For those with an I.Q. of 130 or higher only please?

1.Illegal Immigration.

This issue is so marred with logical flaws that people almost invariably hold their conclusions only because they like the conclusions.

People who have never taken a college level course in economics routinely repeat the same old economic arguments. Consider an example. One argument is, “They’re taking our jobs!” Suppose a manager at a fast food place, called “Coronaries R Us,” decides that to continue making payments on his yacht, he will have to lay off 10 of his 20 employees, who are each earning $10 per hour. After firing these employees, 10 illegal aliens enter the building looking for a job. He offers them $5 per hour, and they are happy to take the offer. Now, please do tell me, did these illegal aliens take the 10 jobs, or did they make them?

People who use economic arguments to justify their fear of illegal aliens view the cup as half empty. Those who view it as half full would believe that illegal aliens actually create jobs. I tend to believe that the truth is somewhere in the middle.

People also like to draw all sorts of negative conclusions based on the word “illegal” without ever examining the immigration laws and without ever having had the experience of squaring off against an attorney in a legal battle. If I jay walk, should I be deported? Of course not. Then how does it make sense that an illegal alien should be deported only for being illegal? A careful cost/benefit analysis is in order.

According to one provision in the immigration laws, people who show special intellectual abilities should get the red carpet treatment in gaining citizenship. My experience at the Patent Office, a Federal employer, teaches me that this is a big mistake. I rejected an Israeli patent application in 2002. It was not until this year (2006) that I learned that the inventors were millionaire owners and managers of this Israeli company. In my office action rejection, I wrote a couple of sentences that their filthy patent attorney used to attack me personally. He and another attorney teamed up to destroy my job. This was a Federal job, yet I was eventually ruthlessly punished for merely saying something the patent attorney apparently did not like to read. My boss, a Moroccan-American who had apparently gained citizenship only because of his technical ability, ordered me not to even respond to the complaining attorneys. When I still responded, I found myself in more trouble. His boss, a Chinese-American, fully approved of my boss’s behavior. Law you say? To heck with the law.

Every single boss in my Tech Center at the Patent Office was born in a foreign country. There is nothing wrong with them being born in a foreign country, but the discrimination against American born people by this Federal Agency is clear. And the absence of free speech at the Patent Office is likewise clear. When we place an overarching emphasis on intellectual ability, we put all our eggs in one basket—forsaking other desirable qualities, such as an appreciation for what I, as well as a handful of other Americans, consider precious values.

Now consider H-1B visas. The best way for an American high-IQ person to get a job in computer programming is to become an Indian citizen, apply for an H-1B visa, and work at a meager wage. Microsoft loves the H-1B visa because it never has to pay an American computer programmer a dime. It’s easy for billionaires like Gates to hire slave labor from abroad using the H-1B visa. And, guess what. It’s all legal, so it must be good, right? It’s a terrific way to legally take jobs away from high-IQ Americans.

Now consider trying to assert your “legal rights” in court. This year I found myself, for the first time in my life, being wrongfully evicted. The lawyers of the rich landlord repeatedly lied. It took four months of unjust hardship before they finally dismissed their case with prejudice. I have been countersuing them because I know that they violated several of my “legal rights.” For whatever reason, no lawyer ever wanted to represent me, so I found myself, as a pro se litigant, facing what is now the third attorney, who is also an extraordinarily ruthless individual. He has lied so many times, and threatened me so many times, that I cannot keep up with what I view as his misdeeds. Can I punish him for his lies and for his refusal to provide me with evidence that I had requested—evidence that I have a “right” to obtain? Of course not. He knows that the law really does fully sanction his lies.

There is no way to defeat this attorney. He knows the system well because he has had his license for the past 26 years. He is the master of ad hominem attacks and Red Herrings. He knows exactly how and when to lie, as well as how to make me believe that he has succeeded in making me look bad as a person.

Unless and until one finds oneself up against a ruthless attorney, one could never understand that the designation “illegal” is little more than a Red Herring.

Many people object to the natural, and honest, patriotic fervor displayed by Mexican people who live in America for their Country of origin. But I enjoy such displays of fervor, and I never consider them a threat to me or to anyone. They are positive, in favor of their Nation of origin, and in no way denigrate the U.S.A.

Almost every flag on earth has a specific meaning. A flag typically specifies a People, a religion, a language, a culture, a specific piece of land, etc. But the American flag is different. Try finding the meaning of the American flag on the Internet. You can’t. You see, the true meaning—and the true beauty—of the America flag lies not in what it says, but in what it does not say. The American flag does not say:

1.One religion is preferred over another.

2.One National origin is preferred over another.

3.One set of beliefs is preferred over another.

4.One language is preferred over another.

5.One race is preferred over another.

6.One economic class is preferred over another.

The list could go on and on.

Americans should never feel threatened by other Americans or, indeed, foreign guests waving flags that are not American flags.

