you said:
“A tighter immigration policy would compel such people to see the worth of citizenship. Make it difficult, and then they will learn to appreciate it.”

I am not as well versed in the legal aspects of immigration as you are, so I will defer to you and continue to read about Strive.

However, do you really think that making immigration difficult will make them appreciate it more? What about just making it more worthwhile?

Also, I understand that this comment was made in the context of immigration reform, and that there are immigrants who cheat the system. But is it appropriate in a democracy to view citizenship with “reverence”? I personally don’t think so. I think it’s enough to teach that citizens have rights and responsibilities, and that cheaters will be punished. I’m not even sure that it’s within the scope of immigration policy to address the cheaters.

Finally, I don’t care for the Pledge of Allegiance. I grew up saying it every day, and I won’t say it anymore. I am a Christian, but also I believe in the separation of Church and State. So I think it’s inappropriate to require people who don’t believe in God to put their hands over their heart and pledge allegiance to the “one nation under God.” Religion is not and should not be a requirement of citizenship.

I know that the Pledge issue is not the point of your original post, but I wanted to bring it up because you lamented that some immigrants don’t even know it. Well, if they are sworn in as citizens, they have to recite it at least once.

Which is one time more than I myself am willing to recite it.

And yes, I do cherish my American citizenship.

Anyway, thanks for keeping us posted on immigration issues.

I hate to admit this, but the United States is just a crummy place to be a professional these days. The costs of education alone will put you close to a half million dollars in debt for many fields (esp medicine and law), and it’s very hard to pay that back anymore. Whereas in e.g. France, Belgium or Germany, public education is outstanding and it’s largely free of charge.

Also, most new engineering and comp sci graduates in the US and Canada (including my own sister) wind up working 100-hours a week, for diminishing pay and in basically abusive work environments. About half my friends in the Indian community have basically burned out by age 35– they’re childless, exhausted, and bitterly enough, almost broke. They don’t have time or money to raise kids, and they certainly don’t have it for entrepreneurial pursuits or creative ideas.

For whatever reason, the USA has evolved this very toxic work environment. A friend of mine who was born in Tamil Nadu, came over to the USA at age 5, excelled in school and went into electrical engineering. He was basically used as cheap labor, baited at the workplace, then laid off in 3 years despite working 100-hour weeks. He’s now obese, exhausted, and just about broke.

Whereas for the Indian community in e.g. France, Italy or especially in Germany, people there work maybe 50-60 hour weeks, they earn much more money for those shorter weeks– in part thanks to the fact that the Euro is worth much more than the dollar– have a couple weeks of vacation which they’re encouraged to take, just in general have a better quality of life. New professional mothers get months at home to take care of their kids, and couples can send their kids to great schools without bankrupting themselves. (Britain and Australia are regrettably following the lead of the US and Canada in terms of the way they treat their hard-working professional class– i.e., as expendable.)

Best of all, professionals in a place like Hamburg, Toulouse or Milan have the time in the week available, and the energy, to found new companies. It’s the reverse of 10 years ago, but for a variety of reasons, Continental Europe is a much better place to start a business. Heck, for that matter, South America and East Asia are becoming better destinations for immigrants than Europe is, for a variety of reasons.

Amusing juxtaposition.