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Getting Immigration Right

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, Uncategorized , , , ,

Immigration is a continuing flash point in America, but we rarely look at the facts and data. Emotions have led to deadlock on one of our most important policy questions. Let’s start with what we know:

The more we deport migrants, the sooner we will experience negative population growth. A glance at our social programs reveals the disastrous consequences of this path. Social Security will have to cut benefits by 2033 as things presently stand. With even fewer people supporting our retirees, the system collapses. We’ll need more people to fill jobs in an expanding economy.

Once we understand that our future depends on a growing population, the only question is how to achieve it. More births would be beneficial, but no one has yet found a way to increase births in advanced economies. That leaves immigration. However, this conclusion doesn’t mean throwing the borders open and taking in all comers. Done correctly, immigration can be a win-win proposition.

There are approximately 400,000 to 500,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs in the U.S. as of mid-2025. More than 1 million skilled trades jobs are unfilled, a figure expected to continue growing. The cybersecurity sector is projected to have 3.5 million unfilled positions in 2025. The nursing profession faces significant projected shortages, with approximately 1 million openings predicted for the decade of 2022-2032. These figures inform us that we need more skilled workers.  

Instead of the confusing and ineffective visa programs for skilled workers we have presently, I propose that anyone with skills worldwide can register for clearance. Once approved, authorized individuals can receive a visa at any time in the future.

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Don’t Call This Administration Conservative

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, Uncategorized , , , ,

Core principles of conservatism

While the specifics of conservative beliefs can vary, common principles include:

  • Tradition: A preference for long-standing institutions and practices over sudden or radical change.
  • Limited Government: A belief that governmental power and scope should be restricted to protect individual liberty and free markets.
  • Fiscal responsibility: A focus on low taxes, reduced government spending, and minimal debt.
  • Strong national defense: Support for a powerful military to ensure national security and project power abroad.
  • Social conservatism: Emphasis on traditional morality, often rooted in religious beliefs, including support for the traditional family structure and opposition to abortion and certain LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Individualism: A belief in personal responsibility, self-reliance, and individual achievement, viewing society as composed of individuals rather than collective groups. 

When I Googled “Conservative,” these are the principles the AI generated. Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan would find them compatible with their philosophies. The former is the first conservative I was able to vote for. The latter governed as best he could as a conservative. Those of us who supported the Conservative movement of the era have trouble with what the administration is passing off as conservative, when in many cases, they’re the opposite.

When Trump first ran for President, he made certain moves to demonstrate to conservatives that he was one of them. He promised to appoint judges from the Federalist Society’s list. Old Reagan hand Larry Kudlow and Steve Moore were enlisted to deliver an economic program of tax cuts and regulatory reduction. Much to my dismay and that of others, he delivered.

Meanwhile, most of Trump’s first term suffered under the cloud of “Russiagate,” a totally fabricated Russian Collusion charge that depended on a fake dossier paid for by the Clinton campaign. Even with some tariffs levied on Steel, Aluminum, and Chinese imports, and the initiation of misguided COVID lockdowns, conservatives were mainly satisfied with Trump’s performance. Increased defence spending and robust actions against ISIS and Syria meant little aggression abroad.

Even though many conservatives were appalled by Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and his action or lack of action on January 6th, the Hunter Biden Laptop cover-up balanced their ire.

Going on to the 2024 election, the ex-president was swamped in lawsuits seemingly designed only to entrap one person: Donald Trump. To conservatives, using the Government’s legal systems to go after a single individual for political reasons looked like banana republic tactics. Putin keeps his opponents off the ballot by invoking bogus laws, but Americans don’t.  

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Aftermath

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, Uncategorized , , , ,

Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, both parties have been exposed not only for rank hypocrisy but also for their similarity. For instance, Jimmy Kimmel went on his network TV show and said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and everything they can to score political points from it.” He made this statement, well after the shooter’s mother had explained how he had moved leftward in politics and argued with his conservative father.

Kimmel, his writers, or producers had to know there was no basis for his claim that a MAGA supporter had committed the heinous crime. He lied to his audience. A few days later, ABC suspended him. Conservatives applauded, while those on the left cried that the network was was denying the comedian’s free speech.

