Why
all the fuss about Immigration?
The United States has never had
anything close to an Immigration Policy, so why worry about it now.
Prior to the
mid-19th Century, the United States had an agrarian economy, as it expanded
geographically, and there was no real need for an immigration policy. Since
then, the common thread in any discussion on this Country’s “immigration
policy” has been the industrial revolution. Closely following the Civil War the
Industrial Revolution kicked into high gear. There became an urgent need to
staff the growing number of factories. Many workers came from the farmlands and
overseas to realize the promise of higher incomes. In a
nutshell, as the western Nations industrialized, they needed a workforce to
staff and operate their modern-day manufacturing facilities (the factories).
The United States seemingly dropped all attempts at immigration policy for the
same reason Europe did: industrialization.
“Most Counties, however, have not
reconciled the old need for a work force and the need to regulate modern day
immigration trends. With the recent failures in many economies, the lack of
immigration regulation has bloated the ranks of the poorer classes and is
increasing the tension and squeeze on what is left of the middle class. This is
a lose-lose proposition in that the poor require certain attention that the
middle class tax base can support. Without the middle class tax base, the poor
are being hung out to dry (kicked to the curb). The "upper class" has
never shown much of a penchant for supporting the lower classes. If you follow
a logical train of thought on this, you come to the conclusion that at some
point the upper class has no one left to do, their bidding.
Post World War I, the U.S. began
struggling with immigration policy. President after President, Congress alter
Congress in the 20th century have tried to figure this out, and have failed
time and time again. So, for the last 146 years or so, the U.S. has virtually
had no immigration policy, and that is large part of our current situation. I
have quoted a few sources to detail the chain of events that got us here.
The Rise Of Industrial America, 1876 - 1900:
[1]
“In the decades following the Civil War, the United States
emerged as an industrial giant. Old industries expanded and many new ones,
including petroleum refining, steel manufacturing, and electrical power,
emerged. Railroads expanded significantly, bringing even remote parts of the
country into a national market economy.”
“Industrial growth transformed American society. It produced a
new class of wealthy industrialists and a prosperous middle class. It also
produced a vastly expanded blue-collar working class. The labor force that made
industrialization possible was made up of millions of newly arrived immigrants
and even larger numbers of migrants from rural areas. American society became
more diverse than ever before.”
Allison Morey on the
Center for History and New Media: [2]
“During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of
immigrants were coming to the United States. The majority of these immigrants
came from eastern and western Europe. Immigration increased during this time-period
for several reasons. One reason was the hope for a better life, which included
economic opportunities and an escape from oppressive governments. Another
reason was for the adventure. A final reason includes religious freedom, especially
for the Jewish people who were facing religious persecution in Russia.”
Nancy Birdsall, in Foreign Affairs Magazine: [3]
“It is interesting to note that,
almost to a Nation, the Industrial Revolution had a direct and lasting effect
on Immigration Policies. There are a handful of European Countries who chose to
readjust their Immigration Policy once they had established a firm
manufacturing base. The folks that filled the factories were to become the much
needed Middle Class.”
“Say hello to the new Dark Ages!”
“Why is this Middle Class the topic
of so many economic and governmental discussions? The answer lies in the
realization of just who pays the taxes that allow the wheels of industry and
government to turn. The height of the Middle Class in the United States was
achieved in the 1960's. The apex was reached as a direct result of our Military
Industrial Complex. As much as people like to bash this sector for economic
prowess, the Military-Industrial Complex gave this Country its incredible
ability to out produce any other Nation on the Globe. It was the sole reason
that our Standard of Living was, and still is, head and shoulders above anyone.”
“Unfortunately, in the 1990's there
was a Trade Agreement reached, initially involving Canada, The U.S., and
Mexico, that started the downhill spiral of our middle class by allowing our
manufacturing jobs to be shipped outside our borders. The politicians at the
time reassure the American public that this mass migration would never occur.
We the people chose to listen without questioning a thing. It seems ironic that
the exact opposite of what they promised us happened.”
“Here we are in 2016 wondering if we
will ever again see the likes of our old middle class. Another Industrial
Revolution does not appear to be in our future; hence, a resurgence of our
middle class seems unlikely, at best. The big question facing our young adult
population is that of actually paying for things we so easily take for granted;
Social Welfare, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, affordable housing, and, yes,
government itself. The Baby Boom generation could probably come up with the
solution, but we're just to tired and burnt-out. Our children and grandchildren
will have to figure this out on their own, and all we can tell them is, “Good
luck"”.
I spent much of my adult life in our
manufacturing sector. When I learned the details of this NAFTA deal, it was
painfully obvious the Middle Class was going the way of the dinosaur. I
witnessed, first hand, the steady decline in my regional manufacturing base,
and it was clear that our Nation's tax base was going to suffer from this ill-conceived
trade agreement. The politicians, and Lords of Industry, fiddled while “Rome”
was burning!
Well, just maybe, Ms. Birdsall’s
admonition of “good luck" is not enough. What is left of the middle class
could easily team up with the lower classes and forcibly make a change in the
status quo. The upper class isn’t going to like it much, they will
try everything in their power to fight back. I have a fairly good grasp on how
the rank and file of the Military think, and, if the Military comes around, as
I suspect it will, the upper class will have no option but to capitulate.
Everything I see happening around me keeps pointing me in this direction of
analysis. Yes, we could have a “bloodless” coup d’état, but I wouldn’t bet on
it. Our economic and financial structures have become so polarized I don’t see
a peaceful solution to the combination of no immigration policy and a
disappearing tax base.
Taking a little bit from a number of
points of view could possibly solve the problem of this Country ceasing to be a
democracy. Take a little bit of isolationism. Take a little bit of
libertarianism. Take a good bit of fiscal conservatism. Make our borders a
little more secure. Take a little bite out of our financial sector. Make an
investment in our infrastructure. Make a few less abominable trade pacts. And,
come up with a logical immigration policy that stems the depletion of
governmental resources to anyone who can enter this Country: legally, or not. Now,
if we don’t get the ball rolling on this, our States will start declaring
bankruptcy at an alarming rate (14 of them are on the brink right now). You
think you know what true anarchy might look like. Believe me you have no idea
what this Nation in total chaos would look like.
Watch this
space.......................
References:
[1] Library of
Congress, web site-
[2] Center for History and New Media-
Author: Allison Morey
[3] Foreign
Affairs Magazine, March/April 2016 - Nancy Birdsall, President of the Center
for Global Development
