The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:

"The inflow of immigrant workers into our community has put a downward pressure on wages. In fact, the average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years. Therefore, to protect our local economy, it is essential to impose a moratorium on further immigration."

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.

YOUR RESPONSE:
The argument above states that the inflow of immigrant workers into the community, is creating downward pressures on wages, decreasing the average compensation of unskilled labor by 10% over the past 5 years, and that it is necessary to impose a moratorium on immigration to protect the local economy. This argument is weak because it doesn't consider various scenarios other than the increased immigration that is causing the average compensation of unskilled labor to decline.

First, the argument doesn't realize that the lower wages paid to the immigrants don't adversely affect the other workers' compensation directly. If there is a higher number of immigrant workers earning less money, this brings the average wages down but the compensation of other workers is not affected. As an example, if a company has five workers earning ten dollars each, the average hourly income for these workers is ten dollars. If five immigrant workers are hired and each is paid 5 dollars, the average hourly income for all workers becomes seven dollars and fifty cents. The overall average compensation has declined but the compensation of the non-immigrant workers stay the same. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to impose a moratorium in order to protect the local economy.

Second, the argument doesn't consider the positive aspects of having immigrant workers. If a company is able to get more work done with fewer costs for human resources, then the company becomes more efficient in its practices. For example, if a tiling company currently has five workers earning ten dollars per hour and each worker lays ten tiles in an hour, then the cost for each tile lain will be 1 dollar. If five immigrant workers are hired and each earns one dollar per hour while productivity of each worker is the same as the non-immigrant's, then the total cost for each tile becomes 55 cents for the company. Thus, the company becomes more efficient in its practices, and the economy is boosted from greater business activity than prior to hiring the immigrants.

The above argument lacks strength because it illogically states that hiring immigrants creates the economy as a whole to suffer when it clearly doesn't and also because it doesn't consider the positive effects of hiring immigrants on the business and the overall economy. If the argument included these factors, then the argument would be strengthened.

AWA ESSAYS: Analyze Issues
ESSAY QUESTION:
"Despite the convenience of distance learning and online educational programs, they will never replace in-class instruction."

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the position stated above. Support your viewpoint using reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.