The major problem remains that a majority of immigrants are now coming from a single (adjacent) country and are not assimilating. Moreover, the amount spent on securing the border and the effectiveness of such measures varies. The net zero migration Mr. Jacoby cites is quite recent: for at least a decade, despite the measures he says have been taken, the border remained porous. Assimilation, English-only, and rebalancing towards advanced (European and some Asian) countries is required.

A "dull thud thud" is the sound made when Andrea Dworkin goes for a walk. If you've ever seen her, you'll know what I mean.

This is a perceptive column. Man cannot live by bread alone. What he chooses to believe, philosophy or religion or both, determines what he will be. A society that inculcates an amoral relativism in which the main point is to "tolerate" everything and never establish standards, has no spiritual (in any sense) or moral core on which to fall back. So, the kids opt for the certainties afforded by some ideologies. Students in the similarly relativist and amoral Weimar Germany became enthusiastic supporters of the Nazis for just that reason. Remember, no one ever rose a barricade in defense of a "maybe."

Culture matters. We have not fought the culture war and slogans about God and family and motherhood et al, however valid or true, cannot make progress without a rigorous intellectual defense. To the extent we've let the left define themselves as the defender of intellect, we have lost this battle. We will win it only when we really challenge them.

As long as the blame for any upcoming debacle rests squarely (and accurately) where it belongs with Keynesians, Obama, the Democrats - and those Republicans who tolerate the deficit and support large programs - it will be worth it. Maybe we can finally sort things out. I expect, though, "deregulation' (so lacking it should be laughable) and "capitalism" will take the blame, so the "cure" will be even more of the same.

There's a repetitive quality to articles like this and those by Clifford May. What it comes down to is very simple: regimes that are acquiring nukes are doing so because they think nuclear weapons will permanently prevent Western action against them. Until we violently shatter this belief by attacking either a wannabe nuclear power like Iran or an actual minor one like North Korea or Pakistan - with our own nukes if necessary - nothing will change. We are in this mess because we lack the courage to do what is necessary, and that is true even when dealing with an enemy armed only with conventional weapons, if it promises a hard fight.

Discrimination is not the same thing as violating or denying rights. Private people have an absolute right to discriminate on the grounds of freedom of association, even in commercial matters, no matter what current law states. That's because no one has a right to anyone else's time, person, property or good opinion. And, the law can make broad discriminatory distinctions when there's a rational basis for doing so. That's why 12 year-olds can't marry or vote.

The issue is not whether it's a fundamental right but whether its nature includes gay people. Your statement leaves unanswered the broader question of "What is marriage?" unanswered.

The part about the political right letting the left define the terms of the debate (such as it is) and being cowed by charges of racism, sexism and homophobia is right on. If one disagrees with affirmative action, feminism or gay marriage, one is a bigot. One might as well say - to paraphrase Patrick Henry - "If this be bigotry, make the most of it." Until the right calls the left on this, "So, anyone who disagrees with you is a bigot? There's no other argument?" it will continue.

I was disappointed by Rand Paul's speech, particularly the Spanish parts. The keys, in my mind, to any resolution of this situation are assimilation, learning English (and use of English only in all official documents), and closing the border. I don't care where someone comes from, but if they want to be American they must assimilate and not form an ethnic enclave demanding recognition on an ethnic basis.