I am one poster who believes there would be a small but statistically significant amount of Americans moving to Canada if they believed that they could move there, work and live there relatively hassle free. I think getting in on the (perceived) cheaper medicine, the lower crime rate and escaping the hive would be fairly appealing. In addition a small portion of the hard core Bush/Neo-Con-haters might vote by walking if a Republican wins in 2008. In fact, I know two people who have seriously looked into it moving to Canada both for political reasons.
Would the average Canadian even be aware of this migration? I dunno. But I wouldn’t be shocked if there were 1Million Americans (Circa 0.3 % of the population) who might try it over, say 5 years. But With only 32 million folks there, that number would be significant to Canada
Regarding the EU: while it is correct to point out that the Euro only applies to twelve countries, other pertinent benefits of membership, such as free movement of labour, goods and capital, apply to all member states. Eastern European labour is bolstering a wide variety of service & manufacturing jobs in western Europe, just as immigrant labour supports these industries in the US. Indeed major transport companies are [L=actively recruiting]http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/08/02/afx2167247.html[/L] in new member states. (Not dissimilar to the recruitment of Caribbean workers in the 50s & 60s.)
I just don’t believe that. The number of Americans applying to live in Canada is very small now. Many, many Americans could qualify to move here; it’s not that hard. Anyone who speaks English and has a diploma to wave around is more than halfway there. I don’t think demand would increase by fifty times over. Truth is, most Americans do not live in crime-ridden areas, politics just doesn’t have that much an impact on most people’s lives, the United States is not crowded, and Canada’s weather is notoriously unpleasant, unless everyone were to move to Vancouver and Victoria.
If it WERE to happen, it would increase immigration levels by about 80% over current levels, so yeah, it would be a big change. I don’t think it would be a huge problem, though, and the numbers would be easily absorbed. It’s a big, rich country with a lot of space that’s accustomed to taking in newcomers, and could use more people.
Given the vitriol about Mexican illegal immigration that is popular on the more rightwing gun boards that I visit, I’d have to say that a lot of violent hate crimes would quite possibly occur. There is some hardcore hate out their for these people with more melanin in their skin that speak a different language. Of course that vitriol might all just be a case of Mockingbird mouths overloading Hummingbird asses (hopefully).
Actually I can speak a little Spanish and have been to the Juarez, CH and Palomas, CH including several overnight stays in Juarez. It’s been awhile though. How exactly is it germane to the thread?
It appears to me most posters are forming their opinions on statistics, news articles and anecdotal information and have no real idea of what life is really like in Mexico.
The Pew poll made the news and has been debated here in Mexico and is considered flawed by many. What would the results have been if they had been asked: “You can go to the US to live but can’t return”.
Would well off Mexicans be as willing to emigrate if they could no longer access their funds? Would a middle-class Mexican business owner making say 80 to 100 grand US a year want to go north to earn $9/hr?
While life is certainly harsh for a large portion of the population, there are many here who lead a pleasant existence. Most of my firends, family or acquaintances have absolutely no desire to move NOB. A nice place to visit but they don’t want to live there.
Different. But there would be no reason to ask that question, because people can return. What’s your point?
Yes, if people could predict the future with 100% accuracy they would probably act differently than they do. It’s hope that makes people want to emigrate.
The poll said 40% would emigrate. So that’s compatible with your statement that most people (ie, 60%) are happy to stay. Sorry, but your anecdotes don’t trump actual data. If you want to do a different, better poll and conduct it scientifically, then by all means do so.
That’s the expected, predictable attitude. People love their homes. They love their country. They love the familiar. They like to live among people who speak their language and share their culture. But the astonishing thing about the Pew Hispanic Center poll (http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=52) is how many (four out of every ten surveyed!) Mexicans don’t feel that way. Does any other country on Earth have such a high proportion of people who would rather live somewhere else?
While my argument may be based on anecdotal experiences, they are in fact based on my experiences living in Mexico and IMO enable me to view the accuarcy of the poll differently.
From the Pew poll:
“The propensity to migrate is evident in all sectors of Mexican society although it is
somewhat higher among males, young adults and people with relatives already in the
United States. It is by no means restricted to either the poor or the less educated. For
example, more than a third (35%) of Mexican college graduates said they would go to the
United States if they had the means and the opportunity and more than one in eight (13%)
said they were inclined to do so without authorization.”
The statement "all sectors of Mexican society and then goes on to say "It is by no means restricted to either the poor or the less educated."
Where does it mention the divisions along socio-economic levels? Did they poll people from the middle or upper classes that are well established within their community? Education alone doesn’t equate to prosperity. College education is free and the universities turn out many graduates from lower economic levels.
In answer to my question of people willing to give up substantial incomes to emigrate :
Hell someone in the Midwest earning that kind of money is hardly likely to give it up in the hope of finding something better in another part of the country, why would a well off Mexican do it? What hope would they have of bettering that in the US?
