So our European ancestors came here for all sorts of high-minded, idealistic reasons. But Mexicans and Central Americans et al, come here only because of the "freebies?"

What "freebies?"

I dunno. I tend to think they come here to try to make a better life for themselves, not unlike our European forebears.

[Not to forget Carol's valid point that Europeans were not the only immigrants early on.]

Why is it that when I read things like what GfS and Rig keep posting, I get visions of signs like "Whites Only" and "No Irish Need Apply?"

Reality check:   Had it not been for folks like Chinese and Irish immigrants (and others), the railroad system that glued commerce together in this country early on would have taken a lot longer to build. Without migrant farm workers (many of whom are undocumented workers from south of the border), food would be one helluva lot more expensive.

And back in the early 1970s, when Boeing laid off vast amounts of their work force and unemployment in Seattle reached about 15% (and the famous roadside billboard appeared that said, "Will the last person to leave town please turn off the lights?"), I don't recall seeing any of the newly unemployed and rather desperate folks even consider dashing over to eastern Washington to harvest apples and asparagus, even though the jobs were available. Nor do I see any of the current unemployed and/or homeless.

Work in the dust and hot sun from dawn to dusk and get paid for piece work—by the bushel basket? Apples require running up and down a ladder all day. Asparagus (and a lot of other crops) require bending over or squatting all day.

Even in people who are really on their beam's end, I don't detect much enthusiasm for that sort of work.

Don Firth

P. S. Besides, I don't think the primary reason that illegal immigrants come to this country is because of our wonderful health care system.