colorunner123 wrote:
1. Japan is a wonderful country. So their population is shrinking. So what? Who cares. Where is it written in stone that a country's population and economy must always grow? With increased automation, there will be less of a need for workers. A country with a declining population is best-suited to face this challenge.
2 . Do you think the "immigration" that began in 1492 was good for the "Native Americans"? (I put "immigration" in quotes because Columbus and other Spanish explorers were conquerers, not immigrants. I put "Native Americans" in quotes because they were not Americans. There was no USA until 1776.)
Japan is a wonderful country that is completely unprepared to push back against their superpower expansionist neighbor next door. IF you are willing to sacrifice America's global hegemony then sure, we can go the Japan route. Withering economy, aging population, but no doubt a lovely country! (seriously not meant as a negative judgement on them). I think it's important that we have some form of democratic global superpower. The USA is still the obvious choice.
I have been hearing about automation shrinking the workforce since before I was born. Still waiting. Maybe this time it's real. Doesn't really change the equation as more efficiency with more workers = WAY more productivity.
Isolationists will disagree but looking inward is a great way to get either conquered or left behind.
As for 2)... yes, the only people who can have serious complain about immigration are the Native Americans! Every other American has benefited from immigration.
And yes, they are Native Americans. They are native to America. The continent.