Reihan Salam

Some relatively well supported arguments for reforming immigration policy — specifically, amnesty combined with effective future enforcement, a points based system instead of primarily family unification, and some other reasonable modifications. Unfortunately none of this is at all likely to happen, and thus the negative consequences he identifies (that a long term underclass of relatively-excluded immigrants and their descendants will seize power and be resisted to the detriment of all) is more likely to come to pass.… (més)

Salam is a so-called "reform conservative" who, in this book takes a look at immigration. By saying that he is the son of immigrants, he seems to feel particularly entitled to propose limits on immigrants to the USA. That said, he manages to lay out a conservative proposal on immigration reform that should be an acceptable start for a bipartisan discussion.

Having just finished Paul Collier's book on immigration ("Exodus"), I found the Salam book to be rather shallow. In contrast to Collier who takes an even-handed approach to the subject citing in detail studies from all sides of the issue, Salam's quotes seem to be mostly quotes from opinion articles in conservative journals. He also seems to have selected the studies he looked at based upon which ones agreed best with his own opinion. In the end, much of the book felt like a collection of opinions more suitable to a short essay in one of his favorite journals. For that reason, I found the book disappointing. It was redeemed by its sincere appeal for finding a bipartisan solution to the problem.… (més)

I skimmed the history section and went straight to the policy selection. The brief treatment prevents any detailed discussion of the real challenges of the proposals, so one needs to take it for what it is -- a provocative menu of options and an outlining of areas of emphasis. From the vantage point of 2017, however, one really wishes some of this advice had been followed.

An aside: this is the first time I had read of the wage subsidy concept as an alternative to an expanded EITC or increased minimum wage. That requires a bit more study.… (més)

This book from 2008 tries to lay out a path forward for the Republican party that would allow them to win over the "Sams Club" Americans in the working class. It begins with a summary of initiatives since the New Deal concluding with several compliments for the policies of the George W Bush. It then concludes with policy proposals in a number of areas.

Reading this book eight years after it was published is revealing since virtually none of these proposals was adopted by the GOP. Instead, they turned themselves into the "Party of No" doing nothing to help any of their constituents outside of the 1%. The book is still worth reading, especially for Democrats since it includes some good starting points for policies in several areas. It can also serve as a call to action for Democrats to do more for Sams Club voters.… (més)