By Wayne L. Bower
Every country, like everything else, has a point of saturation. The question is, what is the population saturation point in this country, one person for every square foot, square yard or acre? What about immigration attrition? How many people leave this country or die every year? Do we wish to let in only people who have something to offer, only the rich, only the intelligent, or a ratio from each country?
What ideas do we base immigration on? The ideas are complex but some things must be understood. The country’s economy, human services and food supply can support only a certain amount of people.
Simplifying would go something like this: Suppose this country has 10 people. The country has 10 jobs. One doctor, one hospital. The economy produces $100 a year. The country is sound and working well. The general economy averages $10 a year per person and this is sufficient to run the country.
Suddenly five more people come in. There are no immigration laws. Of the 15 people there is still only 10 jobs. Five people are unemployed. There is still one doctor and one hospital. The five unemployed come to the doctor or hospital. They have no money. They pay no taxes for human services. As the economy is based on those 10 jobs (producing a $100 economy), it now falls because there are more people than jobs. The country is in trouble.
With immigration laws an allowable increase in people is acceptable and as the country grows so do the jobs and other things – doctors, hospitals, human services, etc. We need a country to grow legally but only at a rate it can take care of its people. Opening the floodgates to everyone will destroy the country.
The above is an over simplified model for immigration. Immigration is a very complex subject.
Limiting the number of legal immigrants is critical. Illegal immigrants hurt the country because there are only so many jobs. Only a certain amount of immigrants every year can be absorbed. Medical and human services are also limited and will be stretched beyond capacity.
We welcome legal immigrants because they are the life’s blood of this country. Legal immigration grows at a controlled and acceptable rate.
Each country has its language. Turning a country into Babylon with all its languages leads to confusion. If you had many jobs but people spoke different languages how could you fill them?
This is the bottom line and illegal immigrants are not equal to legal immigrants.
Wayne L. Bower is a Tacoma resident.
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