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| Mayor Mike Bloomberg addresses a crowd on the topic of immigration |
Occasionally a politician speaks truth to power, and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg did so on Tuesday.
He pointed out that in 1991, 18 percent of Canada’s and America’s immigrants were rated as highly skilled.
Then he stated that in 2011, Canada’s percentage had soared to 67 percent, while the United States was falling further behind, at 13 percent.
What an obvious idea Canada had, bring in the best and brightest and watch your economy thrive—it certainly has compared to the US.
He also stated that the only solution for destroyed inner city areas, such as in Detroit, was to import thousands of immigrants to bring back the vitality and energy.
“I would argue the federal government should go one step further. They should deliberately force some places that don’t want immigrants to take them, because that’s the only solution for these big, hollowed-out cities where industry has left and is never going to come back unless you get some people to move there,” he stated.
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He knows because New York would be just as dead without the immigrant neighborhoods and workforce that ensure the city continues to thrive.
America has moved so far from its immigrant roots to the point that now there is a widespread effort to prevent immigration rather than encourage it.
Thus, even much needed software engineers, and highly skilled workers, are being refused entry and turning elsewhere.
President Obama is no hero as Bloomberg pointed out; he has deported more immigrants than any president before him and done nothing on immigration reform.
Bloomberg also suggested that federal government allow states to set their own immigration policies.
Seeing as right-wingers are essentially doing that in Arizona and Alabama anyway, I agree with him.
Canada has done this successfully, allowing each state to set its own immigration policy and adapt to its needs.
Let them come to New York, where the vibrant city with its hundreds of ethnic neighborhoods, bottom level crime rate, and decent employment show the way.
Well-done Mayor Mike for speaking truth to power. No doubt the tight asses who want to close off America will soon be on your case talking the usual rubbish.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.johnnymac12 | Jun 30, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT
I wonder why Bloomberg is calling for smarter immigrants after seeing USA fall way behind Canada with figures of only 13% as opposed to Canada's 67%. Could it be because there are so many Southern Irish in America who would rather have a good time than work for a living?????
Madeliene | Jun 10, 2012, 07:10 PM EDT
KayDog1 you have that right!
LwaoiseNíMhaol | May 29, 2012, 05:39 PM EDT
Let the Americans have America the way that they want... Without us Irish if they want it's their country *shrugs* we have our country they have theirs and thats fine and the way it should be...there is the whole world to explore..you cannot force or claim entitlement to a nation that you were not born in....
Pittsburghkid | May 29, 2012, 02:55 PM EDT
Once the illegals become citizen, then through Diversity, they get hiring preference over Native Born American. Now what fool would grant Citizenship to a group of people that will get preference over them.
merefalow | May 27, 2012, 08:14 PM EDT
this elusive thing called growth that all polititions everywhere keep on about,its crazy,full production,demand,factories running flat out.once they get that they take the whole show and outsource it(GOOD WORD THAT)OUT TO SOMEPLACE WHERE THERE IS CHEAP LABOR,OR THEY IMPORT A LOAD OF PEOPLE WHO WILL WORK CHEAP.either way leads to stagnation,and unemployment.do they care,no,just good old capitalism working flat out for you and yours.if you substain a population at a reasonable level you might stand a chance,allow mass uncontrolled imigration of unskilled people while there is no work for your own,and your own children have to emigrate for work,where is the logic in that.you get massive growth from a sunflower but it eventually falls over when it gets to big.i don't believe with the massive growth in world population it is possible to provide housing,education,medical care etc etc,the system appears to be in meltdown,allowing mass uncontrolled imigration is a disaster recipe for ANY country long term.mary m232,vitriolic voilet would be a better name 4 u.and as for your champions of civil rights and justice,bloody laughable,who do you think invented concentration camps,for women and children,boer war in case you want to educate yourself.
paddyo1942 | May 26, 2012, 10:05 PM EDT
No mention of legal or illegal? Illegal immigrants are the problem in the U.S. They cost a fortune in health and education expense, they are responsible for the majority of crime. But the liberals who look at them as future voters want them called undocumented aliens. Thats like calling a drug dealer and undocumented pharmacist. There is no problem with those who want to enter legally.
