I want to save social security?

[_ajax18]

If there were a labor shortage, why do we have such high unemployment?

[_Analytics]

If there were a labor shortage, why do we have such high unemployment?

I didn't say we currently have a labor shortage; I said we will have one in a few decades.

[_ajax18]

I can see opening the floodgates to skilled labor. But it seems to me that opening the floodgates to all immigrants in general would just compound the problems we already have, i.e. too many people and not enough money to train them

Secondly, we've had more immigrants coming in than we legally decided to allow for some time now. Why is social security still broke? These immigrants cost more money than we collect in taxes. They're paid under the table to protect their own interest as well as the employer, but often times are still eligible for government benefits. If you're talking about Indian computer programmers who get taxed like the rest of us rather than Mexican construction workers than yeah, I can see your argument. When they come from half a world away, it's not as easy to come illegally.

A great example of what is wrong with social security and welfare is Puerto Rico. They collect welfare and social security, but they don't pay taxes.

[_Brackite]

As has been shown, thanks to the Right Wing philosophy since Reagan, wages have stagnated among the working class while production from them has continued to skyrocket, meaning they work harder and get paid less. Why? Because corporations want more profit.

Ronald Reagan is the best President this Country has had in the last 60 years.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/preside ... aldreagan/

[_Analytics]

I can see opening the floodgates to skilled labor. But it seems to me that opening the floodgates to all immigrants in general would just compound the problems we already have, i.e. too many people and not enough money to train them...

Clearly, free-riders is a pet issue with you. But there are problems much bigger that aren't related to immigrants (and natural-born citizens) who suck off of society without carrying their own weight. An example of a much bigger problem is the liquidity trap we are now stuck in.

But from a demographic perspective, the labor surplus is clearly temporary, and in a few decades we will be facing a massive labor shortage.

Secondly, we've had more immigrants coming in than we legally decided to allow for some time now. Why is social security still broke? These immigrants cost more money than we collect in taxes. They're paid under the table to protect their own interest as well as the employer, but often times are still eligible for government benefits....

According to the chief actuary of Social Security, illegal immigrants are a huge net-positive to the system. Every year, illegal immigrants using fake social security numbers pay billions of dollars in payroll tax, without ever getting any benefits in return. The problems with Social Security are mitigated by illegal immigration. The problem is caused by demographics: people are living longer and having fewer kids.

[_Kevin Graham]

Ronald Reagan is the best President this Country has had in the last 60 years.

Based on what evidence?

Reagan was an actor and a corporate spokesperson in his professional life, and he continued being their puppet even as President.

[_Kevin Graham]

I can see opening the floodgates to skilled labor. But it seems to me that opening the floodgates to all immigrants in general would just compound the problems we already have, i.e. too many people and not enough money to train them...

Clearly, free-riders is a pet issue with you. But there are problems much bigger that aren't related to immigrants (and natural-born citizens) who suck off of society without carrying their own weight. An example of a much bigger problem is the liquidity trap we are now stuck in.

But from a demographic perspective, the labor surplus is clearly temporary, and in a few decades we will be facing a massive labor shortage.

Secondly, we've had more immigrants coming in than we legally decided to allow for some time now. Why is social security still broke? These immigrants cost more money than we collect in taxes. They're paid under the table to protect their own interest as well as the employer, but often times are still eligible for government benefits....

According to the chief actuary of Social Security, illegal immigrants are a huge net-positive to the system. Every year, illegal immigrants using fake social security numbers pay billions of dollars in payroll tax, without ever getting any benefits in return. The problems with Social Security are mitigated by illegal immigration. The problem is caused by demographics: people are living longer and having fewer kids.

I'm afraid we're dealing with folks who don't really care about the facts. Their beliefs are couched in too much emotion and hate towards immigrants. Facts don't matter unless they reinforce those feelings.

[_Quasimodo]

Ronald Reagan is the best President this Country has had in the last 60 years.

Based on what evidence?

Reagan was an actor and a corporate spokesperson in his professional life, and he continued being their puppet even as President.

I tend to think of it as the Ed Meese presidency.

[_Bond James Bond]

Ronald Reagan is the best President this Country has had in the last 60 years.

Iran-Contra. Hell just track down the "Contra" part (which everyone seems to forget about) and you'll go down the rabbit hole of how "good" Reagan was.

[_Bond James Bond]

If there were a labor shortage, why do we have such high unemployment?

I didn't say we currently have a labor shortage; I said we will have one in a few decades.

I had this same idea today. I was talking with a friend who is worried about the lack of jobs now and I said "wait til all these seventy million Boomers retire/die and we have a lack of workers in twenty years".