Watch this video....

Immigration_by_the_Numbers.mov - Google Video

Is this a numbers game, or is this the real deal?

I have finally had the chance to watch this video and I must admit that I am confused by both the numbers and the message.

In Canada our birthrate is very low and our overall population is small. We number in the mid-30 millions and our birthrate is less than that required to replace our existing population. We accordingly rely on immigration to replace and indeed augment our existing population and we assume that our newcomers will become Canadian citizens. We also take in refugees. This is a policy based on a humanitarian philosophy.

This video left me entirely confused as to the rationale behind the American policy on immigration. Is it in place for economic reasons - that is to say to stabilize/augment the existing population - or is it, as this individual suggests, based on some sort of vague humanitarian ideals? If this is so then the narrator is right: the current policy does not make sense. It would be far better to leave these migrants where they currently live and only accept those individuals who are genuine refugees.

The numbers seem a bit inflated. As we all know, a well-educated and affluent society tends to have few children. Though the new immigrants may have large families it is unlikely that their children will.

He is, moreover, assuming that the newcomers will be a financial charge on the existing society. In fact the truth is that more people create more jobs in all sectors of the economy. I am inclined to view this man's take on the situation as thinly veiled xenophobia.