This wasn't the work of LSD. This was some straight-up Tide pod shit.

Bertrand Russell had the number on this. (From My Philosophical Development (1959) by Bertrand Russell.)

This is one of those views which are so absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them.

In all its glory: Sponsor An Immigrant Yourself: No, really: A new kind of visa would let individual Americans—instead of corporations—reap the economic benefits of migration. by Eric Posner and Glen Weyl. From Politico no less.

I am all for thinking outside the box and give the authors credit for going outside the box. The problem is they kept on going; they seem to go out of their minds. To be fair, the absurdity of their argument does force you to clarify your own thinking. Why shouldn't poor people in the US be allowed to indenture foreigners from overseas? You can come up with dozens of reasons but making sure that those reasons are internally consistent can become challenging.

Instead of mocking the authors I will take the high road. And leave it to the commenters. Among the early comments.

Tran Quyet Thang · Ajou University
Yep, modern slavery as a solution. Sweat shop for the win.
Why didn't I think of that before.
Like · Reply · 66 · 15h

Dave Ralph
the Politico editors took a couple hits of LSD before they published this one. Nice job guys.
Like · Reply · 26 · 15h

Anna Rodham Maltese · Actor/Stunt Performer at Blizzard
Dave Ralph This wasn't the work of LSD. This was some straight-up Tide pod shit.
Like · Reply · 26 · 15h

Anna Rodham Maltese · Actor/Stunt Performer at Blizzard
Two writers came up with this idea. Then they wrote the article. Then the editor approved it. Then they posted it. In 20-fucking-18.
Like · Reply · 69 · 15h · Edited

Matt Perry · Works at Automattic
x-post from The Onion? This is possibly the worst immigration idea I've ever encountered ... which is saying a lot.
Like · Reply · 9 · 15h