Germans are fleeing re—united Deutschland, with its high taxes and resulting stagnant economy, for more promising environs overseas, most prominently in the United States and Canada, according to Deutsch Welle. I sympathize, and offer them a hearty "Wilkommen!"

I only wish that the United States would reform its immigration policies to stop discriminating against those with financial assets and educational qualifications. Penniless uneducated immigrants can sneak in with few conseuqences. But if you have worked to establish yourself with an educational and career pedigree, and have bank accounts, a stock portfolio, and want to buy real estate, you cannot live beneath the perception of officialdom. We have a de facto policy of importing the impoverished with no limit, and keeping out those who could immediately contribute wealth and taxes, with strict quotas.

Canada, for all its faults, allows those with substantial assets to invest in Canada to jump ahead and gain immigration preference. As a result hundreds of thousands of people of great talent and accomoplishment are replenishing the Canadian economy. Many of these people would prefer to live in America, but can't. Toronto and Vancouver are bursting with them, and their recently—established businesses provide verve to an otherwise lackluster economy.

I know a number of recent German immigrants to America, and almost without exception they prize our virtues of liberty and a free economy. Nobody loves the Wild West history more, and few take greater delight in the glories of suburbia. The same is true for French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Irish, Nigerian, Indian and other educated legal immigrants I have known, not to mention the Cuban—Americans, who hold a very special place in my heart. They enrich us culturally and economically.

Probably, our economy does need a certain number of hard—working people with few skills and credentials. But we don't need millions a year, with no effective controls. But, for highly educated people with a track record, I say, the more the merrier.

Thomas Lifson  1 01 05