Across European and American society, economic classes that were traditionally linked to left or center parties have shifted their allegiance. One major reason has been that the parties they have traditionally supported were advocates of free trade. The theory of free trade is that it benefits nations in the long run. The reality is that the benefits don’t necessarily get distributed to everyone. As important, the negatives of free trade are borne by the classes that can least bear it.Do you have locks on your home or do you just let random strangers squat in your livingroom? You’re choosy about who gets invited in, are you? Why shouldn’t a country be similarly selective about who gets to move in?
In both the United States and Europe, hostility toward immigrants has soared, and immigration has gone from a peripheral issue to a central one. Citizens of these countries worry about threats to their culture as well as to their safety and security. Above all else, though, is the fear of job loss.
The older parties and those benefiting from the economic recovery are waiting for these movements to go away. They become excited at reports of economic growth. But these movements are not going away, and this ceased to be a matter of economics years ago.
We should admit skilled workers who understand and obey laws, learn English and try to fit in. We’ve got surplus unskilled labor already here. New technology and further immigration will only make their situation worse.
