John (Pod), I know that you know this, but it’s worth saying that many of those (probably a majority) who oppose the current state of immigration policy do not oppose all immigration, far from it. What they do want to see is a rational, and properly policed, immigration regime. They don’t see that now and if, George W. Bush gets his way, they never will.

On the population statistics that you quote, I’m not really sure that they are of much relevance today. There are many policies that were appropriate for the economic conditions of the second half of the 19th Century that have no place in today’s world. Mass immigration to the US is one of them. It may have played an essential part in the rapid development of the country at that time, but it’s difficult to see why, in an age of automation and out-sourcing, that should be true today.

On the amount of room in this country. Yes, in one sense, there is plenty of room for a larger population, but as any quick visit to the south-west shows, this isn’t just a question of people per square foot. One of the wonderful things about the US is its sense of space. It would be a shame if this were to be lost.

Finally, on all those folks who write objecting about the way that their tax dollars are spent, that’s called expressing an opinion, and that’s part of democracy too.

And, yes, they should try and get the law changed…