Quote Originally Posted by SuperChuck
So if the President has his way and grants amnesty to the illegal immigrants and they become legal workers, something is going to change? Pedro is suddenly going to demand minimum wage and health benefits?

When legal immigration was wide open, we didn't have any economic problems. I think the real problem is we don't want to compete. I see that a lot with foreign trade, as well. In order to boost domestic growth, we tax the hell out of imports. Can't compete with Japanese cars? Tax the hell out of them!
Probably not Pedro, but Pedro Jr. will.
BTW, when exactly was legal immigration "wide open"? IIRC, there has always been some regulation of immigrants. Granted, there were times when regulations were much more lax, but never non-existant.

The Japanese auto industry is a poor example. First, they pay their workers shitty wages to work long hours and be satisfied living in an apartment, that they buy like a condo, with 10 other members of their family, and the apartment costs them so much money that they make payments through several generations of their family.
Second, they introduce low quality cars at low prices only to jack up the cost later. Those shitty Japanese cars now cost as much, if not more than, American cars. They tricked stupid Americans into buying a throw away car because it's not reasonable to fix them. People used to be able to buy a car, and keep it for 20+ years. Now they have to buy a new one every 2-4 years.

The main question people have to ask themselves is this; Do we want to be LIKE other Countries, or BETTER than other Countries? I know what my answer is.