What is wrong in Mexico?

[mark46]

I've offered the solution......fewer people.

If fewer people is the solution, what is the problem? I guess that companies could automate lots more in order to fill the hundreds of thousands of open jobs.

The US economy is better shape than those in Europe and Japan precisely because we have young immigrants making up for the reduced number of US births.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The US is one of the LEAST densely populated countries in the world. European countries are 5-10 times as densely populated.

Population density by country - Thematic Map - World

Aren't our empty spaces feeding some of those peoples?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

If fewer people is the solution, what is the problem? I guess that companies could automate lots more in order to fill the hundreds of thousands of open jobs.

The US economy is better shape than those in Europe and Japan precisely because we have young immigrants making up for the reduced number of US births.

We have millions of unemployed and underemployed people here now that will n-e-v-e-r find a job. They just aren't needed.

I changed that post to read, "We need fewer people, with more skills; not more people, with fewer skills.

 

[mark46]

Aren't our empty spaces feeding some of those peoples?

The US has lots and lots of space, in addition to its farmland. The density data does indeed speak for itself.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The US has lots and lots of space, in addition to its farmland. The density data does indeed speak for itself.

We have lots of deserts, mountains and marginal lands not suitable for either farming or habitations. Just the area of the Great Lakes is almost as large as some small countries (houseboats anyone?).

 

[mark46]

I haven't a clue what this means.

There are lots of low-skilled and high skill jobs that go wanting. Construction and agriculture are greatly hampered by the lack of workers. Depending on one's biases, one could call these jobs "skilled" or "unskilled".

Obviously there are hundreds of thousands of tech jobs that cannot be filled. The companies are forced to have much of their work done overseas.

As an aside, a healthy economy NEEDS young workers. In order to avoid the problems of an aging population, we need to either greatly increase the US birth rate or have more immigration. With regard to skills, we have solved this problem for hundreds of years. The first generation has much less education (what you might mean by skill) than their children and grandchildren. Having said this, the skill levels of African and Asia workers in very high indeed. So, the first generation might fill the menial jobs that Americans have no interest in filling. Their children will be college graduates at the same level as non-immigrant families.
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Finally, we MIGHT try to address the reason that so many Americans are not working [the labor participation rate is low]. One of the main issues is drug use (these folks cannot pass a drug test) and the lack of vocational training.

Many of those job openings are for little more than generating trash and wasting energy.

 

[mark46]

not fit for habitation??

There are millions and millions of square miles suitable for habitation, especially now that so many jobs can be performed from one's home. In my little area of the world (outside Savannah, we expect to increase the number of jobs by 200,000 in the next decade because of the deepening of the port.

You might consider which states would NOT want these jobs because they have no place for workers to live. I have the likely answer: none.

We have lots of deserts, mountains and marginal lands not suitable for either farming or habitations. Just the area of the Great Lakes is almost as large as some small countries (houseboats anyone?).

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I haven't a clue what this means.

There are lots of low-skilled and high skill jobs that go wanting. Construction and agriculture are greatly hampered by the lack of workers. Depending on one's biases, one could call these jobs "skilled" or "unskilled".

Obviously there are hundreds of thousands of tech jobs that cannot be filled. The companies are forced to have much of their work done overseas.

As an aside, a healthy economy NEEDS young workers. In order to avoid the problems of an aging population, we need to either greatly increase the US birth rate or have more immigration. With regard to skills, we have solved this problem for hundreds of years. The first generation has much less education (what you might mean by skill) than their children and grandchildren. Having said this, the skill levels of African and Asia workers in very high indeed. So, the first generation might fill the menial jobs that Americans have no interest in filling. Their children will be college graduates at the same level as non-immigrant families.
=============
Finally, we MIGHT try to address the reason that so many Americans are not working [the labor participation rate is low]. One of the main issues is drug use (these folks cannot pass a drug test) and the lack of vocational training.

Most people are woefully unskilled, thus they need others to provide those things they cannot provide for themselves. This old Jewish proverb applies: "If you cannot carry it in your head, you must carry it on your back."

