(08-24-2018 08:29 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(08-24-2018 07:12 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  OO, please restate what I’ve actually said about my thoughts on worker visas. I think when you do that you’ll realize that at least your last two posts are arguing against a position I haven’t taken. My goal is to make legal immigration across the border easier for potential workers because of an increase in worker visas/ease of applying for them. Currently, employers need to initiate the H-2A visa process, which poses obvious hurdles to places like farms that use illegal immigrant immigrants. So I’ll repeat my stance again, I want better legal means that allow immigrants looking for work to immigrate for work, coupled with proven tracking methods.
And if you send me an article that provides expert opinion that states that more strict immigration enforcement, a process that makes it more difficult to cross the border or reduces the number of slots available for immigrants, actually reduces illegal immigration, then I’ll be interested in it. I generally read many of the articles Tanq posts when we have debated Trump issues, regardless of their source. It’s good to understand what information is informing others.
And OO, I didn’t call you racist.

Considering that this discussion primarily involves Hispanic immigrants, and OO is Hispanic, calling him a racist is probably not a good move. Whether it's a move you made or not may be less clear.

It's pretty darn clear I never did. The thought hadn't crossed my mind once.

Quote:It seems to me that a basic rule of economics is that when you have a willing supply and a willing demand, you are going to have transactions. Therefore it seems logical that finding lawful ways to have those transactions (hirings) makes more sense than making them illegal. So increasing the amount of legal immigration appears to be a no brainer.

At the same time there are any number of good and great reasons to regain control our borders. A band of ten to twenty million people, wandering about the country with no knowledge of who they are and where they are, or even how many they are, cannot be helpful from a national security or public safety or public health or economic perspective--among others.

So it would seem that a compromise could be reached. The problem from a political perspective is that Reagan and Tip O'Neil reached such a compromise 30 years ago--amnesty for the ones already here in exchange for stronger border controls. Reagan lived up to his side, which could be done immediately. Tip reneged on is. Republicans haven't trusted democrats on this issue since.

I think your first paragraph here hits the nail on the head. We will not solve our problems here by simply increasing border control, so we must find a way to alleviate some of the pressure, and do so in a smart manner.

I say one path is to make it easier to document workers who want to come here to work, track them through a proven method while they're here, and ensure that they leave in a timely manner. Ensure that if they follow the rules, they'll be allowed back in for seasonal work in the future, so they do not feel the need to lay down roots here. Basically, try to revive and strengthen circular migration.