jolynnnoel | May 25, 2012, 09:18 AM EDT
MaryM232--I am quite proud to have Irish ancestry. England's history has very little to do with human and civil rights and more to do with being tyrants. As far as Ireland being a Nazi ally; didn't England have a Nazi party that actually won seats in Parliament? And when WWII was in full swing, I believe it was the Irish that went to England to work in their factories-even though the official position of the Irish was one of neutrality. As far as the slave trade goes, American certainly had their hands in that as well; yet you don't seem to feel that America is the "cesspool" that Ireland is. I am an American that is proud of her Irish ancestry. Erin go bragh!!!!
seagreen | May 24, 2012, 10:37 PM EDT
" Those areas that do not want immigrants should be made to take them" This tells me all I ever have to know about this guy! In essense he means that people other than those at his level, and those that disagree with him have no right to govern or make their own decisions. Of course this attitude is always camoflauged with wisdom of the priviledged...
FayreFionnan | May 24, 2012, 05:27 PM EDT
@whiteycat I have seen many of my extremely well educated, highly skilled peers (25-30 year olds) leave Ireland for work in Canada, The UK, Australia, Dubai etc. The fact that they are English speaking and highly educated allows them to emigrate and become immigrants. Highly skilled ones. They've got good jobs; some are accountants, tradesmen, financial analysts etc. The fact that my peers can do this is great for them, but it also acts as a pressure release valve for society. The dead economy (in this case, my home, Ireland) has nothing to offer them. I can't imagine what it would be like if all my friends who have now left, were instead sitting at home here in Ireland drawing on social benefit and simultaneously getting increasingly frustrated with nil employment prospects. You ask "how during immigration do you pick the smartest and the best?" I don't think it should be a question of how a country or society "picks" the best immigrants, it's more about, how can society, any society allow the best to shine? If 'right-wingers' and the like have their way, the ebb and flow of an immigrant workforce will be stymied. IMO, the US was great because it was the land for the emigrant. The land for the immigrant. Fertile and industrious. Draconian policies, born from questions like yours, and other right wing sentiments found on these message boards will turn the US stale, stagnant, *I'm searching for another word to reflect my thoughts....but....no, it's gone, you get my drift.
chicksooze | May 24, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT
MaryM232 - "... one can see that England is a noble country, their legacy is human and civil rights,..." LMAO, you can't POSSIBLY be serious, they are one of the most injust bunch of people ever to walk the earth.
Bythebay | May 24, 2012, 02:45 PM EDT
MaryM232, the terrorism was Northern Ireland, not Ireland, and was the IRA Provos supported primarily by "Irish Americans" in the US. The thrust for E3 Visas as well as amnesty for the illegal immigrants in the US was generated in "Irish America", not Ireland. And the people of Ireland DID NOT elect Niall to anything, he's New York/Long Island.
MaryM232 | May 24, 2012, 01:42 PM EDT
All one needs to understand about why Ireland's a pit, is because it elected corrupt, unethical, people like Niall o'doodie head into office. According to Niall, the poor OIrish have been harmed by bad policies, so they must be allowed to break US law, and US citizens who speak out against being harmed by the same policies Niall o'doodie head says are bad in Ireland, but ok in the US are "racist" and "xenophobic". If you want to examine the sort of person who profited and exploited slavery, all one has to do is look at mayor Bloomberg and Niall o'doodie head. They're hypocrites who have one rule for themselves and one rule for everybody else. They'd scream like babies if they were abused, but it's perfectly fine to impose terrible harm on US citizens. If you want to know why Ireland has never achieved anything significant, or noble, why no great achievements came out of Ireland, why oinks like Niall o'doodie head constantly tries to claim the achievements of US citizens, as the achievements of Ireland, it's because Ireland is a cesspool society, it embraces self pity, it's greedy, it's hypocritical, always on the take. You can attempt to blame all your problems on England and England has done wrong in the past, but despite all that, one can see that England is a noble country, their legacy is human and civil rights, Ireland's is allying with the nazi's and the Islamists, blowing up little children and other innocents. Ireland was involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, yet it's never apologized for it's profiteering and exploiting that foul practice. Ireland is a joke, and any decent human being should be ashamed of Irish ancestry.
