Looking inward

“We essentially have an NFL draft where the United States has the first, oh, million or so draft picks. And rather than exercising those picks, i.e., choosing by whatever criteria we want—such as education, enterprise, technical skills and creativity—we admit the tiniest fraction of the best and brightest and permit millions of the unskilled to pour in instead.” —Charles Krauthammer, 2006

A few months back, the Trump administration proposed a new policy that would make it more difficult for immigrants who would be financial burdens on current taxpayers when/if/after they come to this country. The new policy was self-absorbed and self-centered.

According to the papers, immigration officials can weigh different factors now, such as whether an immigrant is likely to be unemployed or whether he can speak English. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the administration’s favor, immigration authorities can grant greencards (or not) considering their education and abilities. The new policy is opportunistic and inward-looking.

Self-absorbed. Self-centered. Opportunistic. And inward-looking.

And not all bad.

It’s not a crime for a country to pick and choose those who immigrate to it. In fact, it’s tradition. Self-interest is not a crime. It’s a responsibility for the leaders of any nation.

Some bright-eyed legal eagle told the papers that this rule by the Trump people “is the latest attack in the Trump administration’s war on immigrants.” But all it does, we think, is make sure that immigrants can carry their own weight before they get here. Or even after they get here.

There’s a difference between selfish and self-interest. Consider this a win for the Trump administration. And for citizens of the country.