A think tank in England--Civitas--is handing out a pamphlet expressing concern about immigration. The "seemingly reckless pace" is causing the UK to reach a point where it is no longer a single nation--whatever that means.
According to the Civitas website, they are a "classical liberal" think tank, much like this blog is classical liberal. I've never seen such a self-described organization call for more government control. Civitas complains that housing prices are increasing, makes Dobbsian arguments concerning a loss of jobs for natives and expresses concern about changing culture.
I am unsure how a classical liberal organization could be so sloppy in their economics. Immigration may cause housing prices to increase in the short run, but it also makes so many other things cheaper, including, in the long run, housing prices. A more efficient (cheaper to run) society means a richer society because we can spend more resources on other things. Technology, too, eliminates jobs "for natives" but I doubt Civitas are Luddites.
Concerning culture, Civitas writes on their blog: "All free peoples are entitled to protect their institutions by ensuring that newcomers share their ideals." Yet free people also know that true freedom means experimentation, the risks of bad ideas, and the rewards of novelty. They detest the very notion of requiring that others need their approval to be included in something as wonderful as a free society.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
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2 comments:
"[F]ree people...detest the very notion of requiring that others need their approval to be included in something as wonderful as a free society." Okay, I'm going to disagree. Why doesn't "true freedom" include the freedom to exclude? It's the private property issue on a different level.
If it's your house or other private property, you have a right to exclude. But no one person owns the whole of a society, even a small one. Private property does not apply.
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