This explosive situation recalled a similar divisive situation at ABC some years back. In 2018, Roseanne Barr had posted a rant on twitter against Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, saying, “If the muslim brotherhood & Planet of the Apes had a baby =VJ.” Even though Rosanne quickly apologized, ABC fired her from her hit TV show. At the time, many others and I on the right said ABC should give the comedian some slack, while those on the left saw it as just punishment for what they perceived as a racist remark.

Roseanne’s trials with mental illness are well known. From being institutionalized after a teenage auto accident and other afflictions, her erratic behavior is no secret. However, an off-kilter take on the world may contribute to her comic genius. After her apology, perhaps a suspension while she received some help would’ve sufficed, but ABC showed her no mercy. Adding insult to injury, the network continued the series under another name for seven profitable years without the star.  

Even though Kimmel has not apologized to date for his blatant lie, many on the left demand his immediate reinstatement. We are aware of Rosanne’s mental health issues, but what is Kimmel’s excuse? Yet, so far, he has suffered a lesser penalty. Remember, he isn’t in trouble for telling a joke, but telling an awful lie implicating an innocent group in a murder and then refusing to apologize.

Before those on the right get too far up on their high horse, we hear cheers on the right for FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s license revocation threats against ABC and its affiliates. His threats might’ve been what cemented Kimmel’s suspension. You can’t construe Carr’s words as anything other than government interference with media content.

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Justice Delayed

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, Uncategorized , , , ,

Continuing the discussion of how the government can provide the structure for the beneficial interactions of its citizens. One of the significant differences between the government and the private sector is the sense of time. The latter values it, and it’s primary to any planning. The incentives in the public sector are often the reverse. The more time it takes, the more secure their jobs and funding. We need to pinpoint where this attitude impedes commerce and people’s lives, and find ways to get the government on board, whether it likes it or not.

In my last post, I showed how vital a fair legal system is to capitalism and a properly functioning economy. It’s alarming, then, that our court system is a major culprit in preventing us from reaching our potential. Operating at a glacial pace, our courts seem little changed from the 16th-century British courts, except we don’t don wigs.

William E. Gladstone popularized the truism, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” A widely accepted principle, but often ignored in practice, it’s also costly. The current lawsuit, V.O.S. Selections v. Trump, illustrates just how expensive the Administration’s tariffs are. Filed shortly after Trump announced “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, 2025, the Court of International Trade blocked their implementation on May 28 on grounds that the President exceeded his powers—a timely decision based on seemingly strong grounds, rendered before significant harm.

Given the extent of the damage that improperly levied tariffs would do if left in place, it would seem to a layperson that blocking their implementation until finally adjudicated is sensible.

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Third Party Message For Elon Musk

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, Stopping Inflation, Uncategorized , , , ,

Here we go again. A billionaire suddenly discovers our two-party system is dysfunctional. Instead of serving the desires of most Americans, each party reflects its extremes. This time it’s Elon Musk. It brought back memories of my association with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz’s brief Third-Party campaign. That campaign asked for people with fresh ideas to submit them.

At the time, I was creating my Future Party series. I concluded that any new party has to stand for something or a set of things. Just being against the other guys won’t work. Rather than dealing with personalities, people unhappy with the current two parties need to unite around common goals. The Republicans opposed the spread of slavery when the Democrats and Whigs equivocated.

I communicated this conclusion, along with a link to Dave’s Healthcare Plan, on this site. After all, it isn’t right to pontificate without contributing to a solution. To my surprise, the campaign asked me to join an “outside the box”ideas group. Someone there liked the Plan, and I will hear the details shortly.

What I heard next was that Howard Shultz was dropping his third-party crusade. I received an email stating that the idea group wanted to continue, but there was no further correspondence.  

I often wondered what would’ve happened if, instead of the “Third Way” pablum Schultz spouted, he had put forth bold ideas to solve real problems, rather than being perceived as just a spoiler. Dave’s Plan offers completely portable, universal healthcare and retirement benefits. It utilizes the money and structures we already have in place. It might’ve provoked discussion and attention. It’s not Democrat or Republican, just a comprehensive answer to big problems.

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