On immigration: Moralists like to use moral arguments, but in real life acceptance or rejection of immigration depends on more material factors. The new American republic welcomed immigrants to build the country, but even someone like Ben Franklin worried that if the wrong immigrants continued to arrive, the national language of America might be German. We loved immigrants to work in our factories and mines. After WWI we restricted immigration to the rednecks of northern Europe, thinking they were better prospects than those of southern and eastern Europe, but they were not. We were pretty stingy about letting in Jews fleeing Nazi plans for their murder because of ethnic and religious prejudice. After WWII we let in lots of pro-Nazi Germans, Ukrainians, Balts, and others because the Cold War was starting and we liked anti-communists, no matter how pro-Nazi they had been or continued to be. Then we decided we needed Orientals and Muslims, still not really sure they can become true Americans. We now wonder if we should base our policy on mercy or self-interest in the case of refugees from Isis and other such groups. It would be best if we stopped being hypocritical and admitted that we will take in immigrants if they meet our needs and desires, whatever that may be.
In Response to: Immigration Questions