What I'm saying is that it will make no difference whatsoever in a free-market sense, because the free market presumes perfect information. The reduction in America's fortunes will never be ascribed to our lousy immigration policy - in fact, quite the opposite. It will be used to justify even worse policy. As is, in fact, happening right now.

So while it's nice to think "That'll show them," it won't actually show them. We're the country that originated Hollywood. We're really good at lying to ourselves and each other.

Also, America was on top because the Economist arbitrary invented a couple of metrics like "yawn factor" to put it there. Stupidest damn article I've ever seen. Come to the Rust Belt; I'll show you where it's not a good place to be born. In fact, if your parents make less than about $400K a year, you're better off in any industrialized country in the world.