Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 16:42:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Howard Johnson Subject: Re: Dr. Ian Morrison (fwd) To: PROGRESSIVE POPULATION NETWORK On 28 Aug 1995 Robert wrote: >I heard a "Commonwealth Club" broadcast on KALW FM with a Dr. Ian Morrison >talking. He argued that stifling immigration would exacerbate economic >problems, not help them. It even sounded like he was arguing that immigration >laws should be relaxed because the birthrate is not keeping up with economic >growth, especially with all the baby-boomers retiring in one huge wave. He >said that at current population growth and job growth, people will have to >pay 50% of their income to support Medicare and Social Security. (I think >that's what he said.) > >The innate contradiction between economic growth and birthrate shrinkage is >one that I never see addressed. How can a continuingly shrinking work force >support "the elders", those going into retirement? Mark Krikorian - Center for Immigration Studies replies: Immigration as a solution to the coming Social Security crisis has been hawked before, by Ben Wattenberg, etal. You don't even have to be in favor of population control to realize the argument is bunk. The spring issue of our quarterly journal, Immigration Review, contained an article on immigration and Social Security. I can post it (after I find the electronic version somewhere) if someone wants it, though it's not strictly a population-related piece. (I'll be out for a few days, since my wife's having a baby -- our first, so don't be surprised if I don't respond right away.) - Mark Krikorian, executive director Center for Immigration Studies 1815 H St. N.W., Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006 (202) 466-8185 (phone); (202) 466-8076 (fax); msk@cis.org Forwarded by: ______________________________________________________________________ *** This is "KZPG", broadcasting population related news and views *** Send news, commentary and subscription requests to KZPG@iti.com. Views broadcast don't necessarily represent the views of KZPG or its staff. Not affiliated with ZPG Inc. Equal time given for controversial issues. Voice: 408-255-2422 Fax: 408-255-2436 Web: http://www.iti.com/iti/kzpg/ Feedback appreciated. Editor: Howard Johnson -SJ CA