Points made by the American journalist Eric T. Hansen in Die Zeit (January 17)
He criticized Germany’s restrictive practices. “Only immigrants can save Gemany,” he says.
In contrast to South American countries, the USA has admitted skilled and unskilled immigrants. Between 2000 and 2010, it has welcomed about 14 million legal immigrants. In addition to these, between 10 and 20 million illegal immigrants live there. The more fresh blood, the better.
We gladly accept the few criminals who come. The benefits we derive from large-scale immigration are too great for us to worry about that.
For each Einstein to whom we open our doors we welcome millions of unskilled immigrants. We don’t mind if an immigrant mafioso takes the job away from an American-born mafioso.
The book “Exceptional People:
How Migration Shaped Our World and Will Define Our Future
Ian Goldin, Geoffrey Cameron & Meera Balarajan makes the same point as Hansen in a rather more articulate way. Immigrants are the salt that proves society’s savor.
The bit about accepting criminals in the US is rubbish. Anyone with a pot possession charge or a drink driving conviction is turned back at the border.
Eric, you’ve really dug up an unclassifiable this time.
Clearly, he enjoys having opinions. See http://www.ethansen.com/Bio/Bio.html
I do assume that if he was German, living in the US, and dishing out such opinions on how wonderful Germany was, he’d have been shot by now.
Thanks, paul1942, for this link! I haven’t explored all its treasures yet, but his stuff on the defining difference between German and English
http://www.ethansen.com/Books/B06FBE.html
is enlightening. Especially the way he hinges it all on the word “the”.
PS - Those of you whose German is fluent (that leaves me out) will want to check out the series of YouTube videos which start here:
“CC” gets subtitles, but alas auf Deutsch only.