be available to those who conscientiously work to meet a reasonable standard. Perhaps this is a convoluted way to get to this point – but I think immigration is a factor that supports a move away from income taxes to consumption-based taxes. Under the proposals of FairTax.org, we would tax folks with essentially a national sales tax. To alleviate the regressive nature of that, a rebate would compensate all households for basic food and energy costs. Since an undocumented alien would not be eligible for that rebate, yet would still be buying essentials, they would effectively have a much higher tax rate than others in their community. If they are paying a premium toward governmental services, much of the objection to their presence is negated. Related blog post: Immigrants; Who Cares? Previous: Gun Rights -- Next: |
