Closing Borders ( Archived) (86)

“Is a better world possible? Unfortunately, these findings show it may not be possible to simultaneously create communities that are both fully integrated and fully cohesive,” Neal said. “In essence, when it comes to neighborhood desegregation and social cohesion, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.”..The reason has to do with how people form relationships. Neal said people usually develop relationships with others who are close rather than far away...The more integrated a neighborhood is, the less socially cohesive it becomes [controlled circumstances]

So, the issues we face today are the cause of controlled immigration, free trade laws that really botched local economies, but made it possible for people to do well in some areas, work visas, residency laws, citizenship requirements... all legally imposed, government managed and def related to the problems we face today.

Sure, if Country A is going to offer welfare and other aid to non-natives, you bet they will flock to your borders... and the laws don't even work because corporations and politicians let some violations slide - it's good for their bottom line in the employee salary line... no benefits of course, because, well, those employees are invisible and illegal. It isn't people moving into your community that causes problems, it's the corporations that create those circumstances.

I think if we operate our decision-making paradigms from the same old social engineering platforms, well, yah, you will want to close your borders and that's a knee-jerk reaction.

Leaders around the world have failed citizens. I don't know how it is they remain in office as long as they sometimes do. The laws are skewed to favor corporations. People, if they could, would travel and perhaps stay longer in one place than another... more people used to be more nomadic.

Some of us have discovered that nomadism is possible and it would be really nice if travel laws in countries were more streamlined.

Some countries make it easy to immigrate. Some are very strict in their requirements. The variations make it a little daunting for some to even take the time to learn about other countries they may wish to try out.

There is, I believe, a lot of sense of need to protect a nation. But, what are you really afraid of?

I think it is more important to strengthen employment circumstances in the US to help bring back jobs that have been sent overseas, to favor local over imported, to welcome those who have the means to stay withut handouts, and to accept that people will naturally migrate to where they are comfortable in their skin. Integrating neighborhoods was a dumb idea to start with. People will naturally go were they will and everyone tends to be just fine that way. Give us community areas we can visit and let us choose our home environment freely.

What I learned from my land use design and law classes included the concept that if you build it, people will come (and they do and they bring with them their cultural traits and ideas)... so, you build a livable world by allowing people the freedom to choose where they will set up their life. Not everyone will rush to Alaska. Some might think they want to, but when they research it, they find it is expensive and risky in some ways. Some may rush to the south pacific islands, only to discover that while affordable, the infrastructure doesn't suit them. Some may choose to travel through places for awhile before deciding what works for them.

What I know for sure - most people tend to stay near their families if they can find the means to live there. If we take care of our local communities, ensure there are jobs and decent housing, then more might stay close to home.

I think the fear of mass migration is unfounded. The only mass migrations that are likely to happen will be due to climate change, not a global open border policy.