I don’t think the task of securing the border in the southwest is insurmountable. It could be done, and our country could produce the resources necessary to do it - but again, it’s a question of will. I don’t think we have the will to take the necessary steps, which would involve mandatory civil service and the militarization of the operation.

I don’t think that sort of thing would be insane, but I do think that it would be impossible in the current social climate of our country. Still, even then it would beg the question to me, is it worth it? I’m not sure the security threat is that great, and the economic threat, well, I’m not convinced of that, either. I don’t think these folks are taking jobs away from citizens. I think they’re primarily taking jobs that citizens won’t take.

History shows that there has always been an immigration wave, and people have always been afraid that the country would be overrun. Even pre-civil war there were Irish immigration waves that stoked a lot of irrational fears and responses; then you had Eastern Europeans; Chinese; and don’t forget the 1980’s, when it seemed like the going fear was that the Japanese were going to actually going to BUY all of America.

Immigration waves are triggered by economic conditions, both real and perceived, in the sending and receiving countries, as Dr. Taylor said. And, historically, the demand eventually tapers off as economic conditions change, and the wave shifts.

Right now, the immigration wave is Mexican. Any guesses what the next one will be?