No country has a freehold on prosperity including the U.S.

America could benefit enormously from having a more liberal immigration policy. The flow of talent (folk picking up trash as well researching in university laboratories) is an engine of prosperity along with innovation and the flow of money, goods and services. In shutting our doors we actually deny ourselves a better standard of living.

The federal government currently has a monopoly over immigration and if that were changed we may bring flexibility into the system. We could begin by devolving much of that power to the states. Let people decide at more local levels who they wish to have come and help them from other parts of the world. I wrote short piece “Immigration and Climate Solutions are Related” which touches on some of this.

Unfortunately the fear of immigrants is huge. Brexit in the UK has taken an enormous step backwards in prosperity largely because of the fear of immigrant. A huge act of spite — we could say.

How does the U.S. reduce the fear of immigrants? It's certainly in our interests to do so.

Many thanks