Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

Newly released census data predicts that non-Hispanic whites will be a minority in the United States by 2042, largely due to immigration, both legal and illegal.

Anti-immigration groups have long pointed to an increase in population as a reason to tighten our borders, and this data has added fuel to that cry. Ira Mehlman, FAIR’s omnipresent spokesman, told the Columbus Dispatch that the U.S. was unprepared for “enormous population growth… It is happening because of policies our government maintains.” Roy Beck of Numbers USA says, “If we don’t quickly and substantially reduce annual immigration, the additional millions will threaten nearly every aspect of life for not only the human residents but also the plant and animal inhabitants of this country.”

Neo-Malthusian predictions aside, what are the implications of this demographic shift? Will this population increase put a strain on our schools, hospitals and infrastructure? Or will the increased diversity enrich our culture? Share your thoughts in comments.

(AP Photo)