Does America have a problem with Migrants because Americans are so good at marketing the "American Dream"?

Question

Lets face it, while a few migrants (legal and otherwise) make good in the USA, the majority remain in menial jobs, live in poor housing and cope with extreme prejudice from some quarters.

America, compared to most of Europe - provides a very thin welfare net, has no universal public system of health care system and provides almost no benefits to the unemployed. So you would think that any migrant wanting to leech from a new country would pick Europe streets ahead of the US wouldn't you?

Is the reason that America has such a big migrant problem PARTLY because US citizens love their country and portray it as the land where "anyone can live the American Dream" - and evangelize tantalizing images of riches and plenty in almost every Hollywood film produced?

Answer 1

I don't understand why immigration itself is seen as a problem. Those shouting illegal, illegal seem to forget that this country was founded by illegal aliens. The Native Americans had immigration laws in their own tongues but they were disregarded by the colonists. They granted Englishmen and Spaniards amnesty only to be kicked off of their own land via use of gun powder.

To answer your question I would say that the portrayal of economic success in films, radio, and news media has definitely attracted a steady influx of immigrants of every ethnicity. Sadly immigration began to be seen as a problem in the states when people of deeper hue (koreans, hispanics,
and nigerians) started showing up in large numbers. The phrase, " Bring us your tired your poor and your huddled masses" was celebrated once. Now no more.

Answer 2

Amazing question! The short answer is, absolutely. But I'm often incapable of short answers. How many people living in abject poverty are told some variation of "pull up your bootstraps" because the individual is solely responsible for his or her success? The problem with North America is that it puts too much emphasis on the power of the individual to overcome--to overcome prejudice, discrimination, economic intolerance. There's no money in welfare; there's no money in prevention; there's no money for the homeless. And there is no desire to help others as a result of extreme individualism. Why care if it's not you?

I like "evangelize tantalizing images" because that's exactly what it is. There are so many stories about achieving the American Dream...but just as many about losing that dream. Even in those, the individual is ultimately responsible for whatever fate the writer determines. The emphasis on the accessibility of the American Dream is pronounced--but it's necessary. Without it, how can governments, the media and other corporate entities convince us to buy into the whole fantasy? Everybody keeps telling us it's within our grasp, and it just might happen, so we keep going in the hope that it will.

Answer 3

I have an Armenian friend. SHe told me that the Armenians still believe the streets are pave with gold here. THey think that when you arive, you automatically become rich.

Yes, we are inferior to the Europeans in some ways, but we still are a lot better than most countries. It's not like you can walk to England. Besides, there are ALOT of English immigrating into California. I think the social programs are over exagerated. Have you notice how many ENglish come on this site to gripe of the condition of England?

Answer 4

At one time the United States was a great manufacturing nation, a leader in engineering, etc. Now that "farming out" of jobs and manufacturing plants has put this country in a mess, there is less opportunity to "achieve the American dream".

Answer 5

America, unlike most European nations , does not protect it's borders. Also without the tax burden of the Europeans we do not rely on the government for that "welfare net". Eastern Europeans and Africans flock to Europe more than America. AMerica has those countries plus all of central and south america to house and feed.

Answer 6

Illegal immigration harms the American workforce.
According to a study in 1996 of the costs of illegal immigration by Rice Univ. economist, Dr. Donald Huddle, illegal aliens were displacing roughly 730,000 American workers every year, at a cost of about $4.3 billion a year, and the supply of cheap labor depresses the wages and working conditions of the working poor. The approximate doubling of the illegal alien population since the time of that estimate means that the number of jobs lost to American workers and the costs of displacement would also likely have more than doubled.

Illegal immigration is a burden on the taxpayer.
The costs of illegal immigration to the taxpayer are numerous, but the largest costs are education of their children, emergency medical care and incarceration for those arrested for crimes. Despite being ineligible, some illegal aliens also get welfare the same way they get jobs: with identity documents falsely identifying them as U.S. citizens. In addition, if they have U.S.-born children, they may collect welfare assistance in the name of those children. The annual net cost of illegal immigrants (after subtracting their tax payments) to the American taxpayer is likely to be more than $45 billion. Our recent study of the net fiscal “Costs of illegal immigration to Californians” estimated the partial costs at $10.5 billion in that state alone.

Answer 7

I would say it's more about the deal between our congress and president wanting money from business to assure their elections in exchange for open borders to ensure cheap labor.

Answer 8

Being proud of what we built doesn't mean we have to give it away. They could be inspired to build the same thing in their own country, if they think it is good.

Answer 9

many Americans have a problem with migrants because they have forgotten what that dream is

sorry i thought the question stated "migrants" not illegal immigrants. there is a huge difference

Answer 10

No. They come because they can. And who the heck are you fooling into believing they aren't sucking off the education and welfare teats?