 

[theQuincunx5]

Aren't our empty spaces feeding some of those peoples?

Yes and no.

There are vast tracts of land in the US that have no real agricultural value, but more importantly you are 100% correct that America is an agricultural powerhouse.

And what makes American agriculture so incredible is that we have publically funded research for over 150 years that has helped turned world agriculture into an AMAZINGLY efficient powerhouse.

The world is undergoing a green revolution these past 50-60 years in which we are able to produce more from less land.

So when people complain about publically funded science in the US and want to see "industry" do it alone, remember: the reason you are able to eat as well as you do as an American is because of the publically funded governmental based research the USDA has been doing for far more than a century.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Yes and no.

There are vast tracts of land in the US that have no real agricultural value, but more importantly you are 100% correct that America is an agricultural powerhouse.

And what makes American agriculture so incredible is that we have publically funded research for over 150 years that has helped turned world agriculture into an AMAZINGLY efficient powerhouse.

The world is undergoing a green revolution these past 50-60 years in which we are able to produce more from less land.

So when people complain about publically funded science in the US and want to see "industry" do it alone, remember: the reason you are able to eat as well as you do as an American is because of the publically funded governmental based research the USDA has been doing for far more than a century.

Our agricultural system is a time bomb waiting to explode. Already we are seeking old time seed varieties that can be grown in less than ideal conditions. Chemical agriculture is breaking down in many parts of the world. We have 'outsmarted' (re: scientific discoveries) ourselves in many important areas.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

There are no good reasons for an expanding population at this time in history, only bad ones. While we have the duty of providing people for the next generation we have made ourselves slaves to that process. We need to get through our child rearing years and tend to our own lives instead of sacrificing ourselves on the alter of our kids.

 

[Always in His Presence]

The US has lots and lots of space, in addition to its farmland. The density data does indeed speak for itself.

What about Canada then. Much better health care and lots more open land.

Oh, you have to be skilled to get in..... never mind.

 

[theQuincunx5]

Our agricultural system is a time bomb waiting to explode. Already we are seeking old time seed varieties that can be grown in less than ideal conditions. Chemical agriculture is breaking down in many parts of the world. We have 'outsmarted' (re: scientific discoveries) ourselves in many important areas.

And yet, it is precisely because of the massive expansion due to publically funded agricultural science that America is the economic powerhouse and agricultural powerhouse it is.

 

[theQuincunx5]

There are no good reasons for an expanding population at this time in history, only bad ones. While we have the duty of providing people for the next generation we have made ourselves slaves to that process. We need to get through our child rearing years and tend to our own lives instead of sacrificing ourselves on the alter of our kids.

I actually agree with you. The concept of bringing new lives into existence for the egotism of making copies of onesself is causing a large number of problems.

This is why it is imperative that societies (not just the US) have put in place sex education and birth control options for all members of society. Family planning needs to be a human right and basic.

 

[TheBear]

A related question - Why wasn't Mexico mentioned in most of the - "If Trump gets elected, I'm moving to (country)? Why wasn't Mexico a consideration?

 

[mark46]

There are no good reasons for an expanding population at this time in history, only bad ones. While we have the duty of providing people for the next generation we have made ourselves slaves to that process. We need to get through our child rearing years and tend to our own lives instead of sacrificing ourselves on the alter of our kids.

Without immigration, we would have a declining population, and a smaller number of workers

 

[mark46]

A related question - Why wasn't Mexico mentioned in most of the - "If Trump gets elected, I'm moving to (country)? Why wasn't Mexico a consideration?

Are you seriously asking why an American would prefer Canada to Mexico?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What about Canada then. Much better health care and lots more open land.

Oh, you have to be skilled to get in..... never mind.

And probably law abiding ?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

And yet, it is precisely because of the massive expansion due to publically funded agricultural science that America is the economic powerhouse and agricultural powerhouse it is.

But should we be (have already) exporting our good soil and replacing it chemicals?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

But should we be (have already) exporting our good soil and replacing it chemicals?

No, but who cares ? Who could ever stop it?