second, back in 1911, our economy could absorb almost an unlimited wave of unskilled labor.merican economy is very different now. there's another problem. i don't know how to quantify this and it's hard to measure, but today's immigrants are immigrating into a welfare state. we don't know the extent it's hard to measusu but some extent this may be a magnet to people coming to this country for different reasons. >> george, part of that problem, in breaking ties, is not being allowed to become an american. i was, because i came legally -- you came in '62. >> right, right. under political circumstances but at the end of the day, i became an american, because this is a welcoming place, and because i felt i was part of america, once i made that threshold and crossed the path -- >> i'm a direct beneficiary of being an immigrant, getting the visa after being in college here. i think the view is shifting in the united states. i'm struck by something that benjamin johnson told t"the washington post". basically said too often the immigration debate looks like and is driven by images o