You cannot successfully have a welfare state with open borders?
Truth
Side Score: 8
|
 |
Fiction
Side Score: 9
|
|
|
|
|
2
points
If we are talking about what currently exists in the US, it is obviously true that you cannot have a successful welfare state with open borders. This is because of several factors: 1- Entitlements and safety net programs (primarily, but not exclusively, Social Security, Medicare, and MedicAid) are already $2.25 Trillion/year. That 59% of the US Federal budget and growing fast, especially as the health costs of Baby Boomers increase with the advance of the dementia epidemic. Added to this, 8% in non-discretionary spending for veterans' benefits and Federal employee retirement benefits. (By contrast military spending is $690 Billion/year, 16% of the budget.) It is arguable that we cannot have a successful welfare state regardless of the state of the borders. 2- Citizenship is automatic for anyone born in the US. The ramification of this, combined with welfare programs being focused on children's needs, combined with open borders, is that pregnant women from poverty-stricken nations would cross the borders (in even greater numbers than at present) to have their babies in the US specifically as a strategy to access welfare benefits. This would radically increase the cost of the welfare state, which would reduce funding for things like critical infrastructure. 3- Open borders in a currently prosperous country would radically increase the population as hordes of people from poverty-stricken nations, which would increase the population and the stress on our infrastructure and public administration functions. The required increase in the related spending would add a hidden cost to the cost of open borders. Side: Truth
I agree that most people don’t really want a welfare state or fully open borders. But the political climate is such that any proposed immigration controlled is fought tooth and nail as being racist. Any proposed entitlement restraint is seen as attacking the poor. While it may not be that Democrats actually want open borders and a welfare state, it’s very easy to argue that they do. What welfare reform or border control has been offered by Democrats? Side: Truth
1
point
@Excon The only people who think Democrats want open borders and a welfare state are right wingers like Rush Limprod. How do you know what Rush Limbaugh thinks, says, etc? Oh it’s a nice thing to say if you’re running for office but you don’t really believe that crap, do ya?? I know this much Con. Your clan has no concern to keep anyone out of the country. And most of these people come only for free shit and/or to make their babies Americans at birth. Leftists don't have a problem with either. Now, explain yourself or admit that it's true. Then explain how making Natives pay to feed, medicate, and clothe people originally from European Spain is ethical or logical? And if it isn't, let's build a wall and end the nonsense. Side: Fiction
|
If the taxpayers don't object to paying for 1000s of health tourists to have their child births and ailments treated then the only problem is the service being overrun and unable to cope with the sheer volume of patients. Filth from the failed nations of the world such as Nigeria flock to Britain where they selfishly place unbearable stress on the already overworked staff to have their babies delivered and their diseases treated. SO THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY BLOODY WELL NO. Side: Fiction
1
point
Hi Antrim, Brit here. I understand the concern of "health tourism" and it's a common talking point amongst the right wingers here, however it's simply not a valid point as to why the NHS is under great stress. Health tourism adds up to less than 0.3% of all NHS spending. That's approximately £370 million, which is a barely noticeable figure. The NHS' issue is underfunding from a government which doesn't know how to run, nor does it want, universal healthcare. I think you'll find that blaming foreigners (who actually make up around 18% of the NHS workforce) does no favours and just ignores the main issue. Side: Truth
|
