Immigrant Rite of Passage

The best principles of our republic, secure to all its citizens, is a perfect equality of rights. ~ Thomas Jefferson

I am a citizen, not of Athens or Greece but of the world. ~ Socrates

Canadian pride many not rest on our sleeves, but it resides deeply in our hearts. ~ Steve Miller

Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker says that the United States should consider selling for $50,000 the legal right to immigrate to the U.S. It may seem repugnant to suggest such an option but Becker says, " My answer is that we have tremendous restrictions now. The price for low skilled workers is infinite." The other option is, "You can pay and be as good as everybody else. Like a student loan, immigrants have time to pay the price or be deported for default."

For many poorer immigrants he suggests an entry fee of $50,000 would be a bargain. Both of his parents came as poor immigrants and worked hard to provide a living for their family. And for those naysayers, 2 million immigrants would mean $100 billion for the government.

Canadians just celebrated their new citizens with 23 ceremonies across the nation on July 1. Canadian immigration laws favour those immigrants who score well on a list of criteria including education, family capital, age, and acquaintances living in the country. In the U.S. Citizenship Day takes place on September 17.

My parents came from the Ukraine after the Russian Revolution. After holding prosperous farms they left penniless in 1923 and were thankful to church groups in Canada who sponsored their trip to Canada. For many their 'debt' took over a decade to repay.

Indeed, all countries welcoming immigrants need hard working families who have a dream and a vision to contribute their full resources to the welfare of their family and the nation. Is an upfront monetary commitment the right signal for welcoming the global immigrant, rich and poor?