{"id":36925,"date":"2020-05-28T14:58:13","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T18:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36925"},"modified":"2020-05-28T14:58:13","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T18:58:13","slug":"review-of-open-borders-by-bryan-caplan-and-zach-weinersmith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36925","title":{"rendered":"Review of Open Borders, by Bryan Caplan and Zach Weinersmith"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Open Borders<\/p>\n

The Science and Ethics of Immigration<\/em><\/p>\n

written by Bryan Caplan
\nartwork by Zach Weinersmith<\/p>\n

First Second, 2019. 249 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written December 6, 2019, from a library book<\/p>\n

This is a graphic novel about the case for, yes, open borders. And yes, it\u2019s got science and ethics and statistics to back it up.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve long said about children\u2019s nonfiction, that the graphic novel format is a fantastic way to get facts across. It turns out to also be true about facts and current issues for adults.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit up front that I was leaning toward advocating for open borders \u2013 because from my perspective it certainly seems the more Christian thing to do. But I wasn\u2019t sure about answers to the various objections.<\/p>\n

This book is written by a professor at George Mason University (down the road from me), and he has answers to a whole lot of objections. He also has ideas for opening up immigration that fall short of open borders, but that are still better than our current situation.<\/p>\n

It would be easier to make a case against open borders if the United States hadn\u2019t had almost open borders (\u201cwith infamous exceptions\u201d) until the 1920s. In fact, my own ancestors came to America long before the 1920s, so they didn\u2019t have to worry about legal or illegal immigration. In fact, most of my ancestors came before the United States existed. They came to English colonies, a lot of them looking for freedom of religion. Many of them did not, in fact, speak English. I have a copy of a will from an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. His will was written in German. (No, he didn\u2019t come to fight. He was one of the \u201cPennsylvania Dutch.\u201d)<\/p>\n

No, that\u2019s not covered in this book, but that explains my leaning toward allowing immigrants today to do the same thing my ancestors did \u2013 come to America looking for a better life.<\/p>\n

The author begins by talking about \u201cglobal Apartheid.\u201d The reason people from poor countries don\u2019t emigrate to richer countries is that the richer countries don\u2019t allow it. He takes a hard look at the ethics of that.<\/p>\n

Then he uses statistics and studies to show that immigration helps the world. Immigrants are more productive in first world nations, and everyone benefits. Global productivity dramatically goes up when everyone can live where they want.<\/p>\n

But he does proceed to take on arguments against immigration. He uses statistics to show they\u2019re misguided. I especially like the section on Numeracy where he shows that the fear of criminal immigrants is flat-out innumerate.<\/p>\n

Another chapter I like is where he looks at utilitarianism, egalitarianism, libertarianism, cost-benefit analysis, meritocracy, Christianity, and Kantianism \u2013 and shows that all of these world views can be used to support open borders. In the Christianity section, the author asks, \u201cAnd who is my neighbor? People on my street? My town? My state? The whole country?\u201d Jesus says, \u201cFunny, you\u2019re not the first person to ask. Let me tell you a little story about a Samaritan.\u201d<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t take my word for it. Like I said, the graphic format is a very effective way to make an argument \u2013 but you do need to see it for yourself.<\/p>\n

Open borders are not only the ethical thing to do. They have a dramatically net positive effect for everyone.<\/p>\n

bcaplan.com<\/a>
\nsmbc-comics.com<\/a>
\nfirstsecondbooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/open_borders.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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