As much as I used to admire National Review, since WFB stepped down, it’s basically become a rag that occasionally publishes someone worth reading. And, as far as I can tell, none of those people write on the Corner.

Case in point: this little gem on immigration from Andy McCarthy:

Mind you, I am not resolutely opposed to the granting at some point of a humanitarian amnesty, if the illegal population were reduced by 90 - 95 percent. After all, we already have asylum laws — a form of humanitarian relief by which we permit people who would not otherwise qualify to reside here.

Let me get this straight: Here McCarthy is–I suppose–attempting to show he’s not a cold-blooded bastard by saying, “Well, we don’t have to deport ALL of those people.”

If we work with the figures most generally tossed around, there are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. Most of those immigrants work. They may or may not pay income taxes, (mind you, if they were allowed to stay here legally, they would) but their labor undeniably contributes to the economy and they pay sales tax on anything they buy in the country. Yet, if McCarthy had his druthers, he’d get rid cut that 12 million down 10.8-11.4 million.

But, who’s going to take all their jobs once they are deported? Even if we assume the patently absurd–that all of the able-bodied unemployed would magically get off their asses and work these (shitty) jobs and there would be ZERO job growth–with the current figures estimating U.S. unemployment at 8.5 million, you’re looking at a job deficit of 2.3-2.9 million!

How in the hell is that good for the economy?

Can we hire one of these illegals to teach McCarthy subtraction?

Filed under: Politics is Personal, The Dismal Science, Daily Rant