Singaporeans protest immigration; U.S. government ignores social mood at its own peril

The U.S. government is headed for disaster as it continues to pursue peak social mood policies during negative social mood. In Singapore, the largest protest since independence opposes increased immigration.

Singapore protest at population policy biggest since independence

One sign, apparently directed at Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, read: "Ah Loong sweetheart, 6.9 (million) is a kinky number, but quality, not quantity," referring to his comment that the country's population could reach 6.9 million by 2030. A speaker at the rally, Kumaran Pillay, said he wanted his country to be led by "a man with vision" and did not want Singaporeans' lives to be controlled by "number Nazis".

Another speaker, Sem Teo, a banking executive, said: "Singaporeans should stop being afraid and speak up for change."

Rally participant Tan Jee Say, an ex-civil servant now in opposition who ran for president in 2011, said: "The prime minister has failed us. Make way for a new prime minister."

In contrast, the U.S. is committed to a quantity over quality policy, combined with a possible new minimum wage hike, that will guarantee a massive increase in unemployment and resulting social dysfunction.

A former visa officer in the United States lays out the case against amnesty in Legalizing illegal immigrants a bad idea

It's not just 11 million people. A substantial percentage of illegal immigrants are here alone, and once they get green cards, they will be able to petition for their wives and children to join them in the U.S. And if they become U.S. citizens, they will also be able to petition for their siblings and parents. Those migrants, in turn, can petition for their relatives and so on. Not all of the immigration preference categories are immediate, but within 10 to 15 years, legalizing 11 million migrants could result in possibly 30 million new arrivals.

I have seen estimates of 20 million illegal aliens or higher, which translates into potentially 60 million or more new arrivals.

Jobs Americans won't do? Proponents of an amnesty for illegal immigrants often claim illegal immigrants do tough, low-paying jobs that Americans and legal immigrants won't do. This notion is flawed now but will be demonstrably false after an amnesty. Illegal immigrants are currently limited to working for employers who pay in cash and don't ask questions, but with an amnesty, they'll be competing for jobs in the mainstream labor market with less educated Americans, who are already struggling with wage stagnation and a tight labor market.

Strain on social services. Legalizing millions of mostly poor people, many of whom have no job security or health insurance, will put a strain on already strapped social services agencies. A study by the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that 57 percent of immigrant households (legal and illegal) used at least one welfare program in 2009. Illegal immigrants aren't eligible for most benefits, but once this group has legal status, they'll be eligible for the full range of benefits

If President Obama has his way and gets a $9 minimum wage, the U.S. could easily be looking at permanent 10% or higher unemployment, with a spike into the 20% range. The current plan is to simultaneously legalize people currently earning black market wages and then price them out of the market by hiking the minimum wage, pushing them into welfare at higher numbers.

Anti-immigration protests are coming to the United States, but the question is, will they happen before or after an amnesty?