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In George Borjas’s ‘We Wanted Workers: Unraveling the Immigration Narrative’, there is much discussion about the lack of benefits that immigrants bring to American society from an economic standpoint. It can be inferred that immigration plays a vital position in the status of the socioeconomic classifications that are presented within the United States. Generally speaking, immigrants who enter the American workforce create a burden for those who are previously there because they make the working class market more competitive and only a small percentage of the native population is at an advantage.

As Borjas argues, the debate over the wage effects of immigration is propelled by ideas that it makes native groups worse off from an economic standpoint. A 10% increase in supply reduces the wage of natives by 3% in the short run. Supplementary calculations reveal that a small surplus entails a large redistribution of wealth.  Furthermore, native workers lose 516$ billion, while native firms gain 566$ billion. Obviously, those who command certain business are making the most out of this situation; those who bite the bullet is the working class. As a result of there being a larger quantity of workers to choose from, native working-class markets become more competitive. Business owners find immigrants to be more attractive as employees because their chances of getting more out of them in terms of economic success are higher than that of a native employee. The reason being has to do with an assortment of variables, but the primary being that immigrants can tend to be naïve about American culture. A fresh body and mind that is seeking economic progress will more likely than not be more motivated to make money. In this example, the fresh body and mind would belong to an immigrant; immigration does not make natives wealthier. While it can be inferred that there is a good deal of competition going on at the bottom end of the class order, the upper class is observing and taking notes. Current levels of immigration within the United States generated a 2.1$ trillion increase in gross domestic product. The differing factor in this instance is that 98% of this increase belongs to the immigrants as opposed to the natives. From a logical standpoint, it would make sense for an immigrant to come to the United States because such a place provides substantial economic opportunity. Wage payments to immigrants have estimated just over 2$ trillion dollars, which is a significantly higher income than what they were previously receiving while in their native countries.

Borjas argues that a significant segment of the American population is economically harmed by mass immigration as the country is currently experiencing it, but he further explains how it is a necessary cost that the country will just have to bear because the benefits reaped by others as well as the unquestionable value of increasing cultural pluralism outweigh those negative effects. This thought process generates many different responses. The social status would most likely determine one’s position on this idea. As a native working-class member, an individual would be opposed to such an idea due to the risk that is at hand. As a business owner or member of the upper class, a person would be in favor of immigration due to the benefits that it has the potential to generate. The quantity of peoples within American society who belong to the working class is significantly higher than that of who belong to the upper class. Generally speaking, immigrants who enter the American workforce create a burden for those who are previously there because they make the working class market more competitive and only a small percentage of the native population is at an advantage.

In Chapter 8 of We Wanted Workers, the economic benefits from immigration is discussed and questions are brought to our attention. Most of the economic benefits are driven by the relationship between an immigrant and the native. Immigrants give natives an incentive to work harder and be more productive. Immigrants also work for less, meaning that the price for services may decrease, “somebody’s lower wage is somebody else’s higher profit” (pg. 113). But, as it may seem that millions of immigrants could change the economy significantly, natives don’t benefit that much but the immigrants do. But, it does depend on the level of skill of the immigrant. If the immigrant is highly skilled, they are much better off benefitting the natives rather than low-skilled immigrants. Borjas then went into the idea of productive spillovers and if it is a possibility. Do immigrants need to bring production into the economy when the immigrate? Is it a necessity for immigrants to be high-skilled and intelligent workers? Where should the line be drawn for the status of skill of an immigrant?

In this section of Races, Wrongs and Remedies, The author of this book drives the idea that for African American culture to seek equality, there must be a change in the cultures prospective and their society must be altered. She drives the point with proof by speaking of African American families. She says that with poor family connection and definition, it’s hard for children to grow up with the proper goals set for the cultural desire of equality. The author also argues that an even playing field is not enough to reach equality. What is the the real truth in finding pure equality to the point where everyone is satisfied? Is satisfaction rationally reachable? Do the authors points pave the way toward equality in society?

After our talk with Amy Wax, I still find myself disagreeing with her main arguments. I feel that her views on the topic are ones that have been formed after a lifetime of privilege and little experience in someone else’s shoes. She has never been a black American in this country, only a white woman who pity and attraction has followed. For the majority of white Americans, they will never firsthand feel the wrongs that are being done to many black Americans. Two of her main points in our conversation were black’s underachievement in education and family structure. She says that it is up the black community to want a better education so they can have a step up like the rest of us. Yet I find this very hard to believe. Education is run by the government which is notoriously white and whiter. The school districts are drawn to give a ‘fair’ education to all, but in so many cases this is not true. I do not think that is it is a consequence that there are so many districts were 80% or more of the student body is black, and then their neighbor district is 80% or more white. It is all shown that these district that are a majority black have few resources given to them for school supplies and quality of teachers. There have also been so many psychological studies that teacher inherently discriminate toward black students and do not take the time to teach as well because they know that statistically they will be imprisoned most of their lives. So, these teachers focus their efforts on the promising students or better known as the white students. On the note of incarceration, she points out that most black American families are households of one. This has a huge part to do with the racial profiling in the judicial system. If a crime was committed and there were two suspects one white male, one black males, and the witness did not see the skin color of the assailant at the time of the crime, it is statically proven that the jury will convict the black male. The incarceration rate for black males is 5 to 12 times higher compared to white males depending on the crimes. Therefore therefor 5 to 12 times more black families will have one parent homes because their fathers are imprisoned. This cycle won’t stop either because young black men are taught that their future is jail as well, because of their skin color they will be accused of things then white men did. This stigmatize makes black males less likely to go through higher education because they feel that this is a cycle, they cannot break themselves, therefor causing the next generation to go fatherless as well. These two vicious cycles will not change due to a new mind set for black Americans like Wax states. These are cycles of systematic oppression that are driven by the white communities lack of wanting to give up their privileges. Nothing will change like she says it will unless the nation decides to change. 

Huntington discusses the idea of an official language in Who Are We? Additionally, he discusses the idea that the rise of multiculturalism in the United States is challenging the original anglo-protestant ideals that America was founded on. This is because multiculturalism takes away from one singular national identity, and allows for multiple subnational identities. Despite this, the English language is still extremely prevalent in the United States. The argument is made that there was no amendment making English the official language in the United States because people always have to speak English in the United States to get by and get jobs, among other things. This is a very interesting argument, and definitely holds truth. Despite this, in order to elevate society as a whole, it is important to move away from anglo-protestant ideals that advocate for one national identity and be more accepting to other subnational identities.