Tuesday, March 16, 2010

St. Patrick’s Day holds a lesson on immigration

It took about 100 years for the early Irish population to become fully assimilated, and America became better for it. It will probably be the same for immigrant groups now. - - Donna Poisl

by Eric Fleischauer

They came in hordes, many not speaking our language. They lived in squalor. Most were unskilled laborers, and they worked for a pittance. They took American jobs, but their primary loyalty was to their home country.

Even when not taking jobs others wanted, they drove down wages, hurting American workers.

They alienated themselves from Americans, sometimes forming gangs. They crowded into tiny houses or apartments, suppressing housing prices where they lived.
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