English Only Immigration, From The Left
Posted on Fri Jun 08, 2007 at 10:44:52 AM EST
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Mark Kleiman writes:
I'd propose a simple rule: no one comes in who can't speak, read, and write English. I'm not a hard-core assimilationist . . .
You're not? I suppose Kleiman could argue that since there would be no need for language assimilation under Kleiman's plan. Being one of the wonky bloggers who we're supposed to take seriously, let's consider Kleiman's rationales for this departure from over a hundred years of immigration policy:
[T]he advantages, to immigrants and to the country, of having our citizens-to-be start out literate in the national language — which is also the world business language — seem to me obvious. As Net access becomes more and more nearly universal, so does access to the tools to learn English up to the rudimentary level which is all we ought to ask for. I'm reluctant to discriminate on the basis of social class, but I don't mind using intelligence and drive as filters.
That is some egregiously bad wonkery. Here's why.
As Net access becomes more and more universal . . .
Universal where?
[S]o does access to the tools to learn English up to the rudimentary level which is all we ought to ask for.
Ummm, see above.
I'm reluctant to discriminate on the basis of social class, but I don't mind using intelligence and drive as filters.
Except, Kleiman's proposal is almost wholly social class based filter. Who the heck is he kidding? But Kleiman does not lack for chutzpah. Afgter floating a proposal that makes Tancredo envious, he has the nerve to quote Lincoln on Know-Nothingism:
As Lincoln said in rejecting the Know-Nothings (or, as they called themselves, the "American Party") and its doctrine of reduced immigration from Ireland, tightened rules for naturalization, and denial of voting rights to non-citizens:Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation we began by declaring that "All men are created equal." We now practically read it "All men are created equal, except Negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "All are created equal, except Negroes and foreigners and Catholics." When it comes to this, I shall prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty — to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.
If your proposal was a serious one Mr. Kleiman, then Lincoln could have been talking about you. Should I be surprised that serious wonly blogger Ezra Klein likes this idea? I am liking him less and less.
Is there this much of a nativist strain in the left wonky blogs? I better start paying attention to them a bit more. Cuz this stuff is pretty darn outrageous.
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