Don't forget the Norwegians. Norman Borlaug is estimated to have saved a billion lives with his green revolution. Earl Bakken invented the pacemaker, saving millions of lives. Both University of Minnesota grads.
The outrage of people whose ancestors came here generations ago is so misplaced and ignorant that it is infuriating. If most 'Americans' would take a moment and look into their past, they would be horrified to discover that they came from somewhere else. The only peoples who can claim to be native Americans are the Tribal Nations population. So the rest of you, can just get over it!
Malcolm Gladwell did a great podcast almost a decade ago on this very topic. The border was open until the late 70s and migrant workers didn’t stay in the country because the stakes for coming and going were low. Now, if you are a migrant worker, you risk life, limb and savings to get over the border so once you are here, you stay.
I would however argue a serious policy push to enact this policy would find a more marketable term than "open borders" which most people *do* hear as meaning "anyone is a citizen" for reasons I don't totally understand. I suggest "Right to Work"
I think you could keep going. We don't need....countries. "The State" is simply a monopoly on power. I'm not saying it doesn't do good things (I'm Canadian FYI) but I think groups of people can do good things without the power of the state. A bit too idealistic, sure. Though "open borders" and "the U.S." and *what's happening to you now* (waves arms) is quite an idealistic statement too.
Friend, If I may gently push back...I'm a veteran teacher in Georgia, and undocumented students put an INCREDIBLE strain on our already stretched resources.
Because most teachers (especially ESL teachers) are awesome and empathetic, we make do, but having several kids dropped in your class that don't speak or read English and have no transcript to check is stressful. Just something else to consider.
Unless I'm missing something, I think the "undocumented" part would be fixed with open borders. As Michael points out, we would actually know more about who was coming in if we made legal immigration easy. There would be no need to sneak into the country, therefore immigrants would be documented and we'd know how many kids are actually in the school system and could secure funding accordingly.
To gently push back on this assertion. The problem is with diminished education funding, not undocumented children. Constant attacks targeting public education by right wing astroturfed groups trying to siphon public money to private religious charter schools (run by their pals) under the guise of “choice” and a receptive and pliable Republican state legislature is the root cause of strain on the system and lack of teacher resources. I’ve witnessed this firsthand as my spouse is an ESL teacher in Kentucky.
I don’t disagree. The issue with that is funding is a complicated and lengthy process and it doesn’t do much good in the moment when you’ve got brand new kids right in front of you. Honestly, I could go for days about misallocation of school funding, but that’s another topic.
Thanks for the civil discussion, and best to your wife; she’s truly got one of the hardest but most important jobs in American education.
I agree with you, Michael! We are all citizens of this planet, and life is not a zero sum game. We need to stop believing that immigrants are coming after our resources. That’s a dangerous mindset that is fueling violence against anyone we can be convinced to perceive as the “other.”
Upwards of 40% of this country are exactly that. Stupid. If you are still a trump supporter you are in a cult of stupidity and bigotry. Also, probably racist. I’m almost 70 and this is the most baffling thing I’ve ever been exposed to.
We are living in what feels like a non stop Twilight Zone episode.
The ever insightful philosopher is pragmatic tonight. It always makes me happy when you state the obvious so eloquently because, well, it is not obvious to the apathetic, greedy, navel- gazing and entitled. Thank you Michael for putting thought-provoking "pen to paper".
Why not open borders, as you propose? We all know why - capitalism (which requires a desperate underclass who will work for next to nothing lest their shithead bosses call ICE on them) and white supremacy (which explains the xenophobia you alluded to at the end.)
Don't forget the Norwegians. Norman Borlaug is estimated to have saved a billion lives with his green revolution. Earl Bakken invented the pacemaker, saving millions of lives. Both University of Minnesota grads.
The outrage of people whose ancestors came here generations ago is so misplaced and ignorant that it is infuriating. If most 'Americans' would take a moment and look into their past, they would be horrified to discover that they came from somewhere else. The only peoples who can claim to be native Americans are the Tribal Nations population. So the rest of you, can just get over it!
Malcolm Gladwell did a great podcast almost a decade ago on this very topic. The border was open until the late 70s and migrant workers didn’t stay in the country because the stakes for coming and going were low. Now, if you are a migrant worker, you risk life, limb and savings to get over the border so once you are here, you stay.
https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/general-chapmans-last-stand
I would however argue a serious policy push to enact this policy would find a more marketable term than "open borders" which most people *do* hear as meaning "anyone is a citizen" for reasons I don't totally understand. I suggest "Right to Work"
..obviously.
Open borders seems like an economic multiplier.
See also, Matt Yglesias’ book “1 Billion Americans”.
People cross over to Mexico to get dental work. I agree, open borders.
I think you could keep going. We don't need....countries. "The State" is simply a monopoly on power. I'm not saying it doesn't do good things (I'm Canadian FYI) but I think groups of people can do good things without the power of the state. A bit too idealistic, sure. Though "open borders" and "the U.S." and *what's happening to you now* (waves arms) is quite an idealistic statement too.
Friend, If I may gently push back...I'm a veteran teacher in Georgia, and undocumented students put an INCREDIBLE strain on our already stretched resources.
Because most teachers (especially ESL teachers) are awesome and empathetic, we make do, but having several kids dropped in your class that don't speak or read English and have no transcript to check is stressful. Just something else to consider.
Unless I'm missing something, I think the "undocumented" part would be fixed with open borders. As Michael points out, we would actually know more about who was coming in if we made legal immigration easy. There would be no need to sneak into the country, therefore immigrants would be documented and we'd know how many kids are actually in the school system and could secure funding accordingly.
To gently push back on this assertion. The problem is with diminished education funding, not undocumented children. Constant attacks targeting public education by right wing astroturfed groups trying to siphon public money to private religious charter schools (run by their pals) under the guise of “choice” and a receptive and pliable Republican state legislature is the root cause of strain on the system and lack of teacher resources. I’ve witnessed this firsthand as my spouse is an ESL teacher in Kentucky.
I don’t disagree. The issue with that is funding is a complicated and lengthy process and it doesn’t do much good in the moment when you’ve got brand new kids right in front of you. Honestly, I could go for days about misallocation of school funding, but that’s another topic.
Thanks for the civil discussion, and best to your wife; she’s truly got one of the hardest but most important jobs in American education.
Brilliant.
I agree with you, Michael! We are all citizens of this planet, and life is not a zero sum game. We need to stop believing that immigrants are coming after our resources. That’s a dangerous mindset that is fueling violence against anyone we can be convinced to perceive as the “other.”
Upwards of 40% of this country are exactly that. Stupid. If you are still a trump supporter you are in a cult of stupidity and bigotry. Also, probably racist. I’m almost 70 and this is the most baffling thing I’ve ever been exposed to.
We are living in what feels like a non stop Twilight Zone episode.
The ever insightful philosopher is pragmatic tonight. It always makes me happy when you state the obvious so eloquently because, well, it is not obvious to the apathetic, greedy, navel- gazing and entitled. Thank you Michael for putting thought-provoking "pen to paper".
Why not open borders, as you propose? We all know why - capitalism (which requires a desperate underclass who will work for next to nothing lest their shithead bosses call ICE on them) and white supremacy (which explains the xenophobia you alluded to at the end.)
Agreed 👍