I'd like to take a stab at answering Jeffrey E. Garten's three "Thorny questions for the next President" (Economic Viewpoint, Sept. 6-13). First, on how to deliver on the baby boomers' retirement entitlements, Garten says what's missing is enough taxpayers. One response would be to encourage more immigration of the "best and the brightest," who would bring with them the talent, work ethic, and ideas that would lead to new industries, more jobs, and, ultimately, enough funds for Social Security.
If we encouraged immigration from China and India, we would also be addressing Garten's second concern, the rising prominence of those two countries. What better way to understand and sell to the Chinese and Indian consumer markets than by inviting the people who know them best to become citizens of our country?
Finally, on Garten's question about how to aid the developing world, an increase in immigration would create a natural (and tax-neutral) rise in direct aid to the citizens of developing countries as immigrants begin sending money to their families back home.
Christopher J. Lahoda
President
GrowthQuest Management Training LLC
Princeton, N.J.
Copyright 2004, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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