Re: Bhagwati on Immigration

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bagwhati writes: >First, the  stock of illegals in our midst must be
eliminated. At the time of IRCA, it was estimated at six million;
studies today suggest that it has doubled. Second, new flows of
illegals must be eliminated, too.<

and> If  illegals will be here no matter what we do, why not downgrade
the impossible objective of "controlling our borders" and concentrate
instead on the other objective that animates all Americans: that we 
treat immigrants with the indulgence that simple humanity requires?
Now, that would be an agenda that could make us proud. <

treating "immigrants with the indulgence that simple humanity
requires" would first involve not treating them as mere "stocks" and
"flows."

BTW, what is the leftist position on immigration reform? massive
financial aid for Mexico? an effort to stop neo-liberal "reform" that
drives Mexican peasants off the land and to the U.S.? anything else?
--
Jim Devine / "There can be no real individual freedom in the presence
of economic insecurity." -- Chester Bowles