On Immigration...

Now, I'm simply not really good at black'n'white over-simplified analysis of complex problems, and it strikes me that a fair part of our problem in this country when it comes to an awful lot of issues results from a combination of reactive and "gotta look busy" legislation. I suggest immigration as a case in point - thus far every attempt to sit down and take a comprehensive look at immigration law and impose something vaguely resembling rational thought, logical consistency, and national interests on the beast has been shot down in flames, mostly by one group or another baiting their constituents and interest groups for political gain.

What makes sense in terms of immigration policy?

Well, it strikes me that just perhaps some priorities would include:
a) We want a "reverse brain drain" - i.e., send us your doctors, your engineers, your physicists, your programmers, your great thinkers. We want this both as a direct benefit, but by allowing and even recruiting the worlds best minds to live in the United States, we deprive their home nations of the benefit of the intelligence, innovation, and presence.

b) We want to fill our professional gaps - send us trained or trainable RN's and other folks that possess skills that we don't seem to be producing locally.

c) Send us your manual laborers, as we are in deep kimche if you don't; but what say we do it on a legal basis, with background checks, and a defined path to assimilation and citizenship. Besides, a legal path kills the economics of coyotes.

d) Humanitarian cases (from asylum to familial immigration) need to continue to be honored. Folks running from despots or to family should not be unduly obstructed.

That said, I would offer a list of things we don't want:

a) You're coming here because you are joining us - we're not joining you. It's a melting pot, blend in. Learn english, become a citizen, vote, and thus earn the right to kvetch.

b) Don't blow stuff up. It makes us cranky.

c) In the spirit of *b*, learn the local laws here and abide by them. Or go home.

d) Don't waste our time trying to come here if you've been doing *b* and *c* elsewhere, unless we give you a gilt-edged invite.

Could be I'm just a little cranky with the chest cold, rd II, but...neither closing the borders totally, nor flinging them wide open, will either work or serve the national interest. Just this once, let's try for what's good for the U.S. in designing policy.