Working the Economy
USA Today brings to our attention the advancing plight of immigrants, declaring that our sputtering economy is affecting them more than the locals. I wouldn’t doubt that. What can we do? I’m no John Keynes, so the only action I could take from behind a desk was read about Spain and its vaguely similar immigrant circumstance to perhaps generate some ideas. I learned that in the nineties, both the United States and Spain had hot economies. Both now have high numbers of Central and South American immigrants. And both have an economical dilemma causing strain to all populations. So, what is Spain doing? It’s now 10% unemployment rate has led Prime Minister Zapatero to offer money to immigrants in exchange for their immediate exodus of a minimum three years. That seems like an insulting solution. Three years ago Spain granted amnesty to immigrants, and now look. What will happen here? Read this article and this article and send ideas to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