kaydog1 | May 24, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT
Niall, it's not "speaking truth to power" if the one doing the 'speaking' is a BILLIONAIRE Mayor of one of the most important cities in the USA. He IS 'power' himself. Also, neither the Mayor's statements nor this article make any sense, which is typical Bloomberg and Niall - Example: it's contradictory to say in one breath that States should be able to set their own immigration policy, and in the next breath that the Federal Gov't should "DELIBERATELY FORCE" some cities to take immigrants! Make sense of THAT, please. In any event, the Feds resettle "REFUGEES", not "IMMIGRANTS", and they already put these REFUGEES wherever they please. "IMMIGRANTS", on the other hand, come individually on their own, and they settle whever THEY please - no city anywhere in the US restricts the settlement of LEGAL immigrants - they cannot. The article also cites a statistic of only 13% "skilled" immigrants coming to the US. Bloomberg does not specify, but this figure applies only to registered, LEGAL immigrants, and THEY don't represent any sort of a problem. This is typical of Bloomberg (and of Niall)- to present a 'straw dog' argument, while ignoring the REAL problem. The REAL problem is that we have about 30 million ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, virtually ALL of whom fall into Bloomie's 'non-highly skilled' catagory. What I suspect is the true subtext for this speech is an offer to settle Obamanistically-'legalized' Illegal aliens in New York City in return for Federal funding to the city to support them. Bloomberg would get Federal money and growth again into his city, Obama would get 'legalized illegals' and a whole crop of Democrat voters, the illegals would get free services and a place to live, and the rest of us would pay the bill - thank you, but no thanks.
MissSusie | May 24, 2012, 01:26 PM EDT
Each state in the US already has immigration laws in place. Like all laws, they get ignored. And, the people who try to enforce them - get ridiculed. Getting more immigrants will not contribute to the US at all. Do it legally, and no amnesty.
FastEddy | May 24, 2012, 01:16 PM EDT
Meaning I suppose, that more tax loopholes for illegals are in order?
whiteycat | May 24, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT
This man wants more muslim immigrants because they bring more money than latinos.
whiteycat | May 24, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT
This man wants more muslim immigrants. How during immigration do you pick the smartest and best?
chicksooze | May 24, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT
And what's more welcoming than Rory Dolan's on McLean!! Makes you feel right at home !
ancavker | May 24, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT
Dublinborn: What ghettos are you talking about? Certainly not the Woodlawn/Mc Lean Ave area where I spent so many years, and still own a house there.
Bythebay | May 24, 2012, 12:16 PM EDT
If you're going to attempt to encourage and increase immigration to the US you then have to simultaneously increase your ability to provide services for your elderly legal immigrants and not expect their countries of origin to do that for you. You're expecting Ireland to help you care for your elderly Irish immigrants. I haven't heard any other country being asked to do that. You need to do that yourselves which you apparently feel you can't do at present.
chicksooze | May 24, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT
Patrick, moving to an Irish neighborhood is probably the best thing for you to do. It will help you settle in and be around familiar friendly people. I'm not sure what "Irish ghetto's" dublinborn is talking about, but no Irish neighborhood I know is "ghetto". Best of luck to you.
Eamonn12 | May 24, 2012, 11:55 AM EDT
Patrick, I recommend doing what I did and move to Woodside, Queens. Great, safe neighborhood 15 mins from Manhattan. Welcome and good luck.
porkheaven | May 24, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
Just do it legally and no amnesty.
Bythebay | May 24, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT
Immigrants to the US who Obama is deporting are illegal and went to the US in full violation of US immigration laws and with full knowledge they were breaking the laws. They don't pay taxes, are living lives of law breakers and are taking valuable jobs from those in the US legally. There are still millions of illegal immigrants to the US that need the boot ASAP.
Dublinborn | May 24, 2012, 09:52 AM EDT
Patrick, If you come to America do it the legal way and learn to assimilate. Don't stay in the usual Irish ghettos . Suggest that you read our constitution and bill of rights first and do not associate with the usual Irish liberal groups that are here to distroy them.
Patrick Devaney | May 24, 2012, 08:39 AM EDT
As an 18-year-old Irish college student, I have my heart set on moving to America when I graduate. I have been betrayed by the ''leaders'' in my country and I have no other choice but emigration. As bad as Americans sometimes make out your country to be, Ireland just hits a new low every day. I truly hope the US can sort out their immigration issues in the next few years to give people like myself a decent chance in life.