The American Spectator

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Nice Work If You Can't Get It

7.23.07 @ 12:01AM

JUSTICE DELAYED
Re: Philip Klein's The Other Refugees:

Great news that the Congress has finally discovered the Jewish refugees from Arab countries -- I can hardly remember the last time this was even mentioned in the media, much less discussed. I hope they keep up the momentum and point out that Palestinian terrorism against Israel began years before there was a single Israeli soldier or settler in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank -- that didn't happen until the June 1967 War. What a breakthrough for realism this would be. Speaking of the Gaza Strip, Congress might also point out that it was part of Egypt prior to the 1967 War and never part of Palestine.

If the Congress can knock down the lies and misrepresentations that make up much of Middle East history and dictate nearly all the debate then perhaps peace might have a chance after all. Middle East peace efforts fail so dismally and so often because they are built much more on lies rather than honesty and simple fact. Like the Bible says -- "the truth shall set you free."
-- Christopher Holland
Canberra, Australia

Well, let's see now -- the Arabs of former Palestine have been receiving hundreds of millions in UN aid since 1949 and the Jewish refugees have received $0 to date. Isn't it time for those Jewish refugees to file claims with the UN for equal monetary reparations including back payment?

How much will the EU countries cough up? The same hundreds of millions they have given to Fatah and Hamas? Or nothing?

I'm betting Jewish refugees will be receiving even less money than Arab governments chipped in for their own displaced Arab brethren. Which was and is "nothing."
-- Wolf Terner
Fair Lawn, New Jersey

LABOR BALANCE
Re: John Tabin's Enforcement Is Not Enough:

Mr. Tabin seems to be saying that the demand for immigrant labor in today's booming economy will induce some problems. Yes, and similarly just because there are laws against murder does not mean there will be no murders. The real argument is about priorities.

A generation ago it was thought that unemployment could go no lower than 6% to 7%. It is 4.5% today. The number of new immigrants to fill job requirements must be balanced against the supply of labor already available from American citizens. But Americans will only take these jobs immigrants take if they pay more and business interests want cheap labor. Yes, but wages for low wage earners should rise just as prices for food, energy and commodities have already risen. And wouldn't it be nice if Republicans could say we want to set quotas for immigration that give Americans first crack at jobs and put legal immigrants on a path of training, self-reliance, assimilation toward citizenship? Wages for low paying jobs will rise because of this policy, pushing consumer prices up. But why shouldn't they; other prices have risen. Properly balancing labor supply and demand will get America to the "sweet spot" and allow the economy to grow in a balanced way.
-- Howard Lohmuller
Seabrook, Texas

Does America have an actual labor shortage and is immigration the answer? Immigrants basically fall into three categories; a. legal, b. illegal and c. Washington isn't sure yet, but let's focus on legal immigrants, the blessed ones. Have you ever heard a Silicon Valley businessman whine it's impossible to find engineers and we need to import some from India, China or England? I always wonder why the reporter doesn't respond in a skeptical tone with: "You mean there isn't a single, apple pie loving, 'Made in America' engineer anywhere in America, including Alaska and Hawaii?"

What about that unemployed engineer in Atlanta you interviewed over the phone? Well, it costs $30,000 to $50,000 to relocate someone across the country -- too expensive. Well, then, what about that sharp gal from down the street you interviewed? She wants $10,000 more a year to jump ship and my folks would all want raises if I hired her. Yep, let's face facts, there really are no engineers anywhere in America, we need to import some.

How bad do you need an engineer? If you were legally required to pay the entire household relocation costs to move someone from Woking in Surrey England to San Jose, would you do it? Now wait a minute, that's not what I meant by there are no engineers in America, maybe that guy in Atlanta might just work out after all.

Even in American universities they still teach that when demand rises, then prices, or in this case salaries, also rise to meet the demand. American kids take the hint and decide to become engineers instead of stockbrokers or fashion models because the money is so good. But, then what's so special about American kids? Aren't kids in India or South Korea just as deserving? And, isn't it better to hold my labor costs down and let American kids compete with the rest of the world? It's good for them.

Why should the market signal the need for more engineers and then watch American kids switch majors when all we need do is issue more visas? When I hear American parents say, "I'd do anything to give my kids a better life," I always think: "Nah, you won't."
-- Patrick Skurka
San Ramon, California

Frankly, I don't blame any immigrant from Mexico who tries to come here. If I were in their shoes, I probably would do the very same thing. But as an American, it is not as if I do not have my own interests.

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