I do, however, draw the line on the issue of people learning to speak English. The single biggest problem with people who come here from foreign countries and who stay here for a long time is that they oftentimes speak poor English. Before anyone becomes a citizen, he or she should be required to speak English.

I do favor some type of border to allow us to maintain control over immigration. But I oppose enforcement of border control, or any other laws, by vigilantes.

2. Bush.

I completely oppose Bush’s foreign policy. He is a puppet for specific political groups here in the U.S.A. He mindlessly and heartlessly allows children in foreign countries to be bombed and tormented—all in the name of Red Herrings, such as, “They have a right to defend themselves,” “They have a right to exist,” “He murdered his own people,” “They have weapons of mass destruction,” “We must fight terrorism,” and “They invaded a sovereign country.”

He, his father, and Clinton destroyed Iraq. They never should have ousted Saddam Hussein. I find it remarkable that virtually every American has always been convinced of Hussein’s guilt before he was ever tried. Hussein’s rise from disadvantaged youth, to lawyer, to Ruler of his Country, as well as all the good he did for his Country, including keeping the peace between incredibly brutal political groups within his country, suggests that we should rethink the wisdom of the U.S. method of using brute force to achieve its objectives.

It is easy to condemn him for using brute force in suppressing opposition, but given the circumstances in that region it may well be true that this was his only hope for survival as well as for peace in his Country.

With regard to Bush's policy concerning immigration issues, however, I definitely favor him as President. He is quite moderate. He would not mindlessly deport illegal aliens, he would not suddenly make all illegal aliens become citizens, and he would require those who have worked here without paying taxes to repay what they owe and to pay penalties. This is quite reasonable.

3. Increase in Intelligence.

I tend to find this issue difficult to understand. One must first define “intelligence.” I read the Bell Curve long ago, and the book did say, if I remember correctly, that there has been a steady upward drift in intelligence. But, suppose we define “intelligence” to be that which is measured by an IQ test. If scores are normalized so that, by definition, the average score is IQ 100, then it would seem that the average intelligence is staying the same.

Perhaps the average score, in terms of correct answers out of a given number of questions has been going up. Based on my observations of people and their arguments, I know that there is simply no way that intelligence, in the sense of brainpower, has been going up.

Yes, I am a member of Mensa.

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1. I think the problem is with our government. When my grandfather moved to the US he went through Ellis Island. So to answer your question, I do not believe in illegal immigration. Immigration as a whole I do agree with. If you are to live here then you need to contribute to society.

2. I do not agree with all of Bush's actions, but some I do. I feel that he did a great job with his actions during 911. The Iraq war was just a way for Bush to finish what daddy started. If you blame Bush for New Orleans then just delete this. The federal government has no right to step in on a state matter, unless the state asks for help or declares an emergency. Neither of these actions were taken until it was too late.

3. The intelligence of America has increased. The problem is there are more of us then before. That is why there is natural selection. The herd can only run as fast as the slowest buffalo. Once that buffalo is eaten then the herd gets faster.

I hope my answers were intelligent enough for you. If not sorry to waste your time.

1. I find it very disgusting to call any human being "illegal" for being born in the wrong place. I have studied and worked with Central American poverty issues for going on 4 years. America's foreign policy for over 100 years has created a situation of such apalling inequality there is little reason for people in the countries closest to our Southern border to have any hope for their own future. When you have lost generations of education to genocide, situational slavery, and "soft-target" US sponsored warfare, you end with a social crisis. Americans need to realize that immigration is the sysmptom of a problem, not the problem itself. If Americans put time and resources into assisting others to help themselves and their own communities, and realized that immigrants give a lot back to their own countries to solve problems, and give a lot to us, then perhaps the issue could be seen more in light of the complex thing it really is. Many of American enterproses would collapse without immigrant labor. We have effectively all but curtailed the advance of sicentific thought by making it so difficult for immigrant scientists to enter America to study. Yes, there are issues, and there are problems, but blaming all the problems on illegal immigrants is scapegoating at its worst and most dangerous. We are moving towards a fascist state in many uncomfortable ways.

2) President Bush scares me because he admittedly has no vision. The policy that has sprung up during his presidency is increasingly polarizing, alienating, and rooted in placating base fears that the media is only too happy to profligate. The biggest issues facing the world are being jeered while we worry about whether our citizens should be allowed to marry each other. He is convinced he is right, and this type of thinking is the most dangerous thing that exists. He is quietly allowing fanatacism to become the dominant controlling force. Most disturbingly, he has shown complete disregard fro policy based in scientific reasoning and fact, preferring rhetoric whose results cannot be measured. If I hear the words "Un-American" or "unpatriotic" one more time I may vomit. We promote a society of global markets while we ignore the fact those countries we want to sell our prodcuts and services to are inhabitedby human beings with cultures different than ours. I cannot blame Bush for all mistakes, nor can I say all his decisions have been bad, but the polarization that has happened during his presidency is no coinicidence.

