--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that when I look at today’s…" description: "\"I know that when I look at today’s Mexicans and Central Americans, they seem to me fundamentally the same as my grandparents seeking a better life in A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/paul-krugman-2255_agonizing_i-know-that-when-i-look-at-today-s-mexic_1499204.jpg" --- # I know that when I look at today’s Mexicans and Central… ![“I know that when I look at today’s Mexicans and Central Americans, they seem to me fundamentally the same as my grandparents seeking a better life in America. On the other side, however, open immigration can’t coexist with a strong social safety net; if you’re going to assure health care and a…” quote by Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/paul-krugman-2255_agonizing_i-know-that-when-i-look-at-today-s-mexic_1499204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/paul-krugman-2255_agonizing_i-know-that-when-i-look-at-today-s-mexic_1499204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/paul-krugman-2255_agonizing_i-know-that-when-i-look-at-today-s-mexic_1499204.jpg) > “I know that when I look at today’s Mexicans and Central Americans, they seem to me fundamentally the same as my grandparents seeking a better life in America. On the other side, however, open immigration can’t coexist with a strong social safety net; if you’re going to assure health care and a decent income to everyone, you can’t make that offer global. So Democrats have mixed feelings about immigration; in fact, it’s an agonizing issue.” [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigration offers opportunity but conflicts with universal social benefits; balancing openness with a sustainable safety net is politically painful. **In simple terms:** Immigration vs. welfare tension. Key Takeaway Design policies that fund both. Themes immigration social policy economics Mood analytical concerned Type policy economic When to use this quote - housing policy - healthcare reform - education funding - labor rights Key Concepts public finance labor markets Questions to Reflect On - How can a country fund both immigration and welfare? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Economic growth may offset costs if managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Grandparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparent/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Mixed feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed-feelings/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Safety net](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-net/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [There's a certain kind of cultural energy pursued by the gatekeepers of elite discourse, who want to argue that Americans fundamentally agree with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-cultural-energy-pursued-by-the-gatekeepers/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [“open immigration can’t exist with a strong social safety net; if you’re going to assure healthcare and a decent income to everyone, you can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/open-immigration-can-t-exist-with-a-strong-social-safety-net-if-you/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The power of Political Correctness is demonstrated by the entire political establishment coming to the defense of open immigration from Muslim-majority nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/the-power-of-political-correctness-is-demonstrated-by-the-entire/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [There is a common perception that there are two alternative libertarian positions on immigration: government-controlled borders and open borders. Nothing could be further from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-g-hornberger/there-is-a-common-perception-that-there-are-two-alternative/) [Jacob G. Hornberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-g-hornberger/) > [In Minnesota, we tend to be a little more open to immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/in-minnesota-we-tend-to-be-a-little-more-open-to-immigration/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [“You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state. ... I am in favor of the unilateral reduction of tariffs, but the movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/you-cannot-simultaneously-have-free-immigration-and-a-welfare-state-i/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I have fought for open immigration which is something I disagree with Nigel Farage on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/i-have-fought-for-open-immigration-which-is-something-i-disagree-with/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [Even in the inevitable moments when all seems hopeless, men know that without hope they cannot really live, and in agonizing desperation they cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/even-in-the-inevitable-moments-when-all-seems-hopeless-men-know-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have thought about this issue of abortion time and again. It is not an easy issue for most people. I came to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/i-have-thought-about-this-issue-of-abortion-time-and-again-it-is-not/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [“The words were pulled from her, agonizing, like a disembowelment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-jayne/the-words-were-pulled-from-her-agonizing-like-a-disembowelment/) [Dawn Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-jayne/) > [I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-blandick/i-am-now-about-to-make-the-great-adventure-i-cannot-endure-this/) Clara Blandick > [What would happen to a body that was starved, suffocated and then forced to drink poison? It would first suffer and then die an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/what-would-happen-to-a-body-that-was-starved-suffocated-and-then/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The Soul unto itself Is an imperial friend, - Or the most agonizing Spy - An Enemy - could send -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-soul-unto-itself-is-an-imperial-friend-or-the-most-agonizing-spy/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-am-often-thought-of-as-being-remarkably-bright-and-yet-my-brains/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [The