Comments on: Protectionism is fine when it comes to people http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/17/protectionism-is-fine-when-it-comes-to-people/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott Grant http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/17/protectionism-is-fine-when-it-comes-to-people/#comment-1577 Scott Grant Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1577 Even if one were to accept all of the assertions and arguments put by Charles Richardson, he avoids the question: Does immigration result in a net benefit to existing residents? Suppose that total economic activity is increased, and that that translates into more employment for all (a doubtful inference). Does this compensate for all the negatives, such as traffic density, pollution, demand for land, housing and water, and so on? I think that in all our major cities, the quality of life has diminished as population has increased. Even if one were to accept all of the assertions and arguments put by Charles Richardson, he avoids the question: Does immigration result in a net benefit to existing residents? Suppose that total economic activity is increased, and that that translates into more employment for all (a doubtful inference). Does this compensate for all the negatives, such as traffic density, pollution, demand for land, housing and water, and so on? I think that in all our major cities, the quality of life has diminished as population has increased.

]]> By: Justin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/17/protectionism-is-fine-when-it-comes-to-people/#comment-1578 Justin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1578 Interesting that people make comments without attending to the article or what may be the data on which it is based. Janet's comment seems to be one such. Does she not recognise that people had to be employed to build those houses for 1950s migrants? And so on? That is not to say that all migration is positive, far from it. Just consider how beneficial to employment of existing residents it would be if we brought in more illiterate, psychologically ill refugees who speak no English instead of choosing, out of the millions of the world's refugees those least likely to require permanent assistance from social workers and most likely never to pay taxes. As Marx pointed out the criminal provides for employment of police, lawyers and judges. So far the pathetic gestures we make to helping the world's refugees seem designed to by someone with that in mind. Interesting that people make comments without attending to the article or what may be the data on which it is based. Janet’s comment seems to be one such. Does she not recognise that people had to be employed to build those houses for 1950s migrants? And so on? That is not to say that all migration is positive, far from it. Just consider how beneficial to employment of existing residents it would be if we brought in more illiterate, psychologically ill refugees who speak no English instead of choosing, out of the millions of the world’s refugees those least likely to require permanent assistance from social workers and most likely never to pay taxes. As Marx pointed out the criminal provides for employment of police, lawyers and judges. So far the pathetic gestures we make to helping the world’s refugees seem designed to by someone with that in mind.

]]> By: Edward Thompson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/17/protectionism-is-fine-when-it-comes-to-people/#comment-1579 Edward Thompson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1579 With the economy contracting and unemployment rising continuing to increase the labour supply at a level required by boom time skills shortages is counter productive. Given that wages are relatively inelastic, increasing the labour supply would result in higher structural unemployment. Draw the graph yourself, this is macro economics 101.<br /><br />Trying to paint this as protectionism is a fallacious straw man argument. It has nothing to do with trade barriers or the restriction of another economy to function. You pointed out yourself that even whilst pushing a xenophobic public line, the Howard government increased skilled migration. You're poking holes in your own argument. With the economy contracting and unemployment rising continuing to increase the labour supply at a level required by boom time skills shortages is counter productive. Given that wages are relatively inelastic, increasing the labour supply would result in higher structural unemployment. Draw the graph yourself, this is macro economics 101.

Trying to paint this as protectionism is a fallacious straw man argument. It has nothing to do with trade barriers or the restriction of another economy to function. You pointed out yourself that even whilst pushing a xenophobic public line, the Howard government increased skilled migration. You’re poking holes in your own argument.

]]> By: Janet http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/17/protectionism-is-fine-when-it-comes-to-people/#comment-1580 Janet Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1580 I notice that the CFMEU has successfully stopped skilled migration for the construction industry. Skilled migrants can still get 457 Visas to work in IT. What jobs do you think the 500 people retrenched when ANZ offshores 500 IT positions to India will get? This is a graphic illustration of the power of a union to lobby on behalf of its members. It's time IT personnel unionised.<br /><br />There are many studies that show migration adversely effects the people already living here. About 5 years ago a study showed that migration meant that Sydneysiders took an additional 21 minutes to commute to work and had to work an additional 41 minutes a week to maintain their standard.<br /><br />Migration in the 1950s provided workers for the Ford and Holden car plants who were housed in Ministry of Housing dwellings paid for by the existing citizens.<br /><br />We know that increased population has exacerbated Melbourne's water shortage. Melbourne's water system was designed for 2 million inhabitants and it strains to provide water for 4 million people. I notice that the CFMEU has successfully stopped skilled migration for the construction industry. Skilled migrants can still get 457 Visas to work in IT. What jobs do you think the 500 people retrenched when ANZ offshores 500 IT positions to India will get? This is a graphic illustration of the power of a union to lobby on behalf of its members. It’s time IT personnel unionised.

There are many studies that show migration adversely effects the people already living here. About 5 years ago a study showed that migration meant that Sydneysiders took an additional 21 minutes to commute to work and had to work an additional 41 minutes a week to maintain their standard.

Migration in the 1950s provided workers for the Ford and Holden car plants who were housed in Ministry of Housing dwellings paid for by the existing citizens.

We know that increased population has exacerbated Melbourne’s water shortage. Melbourne’s water system was designed for 2 million inhabitants and it strains to provide water for 4 million people.

]]>