Stop immigration

Should we stop people from migrating to our country?  Why or why not?  What do you think?

I think it is a pat on the back for a country if people want to migrate to it.  People generally leave countries that they don't think are doing well to migrate to countries that are perceived to be better.  Better in terms of economy, stability or opportunity.  But some people who love their land would not choose to leave - or would choose to return when the situation is better.

Some migrants do not remain loyal to their host country, as they long for their original homeland when the situation has improved.  Just like refugees do, but without being as desperate about it.

Jonathan Portes wrote some valid points about immigration in the context of the UK:

• Migration is not a new phenomenon.  It has been around since the Roman days, when treaties allowed people freedom of movement for the purpose of labour, capital, goods and services.
• Many fear that migration would negatively affect jobs and wages for the citizens already in the country.  Actually, the impact on jobs and wages is very small, when compared to technological change, employers’ increasing demand for skilled workers and the positive impact of the national minimum wage.
• This is because as more people move, there also becomes greater demand for goods and services.  So economically, it isn't too many people for the same number of jobs, as the number of jobs will also increase.
•  Migrants abuse the social welfare system ... but so do the original citizens.  Actually, migrants are half as likely to abuse the help system as compared to the locals, just that the locals are less talked about when they do it.
• Migrants, in general, tend to be more within the age for employment compared to the rest of the population.  Ie. they are more likely to be contributing to society than the rest of society itself.
• Migrants put pressure to the public services, but they also contribute to it.
• Even so, migrants do cause problems, as population growth change the needs for housing and transport services that need to keep up with the growth, but are less quick to do so.

Do these arguments make sense to you?  Do you favour migration or are you against it?  Do you have any suggestions about how to improve the situation?

Are we just afraid of the unknown, even when there is no need to?

I think that to a large degree, we are selfish - trying to protect our personal good, rather than that of our society.  This causes perceptions that are not really true as our biases come out.  These perceptions cause some of us to migrate, and others of us to harbour some feelings against migrants.

Would you agree?

Is this an example of a problem that arises from sin?