Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Authoritarians Why do you think they are authoritarians. I don't get this. The right in the US is about freedom. The left is the part of authoritarianism. The progressive left especially has incredibly tight control of freedom of speech. Everything they don't like is called hate speech, all discussions are shut down, and PC terminology means that it doesn't matter what you say anymore, if you accidentally choose th…
I think it's more accurate that both the extreme right and extreme left are the parties of authoritarianism, and the center is about freedom. Leftists want to police what you say, what you think, how you earn your living, and who you associate with. Rightists want to police what you believe, what you do with your body, what substances you inhale, and how you travel. Both sides would do well with a chill pill and the…
Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
571–580 of 701 posts
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#572All pretension aside, you cannot presume to publicly forment xenophobic sentiments against brown people, implying that they are all kinds of evil, while at the same time presuming to make yourself attractive to highly-skilled tech workers from all around the world. If you embolden racists, they will start harassing and attacking all kinds of non-white people and that includes, legal recidents from all around the worl…
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#573Earlier quoted context omitted.
I used to know a guy in Phoenix, Arizona who grew up in Edmonton, Canada. He made tons of money with the business he created. It seems like he fit in just fine, thanks to his command of English (his service business would have gotten nowhere if he didn't speak English), and an invention called "air conditioning" let him deal with the 100 degree heat, just like every other person in that metro area. Honestly, your com…
> Honestly, your comment about moose hunting is downright offensive. It's supposed to be: the whole idea of allowing only people who are a good "cultural fit" is offensive. That's the point I was refuting. Determining "cultural fit" requires absurd stereotypes. The idea that Mexicans can't find a place in our country is as absurd as the idea that Canadians can't.
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#574Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Berlin Wall was really about keeping people in. Make no mistake about it. It was erected as a response to losing too many people through emigration [0]. Can you say the same about U.S. border control? Hardly. There's a very big difference between a wall that keeps unwanted people out and a wall that keeps wanted (or everyone) in by force. In the latter case, even if you have whatever freedom you wish outside the…
> In the latter case, even if you have whatever freedom you wish outside the wall, you can have it. In the former, you cannot. That is obviously and blatantly false. If the world turns hardcore nationalist, then it will be impossible for Americans to move elsewhere, because all countries will have strict imigration policies. How would you move to Mexico if Mexico doesn't allow for imigration? Where would you go?
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#575Earlier quoted context omitted.
It wouldn't be hard to have an immigration system which is biased toward useful vs. not useful. The question is: where do you want to have the cutoff? I'm in favor of a solid border control regime (i.e. "build the wall"), combined with a transparent and straightforward points-based system for mainly immigrant visas. I'd eliminate the inherent racism in the current system (penalizing India and China vs. Equatorial Gui…
> I'm in favor of a solid border control regime (i.e. "build the wall"), Having lived on the east side of Berlin (post Wall!) I cannot forget that that wall was supposedly built to keep people out but of course it kept people in . I am Australian, and I have to admit the points based system does work there...but. I have lived longest in the USA where the chaos has been beneficial for the country, and thus for me. Aus…
As far as I know, the Berlin wall was always supposed to keep people in. Strict exit restrictions was common in all soviet regimes, including one in DDR.
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#576Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not obvious at all. I thought we were sharing a frustration for the recent trend in politics to make implications rather than explicit statements. I didn't think I was assigning new meaning, but only exactly what Bannon intended. I can, obviously, never be certain I've understood him correctly, so I just make my best guess. It's reasonable to expect that different people will make different guesses. What is your inte…
>I didn't think I was assigning new meaning, but only exactly what Bannon intended. I can, obviously, never be certain I've understood him correctly, so I just make my best guess. Why are you guessing at all? Why are you assuming he isn't saying what he means? >What is your interpretation of Bannon's words? What they mean in English.
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#577Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not obvious at all. I thought we were sharing a frustration for the recent trend in politics to make implications rather than explicit statements. I didn't think I was assigning new meaning, but only exactly what Bannon intended. I can, obviously, never be certain I've understood him correctly, so I just make my best guess. It's reasonable to expect that different people will make different guesses. What is your inte…
>I didn't think I was assigning new meaning, but only exactly what Bannon intended. I can, obviously, never be certain I've understood him correctly, so I just make my best guess. Why are you guessing at all? Why are you assuming he isn't saying what he means? >What is your interpretation of Bannon's words? What they mean in English.
Let's pretend English is my second language. Could you paraphrase Bannon to help me understand him more clearly?
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#578Earlier quoted context omitted.
It wouldn't be hard to have an immigration system which is biased toward useful vs. not useful. The question is: where do you want to have the cutoff? I'm in favor of a solid border control regime (i.e. "build the wall"), combined with a transparent and straightforward points-based system for mainly immigrant visas. I'd eliminate the inherent racism in the current system (penalizing India and China vs. Equatorial Gui…
> I'm in favor of a solid border control regime (i.e. "build the wall") Walls going up are days of sadness. Walls broken down are days of joy. The thing to keep in mind here is that such walls built to keep others out can be used just as easily to keep the locals in (on either side).
> The thing to keep in mind here is that such walls built to keep others out can be used just as easily to keep the locals in (on either side).
Somehow I'm not too worried about not being able to escape from the US to Mexico and the US trying to keep me in. I think you need to rob a bank or something to make that happen?
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#579One of the basic premises of anti-immigrant policies is that you can somehow influence the ratio of "useful" vs "not-useful" immigrants. Apart from the idea of sorting people into useful and useless being inhumane, it also seems to be counterproductive. It looks like every kind of screening of immigrants will deter the more desirable ones, as far as that determination is possible on their arrival at all.
Don't most countries implement some sort of merit-based immigration? "We want educated people with degrees from this age range?". Don't employees do that as well - "we want people with these qualifications"... is that terribly wrong?
Re: Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups
#580I'm appalled by the need for statistics showing how "useful" immigrants are. Combating xenophobia should be a moral issue, not a utilitarian one. I understand some people will not be swayed by moral arguments, but society doesn't seem to try anymore. Utilitarian arguments have become the default.
Or do you think that having a stranger tell them that they are a wrong/dumb/stupid person for feeling a way will further alienate them and reinforce their current opinion?
Is honey better than vinegar?