[hchutch]

Interesting correlation. Could it be that the problem isn't immigration, but the welfare state instead?

[You Dirty Rats]

The Welfare State is a problem on many levels. Immigration issues become problems in part due to the welfare state.

Immigration policy needs work. So does welfare policy. It isn't asinine to talk about any of this.

[Aetius]

Both welfare and mass legal and illegal immigration are problems.

You seem sympathetic to the view of many libertarians like at Cato, that is akin to 'unending mass immigration-yes, welfare-no.'

That is simply unrealistic. If you import people who have a good chance of using some form of welfare, you are increasing the customer base for welfare. In doing so you are increasing the political power of those who support welfare.

In other words, mass immigration makes is that much harder to get rid of welfare because you have increased the political clout of those using it.

Same logic applies to affirmative action (i.e. racial preferences)and immigration. Most immigrants are non-white, and thus eligible for racial preferences where they exist. To expect people to look a gift horse in the mouth is unlikely. And the whole Sandra Day O'Connor idea that in 20 yrs or so we will no longer need racial preferences to achieve wonderful 'diversity' is absurd.

[Principled]

Interesting correlation. Could it be that the problem isn't immigration, but the welfare state instead?

To me it seems clear that this is the case. What would illegal immigration be if there were no opportunity for freebies here - only a job?

Seems we'd want those folks - willing to work for themselves without promises of free school, health care, food stamps, WIC, etc.

Seems we want to avoid those who come because of the freebies.

But what we're getting is both.

So yes, IMO you're right. The problem is not only contempt for the law, but the welfare state itself is largely to blame.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Of course the problem is the welfare State, but we'd rather point to the symptoms of the disease and call them the cause, than address the actual disease itself.