reason so many people do not pray is because of its cost. The cost is not so much in the sweat of agonizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-chadwick/the-reason-so-many-people-do-not-pray-is-because-of-its-cost-the-cost/) [Samuel Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-chadwick/) ## More by Paul Krugman > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Surely I'm not the only person to ask the obvious question: How different, really, is Mr. Madoff's tale from the story of the investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/surely-i-m-not-the-only-person-to-ask-the-obvious-question-how/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The rich are different from you and me: they have more influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-they-have-more-influence/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s….ten years from now, the phrase “information economy” will sound silly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-internet-s-impact-on-the-economy-has-been-no-greater-than-the-fax/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Not all private equity people are evil. Only some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/not-all-private-equity-people-are-evil-only-some/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [You really have to go searching desperately to find any contemporary examples of good, old-fashioned runaway inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/you-really-have-to-go-searching-desperately-to-find-any-contemporary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [However, the fact that an economist offers a theoretical analysis does not and should not automatically command respect. What is needed is some assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/however-the-fact-that-an-economist-offers-a-theoretical-analysis-does/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/politics-determines-who-has-the-power-not-who-has-the-truth/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The key reason executives are paid so much now is that they appoint the members of the corporate board that determines their compensation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-key-reason-executives-are-paid-so-much-now-is-that-they-appoint/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I've always believed in expansionary monetary policy and if necessary fiscal policy when the economy is depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-ve-always-believed-in-expansionary-monetary-policy-and-if-necessary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [...academic credentials are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for having your ideas taken seriously. If a famous professor repeatedly says stupid things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/academic-credentials-are-neither-a-necessary-nor-a-sufficient/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power...So will the attack on unions succeed? I don’t know. But anyone who cares about retaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/it-s-not-about-the-budget-it-s-about-the-power-so-will-the-attack-on/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [When stock prices are rising, it's called ''momentum investing''; when they are falling, it's called ''panic.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/when-stock-prices-are-rising-it-s-called-momentum-investing-when-they/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I don't want a job in the administration; I think I'm more effective carping from the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-don-t-want-a-job-in-the-administration-i-think-i-m-more-effective/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Under the gold standard America had no major financial panics other than in 1873, 1884, 1890, 1893, 1907, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/under-the-gold-standard-america-had-no-major-financial-panics-other/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) [Explore all 175 Paul Krugman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## More Agonizing quotes > [The reason so many people do not pray is because of its cost. 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It would first suffer and then die an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/what-would-happen-to-a-body-that-was-starved-suffocated-and-then/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-blandick/i-am-now-about-to-make-the-great-adventure-i-cannot-endure-this/) Clara Blandick > [“The words were pulled from her, agonizing, like a disembowelment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-jayne/the-words-were-pulled-from-her-agonizing-like-a-disembowelment/) [Dawn Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-jayne/) > [I have thought about this issue of abortion time and again. It is not an easy issue for most people. I came to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/i-have-thought-about-this-issue-of-abortion-time-and-again-it-is-not/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Even in the inevitable moments when all seems hopeless, men know that without hope they cannot really live, and in agonizing desperation they cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/even-in-the-inevitable-moments-when-all-seems-hopeless-men-know-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is life that fights and struggles and rages; life, that tears at you in its last agonizing throes to hold on, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-is-life-that-fights-and-struggles-and-rages-life-that-tears-at-you/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If the general attitude of Canadians toward their mighty neighbor to the south could be distilled into a single phrase, that phrase would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/if-the-general-attitude-of-canadians-toward-their-mighty-neighbor-to/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [To be put down in this world, and given only eighty years to get to know it in, is like being let loose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/to-be-put-down-in-this-world-and-given-only-eighty-years-to-get-to/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [I still have in my memory, almost agonizing impressions of a serious illness which I had when I was about eight years old. 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