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I just need to add, the recent uproar around American culture not valuing academics over sports and popularity is interesting. I wasn't following the whole thread on Twitter but I did see some bitcoiners on Nostr getting all angry about the Indian-American criticizing American culture. The same people that would be cheering on a story like the one I linked here. American culture is not lost but it has many flaws that aren't recent. They have been getting worse over generations.
Anyone that wants to grow and improve needs to be open to criticism. IMO we need to make some changes in our culture. I have long believed this and tried by best to do so in my household.
I think it's well worth considering the immediate impressions of foreigners. We do value some perverse things and should reflect on it.
I'm reminded of how bizarre Michael Malice, coming from the Soviet Union, finds our deification of cops. He says that other cultures tend to view cops as crass thugs.
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100%
I love meeting immigrants and foreigners for this reason. I can tell you the vast majority of them love the US and the freedoms we take for granted. I've noticed what Malice says is true with the Eastern Europeans I've met.
Its also interesting to see how people from certain cultures find more success in the US that those from other places. People that are coming from countries like India and were held back by their caste or religious minority status.
Its also interesting to see how in a single generation their families change to become more "American" in both positive and negative ways.
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the vast majority of them love the US and the freedoms we take for granted.
This is what has pissed me off the most about the work visa system. So many my grad school friends would have been excellent Americans, but they weren't allowed to stay here.
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Its also not just the grad school people. Its many of the laborers as well.
The idea that immigrants are all the same is as dumb as the cops are heroes or teachers are heroes. Many are villains. In my experience the people complaining about the immigrants stealing are jobs the loudest should be concerned because they are lazy and they know they will be out worked.
My views on immigration are complex but it all starts with the evil state. Open borders is an ideal but under the status quo it is a nightmare. If you kill the welfare state and labor laws you might be able to make it work but I'm not convinced.
IMO much of the push for open borders IS about cheap labor. I'm always torn on this topic.
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Another big part of the push for open borders is inflating electoral votes in California.
It's a tricky subject, but as you say, it wouldn't be tricky if there weren't so many terribly destructive domestic policies.
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Yep, though this could backfire as many immigrants are less progressive than many imagine.
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That's the beauty of illegal immigration. You get the electoral college votes and house seats without risking different voting patterns (until it blows up in your face and some orange guy gets elected).
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I have observed that many progressives talk a big game but few actually live in the communities and know many immigrants. If they do know any its a very narrow band.