Playing The Market

The topic of immigration and specifically illegal immigration has been put on the back burner for the time being since our country is tied up dealing with many issues at the moment and really our government has a tough time doing just about anything, not to mention multi-tasking. But this still seems to be a relevant topic considering our high unemployment and even with the 780 billion dollar stimulus package put into action months ago we're still not seeing any growth. Doesn't it make sense that dealing with illegal immigration would support our goal of growing the economy again?

First of all, I have no problem with immigration and I think it should be much easier for people to immigrate to this country. Having productive members of society working, paying taxes, and contributing in our economy is positive and should of course be encouraged.

However, having thousands of people crossing our borders unchecked, working for artificially low wages simply because it's their only option as an illegal immigrant, using our social services at will, and then sending most of the money they make out of the country, presents a problem. If people think that illegals do jobs American citizens won't do, it only means they don't understand how a labor market works. Even if all the illegal immigrants in the country magically disappeared, business would still continue as usual. People would fill the job openings at whatever price they're willing to do the work, and if businesses were unable to still be profitable without the cheap labor, well they just shouldn't be in business.

Even if certain things cost more in the short term, it would still be an overall plus for the economy. We'd have more people with jobs, paying taxes and spending money here, hospitals would no longer have to deal with people using the ER for routine healthcare and then not paying for it, and generally dragging down the economy.

While I don't think that we need to go round up millions of people and just send them away, I still feel utterly embarrassed for the supposedly greatest country on earth when we were apparently the only successful country in history that can't even control it's own borders.