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I've been thinking (hey, no funny comments necessary LOL). Secure the country's borders is a no brainer. Presently, unemployment is at 4.6% WITH 12 million illegals in the country. GDP growth has been anywhere between 3-5% a quarter for the past few years.

My questions, how do we conservatives mimic the free flow labor market that is happening under the present loose border policy? What are we conservatives going to do about labor market demand? With unemployment so low and GDP growth anywhere from 3-5%, cutting the free flow of labor could be problematic for future economic growth. I am very curious if anyone has thought of the Border/Immigration Problem from that angle?

I know this isn't a military question, but I wouldn't mind the best brains considering these questions. Thank you. :)

" I know this isn't a military question, but I wouldn't mind the best brains considering these questions. Thank you. :)"
In my case perhaps you error. I am not the brightest bulb around. Hehheh. Good points.
I often poise the following scenario regarding the border problem. I wonder how many solid conservatives own farms in the states in question and have for many years hired illegals to work the farms. Someone has to break their backs in the hot sun to pick those lettuce before they bolt, and other quickly persishable goods. How do they feel as solid conservative gents and ladies on this issue.
Are they willing to say participate in approved programs that may be put in place, where National ID cards are requiered by a new system? Will they be willing to comply if it turns out many of their current crop of workers are found out to be illegals verse those on green cards and perhaps other vehicles on a state level that have allowed illegals to show up for work and get a pass?
This whole thing is just one big mess that the Democrates, Republicans and probably many Libertarians, etc., have simply turned their heads on for some twenty five years plus.
I will say this much, having recently becoming employeed by a Home Depot Store in the wonderfull commie city of Philly, I have seen more contractors flooding into the store each day that don't appear to speak english very well, many of super obnoxious, and some are downright nasty to our Sales Associates and Cachiers. They are rude, make a super mess in the ailes for lumber, concrete (heavy stuff), and never return carts to the store entrance areas. In short they act like the own the place.
I deviate from what you ask. But all those years of neglegience now appear to be coming to a head. The issues IMHO are not just with some poor illegal coming in to pick grapes at harvest time, but how many are roaming around, forming drug gangs, and doing business here.
How does one diffrentiate between a poor migrant farmer type and say a Colombian gang leader coming over the boarder, making his contact, driving off into the luxuary of say LA and then setting up shop.
So many angles we can propose to a rather complicated state of affairs. Obviosly I did not go into the Islamofacist issue that has to be included in the equation.
In short, my friend. I don't have the answers.

Someone posted a discussion about the labor problem the other day, but he was shouted down. The people who are pressing for no guest worker program, deportation, and a huge wall do not believe that it will affect our economy negatively. They believe there will be a cost saving from not having to pay for teachers in the southwestern states, welfare, and emergency room services.

I don't think this savings will get passed on to the taxpayer, myself. Past history has shown me that the teachers' unions will fight to keep those jobs, and that the welfare and emergency room savings won't get passed on to the average citizen either. That money will simply be transferred to another budget item, and we will be left with a diminished labor force who will demand higher wages (good for those workers) and thus higher prices (not good for any of us).

I am not an economist, but these things seem pretty obvious to me. Since the President has to consider ALL ramifications rather than just pleasing the slogan-ranters, I would imagine that is the reason he has favored a fairly liberal guest worker program.

Of course, this is not what a lot of people believe. Instead, they believe his decision is because he is being blackmailed by Vicente Fox or has sentimental memories of Hispanic workers from his childhood. It's much easier to make fun of him that way, you see.

You ask a good set of questions.

We have a good start with the extensive work involved with H-1B visas.

There is a small limit to them (relative to perceived need), they must be highly qualified (I only know of master's degreed student getting them (friends from my master's program), they must be sponsored by an employer (who is accountable for them), and are generally paid what the labor market demands, and if they are here illegally, I don't think it is easy for them to be given one.

As for the actual impact, I know the employment numbers make it look like it would be impossible to handle a mass exodus, but this is definitely not the case. Those unemployment numbers are collected by those getting unemployment compensation, if I correctly remember. That means many millions of people who are no longer collecting (or never collected), are on welfare or disability, collecting Social Security, are students or of student age, are stay-at-home spouses, etc. are all not in that number. So, what looks scary is far from it. Especially since I believe Welfare should be abolished.

Also, you underestimate the ability of mechanized equipment filling in for manual labor. There would be an investment in machinery that has not happened in many circumstances. If the labor is so cheap, why invest? That equipment would be bought in/from the US, doubly helping the economy.

There are many people devoted to handling the repercussions of the illegals as it is, including therapists (I recently heard over a million US citizens have been victims of illegals' violent crimes), court personnel, hospital staff, etc. Their demand would decrease, shifting to more productive areas. Additionally, citizens working in professions which illegals have jobs would be able to demand more money or shift occupations themselves (home builders, landscapers, etc.).

In the end, I am not worried about too much of a consequence. When we get rid of the illegals here (scaring them by enforcing laws on them and employers), we will be able to choose from a more educated labor force from other countries (India, Russia, etc.) than we are left with now. Additionally, we would have a much better handle on their criminal background, leading to a safer future for us all.

cutting the free flow of labor could be problematic for future economic growth

I've been thinking about that angle, also. China is growing gangbusters using cheap labor - if the US could get a big pool of cheap labor, the US would have a chance at balancing the trade deficit. We have no chance with highly paid, lazy, job-rule bound, union workers, paying taxes and whatnot.

What's even neater - these modern day slaves are self importing - no slave traders to pay off. The more the merrier, I say.