Does Immigration Help World Poverty?

ScienceChic wrote: I had never heard that the argument to take immigrants was to "reduce poverty" worldwide; I'd always heard that it was to allow those who want to make a better life. The people who make the effort to come here are the type who are more self-motivated, driven, who will make America better with their efforts, their skills, their perspectives.

That's why we don't want to exclude certain "types" of people - it's just like keeping women out of the workforce or preventing them from voting - you cut off your nose to spite your face by removing a whole segment of population that provides a different point of view, different strengths and weaknesses to balance those another demographic has.

ScienceChic wrote: I had never heard that the argument to take immigrants was to "reduce poverty" worldwide; I'd always heard that it was to allow those who want to make a better life. The people who make the effort to come here are the type who are more self-motivated, driven, who will make America better with their efforts, their skills, their perspectives.

That's why we don't want to exclude certain "types" of people - it's just like keeping women out of the workforce or preventing them from voting - you cut off your nose to spite your face by removing a whole segment of population that provides a different point of view, different strengths and weaknesses to balance those another demographic has.

ScienceChic wrote: No doubt that it does - our gain in WWII was Germany's huge loss in terms of scientific discovery and breakthroughs - I remember reading a long time ago (can't remember where) that there's no doubt they would have attained the atom bomb before us if we hadn't recruited and/or offered asylum to their top scientists. You know what? Too f'in bad for them. If they don't want to treat their citizens right, and we offer a better life, then isn't that the American Dream? Isn't that capitalism at its finest? Attract and retain the best and brightest talent to join you - that's how you get ahead and stay ahead, in business and in life.

You know what worries me? That someday here in the near future, we won't be that shining beacon calling to immigrants. We won't be that "best opportunity". America is already slipping in terms of scientific stature - we are filing fewer patents, publishing a lesser percentage of scientific papers last I checked. Soon, we will not be #1 in the world in terms of new discoveries, new technology, and the GDP that comes from that. We need the best and brightest to still come live here and work here or our economy is screwed.

Now, do our immigration policies operate on the foundation of allowing the best and the brightest, or the most in-need into the U.S.? I don't know how they decide, but I'm sure it can be improved whatever it is.