The term ethnocentric is defined as: the belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group and culture. This is taken from “Dictionary.com” I don’t know about you guys, but doesn’t the idea of erecting an enormous wall along our border seem to fit this term well? Looking back, when I first heard about the wall idea, I was astounded at the numbers on how many people sincerely desire it. According to them, they fear that millions of immigrants are flooding into the United States, accepting jobs for fifty cents an hour and are, to quote South Park, “stealing our jobs!”

            In order to successfully argue the point, we must first look at why so many citizens feel immigration is hurting the US. They feel Antonio, Felix, and whoever else will walk across the border, will accept a good paying job for almost nothing, causing unemployment for the ‘real workers’ in the US economy. First of all, I think it is a ridiculous argument to say they will work for fifty cents. Aren’t they people as well, who have needs and desires? If they were superhuman, who didn’t have to eat or sleep, fine, I could see them working for cheap because they wouldn’t have to spend money on basic things as food or housing. However, the cost of living in the states is fairly expensive, so the figure of fifty cents is absurd. Government, at the state and federal level, has attempted to make a law that claims what the minimum level is if one needs to survive. This is known as minimum wage and is currently at $5.15/hr. States control their own price, the highest being Washington, at $7.63. Theoretically, if the government is 100% accurate at the minimum wage that it takes someone to survive, immigrants won’t ask for anything less than these numbers. However, minimum wage is flawed. Governments cannot magically assume a number and force employers to pay it. Minimum wage has caused massive unemployment, as employers cannot pay enough employees. Going back to South Park, if someone’s job it lost thanks to minimum wage laws, one could say to minimum wage: “it took our jobs!!!” this is quite a stretch I know, but its intended simply to make a point.

   If I was a business owner, first starting out, I would want to maximize efficiency by budgeting accurately and effectively. The start up costs for businesses are huge. If I had the choice between 1 white worker at $12.00/hr, and 2 Hispanic workers at $6.00/hr each, I think the choice is obvious. I not only am getting double the work done for the same price, but I created another job for the economy. In 2000, Chinese and Indian immigrants started companies in Silicon Valley, creating more than 17,000 jobs and $19.5 billion dollars revenue in sales. This will occur everywhere in the states. Jobs will not be lost, they will be gained.

     Another reason that people are against immigration is perhaps they are racist and simply don’t want them in the country. That’s a whole other issue, but if it is one of the only reasons I see people have against immigrants, it shows what type of people we have arguing against us.

     It all comes down to the economy. Creating/taking job? What about taxes? How will John Doe keep his good paying job?

     I already covered creating/taking. Taxes, what about taxes? Immigrants will still pay income tax, they will still pay sales tax. I don’t see how people think that they won’t pay taxes and help the economy at all. If they walk into Wal-Mart and attempt to walk out not paying taxes, they will get fined or arrested (which brings us back to the argument on refusing to pay taxes ;)

Finally, John Doe will keep his job. Business owners and high end executives will still hire the most qualified for the positions. An uneducated Hispanic will not take jobs from a high end stockbroker. They’re not going to say: ‘oh, he is willing to accept $6.00/hr. lets hire him to manage our money.’ It’s just not going to happen.

            So in conclusion, I feel immigration is definitely a positive aspect for our country. I mean, we used sell the notion of ‘the American dream’ to thousands upon thousands of immigrants. What are we showing the world if we build a gigantic wall, which will only cost us more money instead of allow people to come into our country who want to make money in which will help our economy? Alright, enough of my talking, what do you guys think?

Sean Brunette is a junior at Hawaii Pacific University, majoring in international Studies. He is originally from Rochester, NY. He has studied abroad in France and New York. You may reach him on the GRIH website blog @ www.grassrootinstitute.org or directly @ buffalobru@yahoo.com

A Fresh Perspective is a project of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Submit proposed articles to mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com