Bush Keeps Blundering on Immigration

The Quote Below—More Misinformation from the Media

“Next week, I’m proud to publish a new collection of my paintings, entitled ‘Out of Many, One’. . . . I set out to accomplish two things: to share some portraits of immigrants, each with a remarkable story I try to tell, and to humanize the debate on immigration and reform.

“I hope that these faces, and the stories that accompany them, serve as a reminder that immigration isn’t just a part of our heritage. New Americans are just as much a force for good now, with their energy, idealism and love of country, as they have always been.

“Another opportunity for agreement is the border. I have long said that we can be both a lawful and a welcoming nation at the same time. We need a secure and efficient border, and we should apply all the necessary resources — manpower, physical barriers, advanced technology, streamlined and efficient ports of entry, and a robust legal immigration system — to assure it. . . .

“Increased legal immigration, focused on employment and skills, is also a choice that both parties should be able to get behind. The United States is better off when talented people bring their ideas and aspirations here. We could also improve our temporary entry program, so that seasonal and other short-term jobs can more readily be filled by guest workers who help our economy, support their families and then return home.” – Immigration Is a Defining Asset of the United States, Here’s How to Restore Confidence in Our System, George W. Bush, The Washington Post, 4/16/21 [Link]

Fact Check of Above Quote: Contrary to Bush’s claim, immigration is just a part of our national identity. He and many other immigration enthusiasts, instead, seem to view immigration as the be-all and end-all of our national existence. They tend to regard immigrants not as mere human beings, but as extraordinary creatures whose “energy and idealism” will always enrich us. The former president’s new book, with its amateurish portraits of immigrants, expresses such a notion.

This kind of thinking is not only false, but quite harmful because it prevents any sensible and practical discussion of immigration policy, specifically the impact of excessive numbers and diversity on our society. Such thoughts never seem to register on Bush and his ilk, intoxicated as they are with sweet sentiments about huddled masses.

A primary reason for their intoxication is that they can afford it. America’s wealthy elites tend to romanticize immigration because it has no downsides for their self-interest. They can afford to live far away from the “enrichment” of diversity, and they will never ever face job competition from immigrants. Indeed, in many cases, immigration is helping our rich get richer. As immigration depresses wages to increase profits for business, it acts to transfer wealth from the poor to the wealthy,

Bush says we should increase our level of legal immigration. He doesn’t seem to know or care that for the past thirty years we have had the highest sustained level of immigration in our history. Mass immigration made some sense long ago when we were a developing and sparsely populated country. It hardly makes sense today, in a developed country with a third of a billion people.

In his article Bush gives lip service to controlling the border and stopping illegal immigration. But his actions as president revealed a different mindset. He ardently promoted legislation to grant amnesty to most of the illegal aliens living in the U.S. He seemed indifferent to the reality that rewarding lawbreaking will encourage more of it in the future. He also failed to support measures to make immigration law enforcement effective. One interesting thing about the immigrants he celebrates with his art work is that some were illegal aliens.

If Bush wishes to keep on painting, perhaps he might choose to do portraits of working Americans and other native-born citizens who are harmed by mass immigration. Perhaps he might develop some sympathy for them.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here