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This is a good day to deal with this argument from people who claim it shows that libertarians should not support open immigration.
To start, Milton Friedman, a definite libertarian, did say this. That is the small truth that is too often delivered with a big lie.
To start, Milton Friedman, a definite libertarian, did say this. That is the small truth that is too often delivered with a big lie.
The lie is that this means that libertarians should not support open borders while we still have a welfare state.
This was not Milton Friedman's point, as anyone who has read his quote in context knows. But too many people maliciously take it out of context.
This was not Milton Friedman's point, as anyone who has read his quote in context knows. But too many people maliciously take it out of context.
Friedman noted that an exceedingly generous welfare state would encourage more immigration from places with less generous welfare states, with the immigrants seeking a better place to live.
What that does is put stress on welfare programs.
What does stress do to things?
What that does is put stress on welfare programs.
What does stress do to things?
Some stress can be healthy, but too much stress breaks things.
In Friedman's example, having open immigration puts stress on a welfare state.
More immigration, more stress.
Either the welfare state will reduce to adapt to the stress...or it will break.
In Friedman's example, having open immigration puts stress on a welfare state.
More immigration, more stress.
Either the welfare state will reduce to adapt to the stress...or it will break.
When libertarians advocate for restriction of immigration, they advocate for less stress on the welfare state.
They fight to keep the welfare state going as long as possible, by reducing the supply of new citizens.
Some also argue that immigrants are less valuable than natives.
They fight to keep the welfare state going as long as possible, by reducing the supply of new citizens.
Some also argue that immigrants are less valuable than natives.
Even if these tactics could work, they are a recipe for a country and economy that stop growing.
Look at the retraction of European countries from the world economy and their collapse of dynamism that stem from their expansive welfare states.
Look at the retraction of European countries from the world economy and their collapse of dynamism that stem from their expansive welfare states.
I want an America that is strong, dynamic, and growing.
They want an American that is weak, stagnant, and dying.
If you want to collapse our economy like Japan, put on that MAGA hat and support the wall.
If you want it to grow, support free trade in all markets, even labor.
They want an American that is weak, stagnant, and dying.
If you want to collapse our economy like Japan, put on that MAGA hat and support the wall.
If you want it to grow, support free trade in all markets, even labor.
@threadreaderapp unroll this thread about the libertarian position on open borders and the welfare state
