Palomar College talks explore Middle East, immigration

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

U.S. policy in focus through political and economic lens

SAN MARCOS -- Problems in the Middle East and illegal immigration, two of the country's top hot button topics, were the focus of a seminar at Palomar College on Wednesday that attracted standing-room-only audiences.

History, economics and political perspectives can shed light and help find solutions to some of these pressing concerns, lecturers said. The discussions were part of Political Economy Days, a two-day seminar tackling political concerns ranging from health care to human rights.

The seminar was the brainchild of Loren Lee, an associate professor of economics at Palomar College. Lee said the program, which he coordinated with economics professor Peter Bowman, was also an opportunity for students and the public to learn from some of the region's leading scholars.


Wednesday's half-dozen seminars were filled to capacity, in part because some students were required to participate, but Lee said he was surprised by the students' level of interest during the lectures.

"A lot of people are quite engaged and asking questions," Lee said.

Gordon Hanson, a professor of economics at UC San Diego, said much of the divisiveness caused by the debate over immigration reform can be explained by economics. There are those who benefit from immigration, both legal and illegal, and those who are hurt by it, Hanson said.

Businesses and consumers benefit from illegal immigrants' cheap labor. Taxpayers and lower-skilled workers are hurt by illegal immigrants by the public services they require and by driving down wages for low-skilled jobs.

"I'm not trying to push one view of immigration good or bad," Hanson told the audience. "I'm trying to get you to see that outcomes, in terms of policy, are a result of pressure from two sides. Those who want immigration and those who oppose it."

One student pointed out that American workers are being displaced by illegal immigrants because schools don't offer education in trades, such as construction and electricians. Hanson said there aren't enough American workers to fill the low-skilled jobs produced by the economy.

In 1960, 50 percent of workers did not have a high school diploma compared to 8 percent today, he said. As native workers have left low-paying jobs, immigrant workers have come to replace them, Hanson said.

"Over the last 50 years, U.S. workers have educated themselves out of many low-skilled jobs, such that if you put a listing out saying, 'I want somebody to come pick strawberries,' ... you're not going to get native workers applying for those jobs," Gordon said.

Another matter of much debate is the war in Iraq and its effects on the Middle East.

Sanford Lakoff, a professor of political science at UC San Diego, lectured on the history and current U.S. policy in the region.

Speaking about what can be done to reduce tensions in the region, he said "there are no easy solutions to problems in the Middle East."

Many of the countries were created by European powers in the wake of World War I with little regard for tribal and ethnic affiliation, Lakoff said. Dividing Iraq into three countries, as suggested by some to curb violence there, may invite neighboring countries to intervene and could lead to a regional conflict, he said.

One clear reason for Americans to worry about conflict in the Middle East is the price of oil, said Thomas Enger, a former professor of economics at Palomar College, who lectured on oil exports from the region and their effects on American politics and policy.

Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, produce about 18 percent of the oil consumed in the United States. But in a world where production is running at near full capacity, small changes in supply can affect prices around the globe, Enger said.

In oil prices, "a rumor can cause volatility," he said.

The seminar continues today, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with priority given to Palomar College students.

-- Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

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