3) Neither. It is changing. I think if you looked at a Bell curve you would still see the same percentage and distribution, but the tasks and skill-sets would be different than they were 30 years ago. That being said, popular culture has been promoting excess and mediocrity for so long that it is hard to tell someone's intelligence any more. I actually once posted a question similar to this, and was shocked at how many people are "CERTAIN" that people with high IQ's are all social misfits and rejects! When the culture promotes its yuoth to stop thinking critically it is doomed for either failure or a strong wake-up call.

1. The word illegal speaks for itself. I feel that if someone is going to migrate into our country all the laws and same rules that apply to U.S. Citizens should apply to them. How is it that they can come here and buy all kinds of businesses and live tax free and U.S. Citizens stuggle with taxes each day. Its hard for a middle-class person to start a business and even harder to get financial help, such as grants and loans. I feel that immigrants should stay in their own country; and if they do move here, should have to speak our language and abide by the same laws.

2. I think President Bush needs to get out of office and stay out of office. He has caused so much caos in this country. Many soldiers have lost their lives because the president can't mind the United States business and leave others alone. We have enough problems right here that need immediate attention.

3. I definitely think that americans intelligence is decreasing. 1. Because more and more children are doing drugs and dropping out of school. 2. The authority figures in are country are in no way possible good role model. They are involved in everything from fraud to molestation. Therefore, leaving a gap and a question of progression in the minds of us that may have been actually looking up to them. 3. Because we take the knowledge that we do acquire and use it to rob and steal, instead of opening business to give jobs and opportunities to those who need them.

1. We should either build a wall and shoot people who try and go over it or we should just shut up about it. The fact is that business interests and Hispanic swing voters don't want stopping it to be a priority, so it won't be. Like many tough issues, it will take courage and compromise to come up with a solution. Both of these are in short supply in Washington right now.

2. He was not qualified to be President. He accomplished almost nothing in the first 40 years of his life. If he wasn't his father's son he would be a gym teacher or a salesman. He is surrounded by idealogues who have a view of America and the power of the Presidency that is very scary for a liberal like myself. He plays to win and he has the same distain for Americans who disagree with him that he does for terrorists. His political team is ruthlessly brilliant at turning our fears to his advantage.

3. I really don't know. I suspect that there are more very intelligent people than there used to be. I think our collective intelligence appears to be declining because stupid and ignorant people no longer feel compelled to keep their stupidity and ignorance to themselves.

1. A country at war or not at war needs rational borders. Controlled, yet welcoming.

2. Bush is a front man, not a source of policy. The president functions to inspire. Seek to change the functional people behind the scene who influence decisions, policy and laws. People attack 'Bush'. That is precisely why there is a front man in government.

3. Decreasing. Too many packaged images and thoughts and very little intellectual discipline in math, science, history, English etc. Kids do not even know what "formal proof", "hypothesis" "recurrent theme" or "diphthong" are, at least until highschool, if that.

1. Illegal is illegal. If we want people not to be illegal immigrants, we'd have to change the laws defining them as such.

2. President Bush is the Commander in Chief. He should be setting goals that can be reached in Iraq, so we can remove our troops. Instead, we have a vague, dragging-on war.

3. Decreasing, as is the intelligence of the human species in all industrialized countries. Intelligent women have careers, and fewer children in industrialized countries.

Illegal immigration is wrong but some people do need a better life and deserve one so i think they should just forget the whole business of deporting illegal immigrants. President Bush was ok in the first 5 months but now he is being just plain stupid. He should stop giving speeches and making promises that will never happen. The Intelligence in American has decreased enormously.

1. I like President Bush's plan as I remember it. Steps to legalize people already here in U.S. Along with better enforcement of rules already on the books. The law and enforcement of such as it is now is broken, so we should do something to bring law and actual practice better into conformance with each other. Otherwise, law becomes a farce and justice is not served for those operating outside written law but within more or less accepted custom.

2. When he took us into Iraq, it made me sick to my stomach. The whole pre-emptive attack thing is just wrong. I voted for him the first time but not the second time.

3. Not sure. But I'd guess their intelligence is increasing while their level of knowledge, in traditional academic subjects at least, is decreasing.

P.S. Please tell us what you are trying to figure out and whether our answers helped.

01. Illegal Immigration is of course wrong for the obvious reason, it is illegal. So, if we have had illegal immigrants for hundreds of years, what all of a sudden is the major issue with illegal immigration? Is it the "war on terror" and the "open border issue" or is it that illegal Mexicans are here and Americans are having to pay out of their pockets for health, and other costs. I believe the war on terror is a smoke screen in this issue and the same for money coming out of American pockets. This is a matter of simply not liking "them." We're Americans and they "aren't."

02. President Bush is condescending and if you don't agree with him, you aren't worth hearing out. Anyone who doesn't want to listen to others opinions are not worth following.

03. Overall intelligence is and has remained the same, however, the intelligence available to us as individuals has increased, at least in books, internet, etc. We discover more knowledge now in one week, than we did in centuries before now.