Re: Bhagwati on Immigration

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Short of eliminating capitalism, I wonder if anybody has anything to add to Jim's
recommendations.

Bhagwati's treatment of immigrants as nothing more than stocks and flows represents a step
forward in the sense that it means that immigrants are no different than native-born
workers.



On Thu, Mar 30, 2006 at 08:17:23AM -0800, Jim Devine wrote:
> 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

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu