TECHNOLOGICAL UNEMPLOYMENT

                                  Published in El Nuevo Herald on February 08, 2011


According to French chemist Antoine Lovoisier, no material is destroyed only transformed. We may apply this theory to the problem of unemployment in the U.S. today only to face a serious drawback: the jobs that have been displaced by technological advancements can not find where to relocate them. Technology simply making great fortunes grow but unemployment and poverty are increasing. Under these circumstances the question arises as to, How we are going to sustain our economic model ? The following examples illustrate this situation:

-The use of technology in tolls has accelerated the circulation of automobiles but has laid off thousands of workers nationwide.
-The technology online and ATM banking processes have been streamlined but have eliminated thousands of positions in this field.
-Software for declaring taxes have provided useful to the taxpayers but have severely limited the practice of certified public accountant.
-The widespread use of electronic mail has revolutionized communications but has laid off thousands of letter carriers and postal workers.
-The presence of Stockbrokers on the Internet has increased the income of this sector but has eliminated the manual labor of thousands of workers.
-The online edition of the newspapers has improved the information but has forced employers to lay off thousands of workers.

After seeing these eloquent examples is to ask us if whether we should regulate the technology. Obviously yes because otherwise it will destroy us.

FREE IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT

                            Published in El Nuevo Herald on December 28, 2010

In light of the continuing controversy over illegal immigration, the most sensible idea about illegal immigrants currently living in the United States is to integrate them into the production process. U.S. companies which relocate its manufacturing again on American soil, will be able to recruit this competitive workforce, which will be compensated under the bond given in replacement of regular salary. These immigrants in turn, after five years of uninterrupted work, may apply for permanent residency and then citizenship. This is a primary and a basic solution that aims to combat unemployment by encouraging domestic manufacturing, while regulating the unauthorized immigration.
However, authorized immigration could be regulated effectively by the creation of free immigration agreements in the same way that free trade agreements exist. The same rationale would apply for immigration. That is, the treaty would be negotiated with countries that share our basic values ​​of law and democracy, and where is  not expected a stampede of immigration in the medium term. Migrants between the countries signatories of the agreement would have the rights of permanent residents but  retaining their original citizenship.
When you make a trade between two countries generally pursued mutual benefit. In the case of an immigration treaty, several studies have shown that the free movement of people among countries usually contributes to greater prosperity when that movement is controlled.
Specifically, in the U.S. case, a free immigration would benefit from joint trade agreements since it would stimulate the transit of U.S. citizens to other countries.
Many strategies can be thought and some actions can be taken, but certainly something we have to do in the short term to legislate and implement real solutions immigration voting.

Economy and the DREAM Act

                  Published in El Nuevo Herald on December 07, 2010

According to a recent study by the University of California, Los Angeles, the passage of the DREAM Act will reduce the U.S. deficit $ 1.4 billion and increase government revenues by $ 2.3 billion over the next ten years. The study also predicts that students benefit from the DREAM Act in their careers will generate taxable gross income by a large value of between $ 1.4 and $ 3.6 trillion.
It is clear that under current economic circumstances facing the country, the DREAM Act appears to be a relief. However, it would be important to know the cost on health care, education, police and fire services incurred by the immigrants before they reach the status promised by the DREAM Act. Whatever be the cost of the considerable expense and based on the study before mentioned, it would seem logical to think that the Dream Act would overcome this cost because of the revenue expected.
Given the seriousness of the economic crisis facing the U.S., where the lack of domestic manufacturing jobs creation are limited only to the services sector, and even threatening the stability of the dollar on the world market, a type of action as The DREAM Act is justified, at least in the present. Of course, other studies have to be done to the near future.