Distracted by Rig's belief that immigration contributes to the population problem.

It is my understanding that upward mobility brought about by immigration from third world to industrialised nation decreases the birthrate those families would have experienced had they stayed in third world countries.

Or are you only worried about population issues precisely where you live and not globally?

Re Olddude's original post -

I am sure most of us do not buy the whole Republican/Conservative or Democratic/Labour package. We agree (from a personal perspective) more with one or the other.
But the ultimate desire of each individual is the same, a better community, country, world. We simply disagree about how to attain it. I don't think my right leaning friends are selfish slavering monsters. They are generous, intelligent kind people. I don't believe they think ill of me, simply because I disagree with them on some issues.

If we keep foremost the thought that it is a person we are discussing with and not merely an ideology maybe we can come to agreements about some things.
I wish the political machines could do that. Compromise is not weakness. It shows strength and trust. Maybe naive.... but I am still hopeful that way and I hope that doesn't change.