The Impact of Immigration Reform in Speeding Up The Process of Making America a Nation of Mutts as Presented in David Brooks in a Nation of Mutts

Summary and Analysis of an Argument

David Brooks’ A Nation of Mutts, claims that the United States is becoming a “nation of mutts” and that the immigration reform is speeding up the process. Brooks supports his claim by giving background on immigration along with modern day details. Brooks’ purpose is to inform the reader on what the country is going to become and to convince them that it is a good thing. Brooks establishes an informative and persuasive style using details and statistics to inform the reader on the immigration within our country and the effect the immigration reform is going to have. Brooks’ position is convincing because he uses relevant rational and ethical evidence to support his claim.

Brooks uses rational evidence to support his position that the United States is becoming a “nation of mutts” and that the immigration is going to speed up the process. For example, Brooks states that, “If you grew up between 1950 and 1985, you grew up at a time when only about 5 percent or 6 percent of American residents were foreign born. Today, roughly 13 percent of American residents are foreign born, and we’re possibly heading to 15 percent” (A Nation of Mutts). This shows how immigration has increased over the years and how it is still doing so. If the immigration reform bill is enacted, it will further increase these immigration levels. According to the Census Bureau, “roughly 20 million immigrants will come to this country under current law. The Congressional Budget Office expects another 16 million under the new provisions” (Brooks). The immigration reform will cause immigration to be more global. It will not “transform America, it will just speed up the arrival of a “New America” that is already guaranteed” (Brooks). Under the new immigration reform bill, the increase in immigration will be sped up, causing the “New America” to evolve faster.

Brooks also uses ethical evidence to support his claim that the immigration reform bill will increase the immigration rate and will be a positive thing for our country. For example, Brooks informs the reader on how the New America will be more economically dynamic. Since immigration boosts economic dynamism, with more immigration it will be boosted more. There will also be a lot of upward striving due to the fact that immigrant groups tend to work harder than native groups. Additionally, we are seeing the end of the old ethnic-racial order. Instead of the traditional dominant block we will soon be seeing a complex network of fluid streams (Brooks). As citizens of the United States, we want the best for our country and will strive to get that. Through telling the reader how the increase in immigration will positively impact the country, Brooks is convincing the reader that the increase in immigration that the immigration reform will cause is a good thing.

Using rational and ethical evidence, Brooks is effective in convincing the audience that the United States is becoming a nation of mutts and even thought the immigration reform will speed up the process, it will have a positive impact on the country. Overall, “the challenge will be to create a global civilization that is, at the same time, distinctly America. Immigration reform or not, the nation of mutts is coming” (Brooks). Immigration has been and will continue to increase over the years, it is up to us to see it as a positive thing.