Thursday, February 16, 2006
Seriously?
I can't help but think this is a joke. Supposedly, the issue is illegal immigration, but some dudes from the Public Policy Institute of California, Mark Baldassare and Hans Johnson, make the point using data that doesn't distinguish between legal and illegal immigration.
The issue of illegal immigration, based on public opinion polls, tends to rise in bad economic times and fall in boom times. This year, as California is experiencing strong job growth and a state budget with surplus funds, the issue seems to be fading. In our recent polls, just 1 in 10 residents named "legal and illegal immigrants" as the most important issue facing the people of California.
Maybe you should've given the options seperately, then, if you were interested in how people felt on illegal immigration. "More and more people are finding friends among men. In our recent polls, nine out of ten folks said they find friends among 'men and women.'"
Despite the growth of this population and lingering concerns about the costs of providing state services, most Californians have concluded that immigrants -- legal and illegal -- are an integral part of the state's economy. This finding has been consistent in our polling over the past six years. In September, 56 percent held the view that "immigrants are a benefit to California because of their hard work and job skills," while 36 percent described immigrants as "a burden to California because they use public services."
Ever wonder how those numbers might change if you mentioned illegal immigrants specifically? Or would that hurt your thesis? Some research.
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