[richardw]

You don’t become more competitive by creating limits. China limits what people can read, say or do. US limits movement. It became great through free movement of people and reinvention of society, and creating any limits means you skew the outcome. You limit supply, so prices rise artificially.

Unless you’re Native American, your forefathers and mothers moved to the US at a time where it was easier to do so. That’s a lottery you happened to win and now you want to shut the doors. Your parents helped create the story of success, and that’s how the story will continue. No visas means no Jobs, no Nadella, no Brin, no Tesla, no very many people who create and sustain so many institutions that make you great. Immigration and entrepreneurship are the lifeblood of your story.

Don’t worry so much about slicing the pie. Grow the pie.

[joenot443]

When my ancestors came to Canada, they settled their own land, lost half the family in the winters, and many of them still ended up trying to return to Ireland. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how that's an "easier" experience than the route taken by folks today. There's tens of thousands of acres unsettled land left in Canada, but for whatever reason the vast majority of our new Canadians end up in the GTA.

The process of immigrating to North America today is so entirely different from how it was the 1800s it's a bit disingenuous to equate the two.

[richardw]

Easier from the perspective of getting a visa. You won the lottery is what I said.

I live in a country where we seem to work hard to keep people from neighbouring countries out. It does nothing for our competitiveness, just allows the current inhabitants who pretty much did nothing except have the right ancestors to get benefits and opportunities that neighbours don’t have.

In your case, Canada benefits greatly from the US having a more restrictive immigration policy. Net positive for Canada. It’s a total failure to have smart people not able to enter your country, because they’ll go somewhere. Quote SamA: https://twitter.com/sama/status/1554459751353683969

If that doesn’t convince you, consider the case of Russia now, with people leaving daily. If immigration is net negative then surely Russia is winning hand over fist because people are leaving the country in droves. Obviously not. It’s a horror show for them.