End zero-sum mindset. Immigrants makes America better.

Immigrants make us stronger, richer

Immigrants work tirelessly to build this country, performing dangerous and demanding jobs.

There’s no clearer indicator than last month’s Baltimore bridge collapse where six fathers, husbands, brothers, and uncles died while literally building the infrastructure of our nation.

It’s time to cut through the noise and tell the truth about immigration: Our economy and country are stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants but that’s not true at all.

More: Immigrants are helping drive Columbus' population growth and its economy, say experts

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next ten years thanks to immigrants. Moreover, in 2021 immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes.

Even Donald Trump’s appointed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell recently said, “a big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”

Let’s give credit where credit is due, stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric and end the zero-sum mindset. Immigration truly is essential for our economic growth and our communities’ prosperity.

Maddie Lewis, Columbus

Corruption ingrained in Ohio

Interesting that the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that an individual state cannot keep a presidential candidate off of the ballot. Yet the Ohio Republican party is trying to do just that by its efforts to keep President Joe Biden off our ballot.

Time folks faced it. Matt Borges busted the 'Bexley bubble' with his conviction.

They already attempted to take away citizens' rights to petition for constitutional change. They've fixed the election districts by gerrymandering and now they are attempting to take away our right to vote for a major party candidate. Moreover, their former Ohio speaker of the House and state party chair are in the penitentiary serving sentences for bribery.

I'd call that a pattern of political corruption.

Michael Sponsler, Columbus

Peace Corps' 63-year mission continues

Happy 63rd Anniversary, Peace Corps.

On April 18, the Central Ohio Returned Volunteer Association partnering with the Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences/International Programs held their annual send-off party celebrating newly selected Peace Corps volunteers who will be serving in countries such as Guyana, Rwanda , Zambia and Tanzania.

Ohio State University has partnered, supported and trained volunteers for service in the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961.

Over 7,800 Ohioans have served in the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps was established in March of 1961 by President John F.Kennedy and since then over 240,000 citizens heeded the President's call “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Peace Corps volunteers have served in their assigned host countries, both rural and urban communities, in sectors such as education, English as a second language training (ESL,) rural electrification, agriculture and forestry,, health and environmental sustainability.

Right now, the host countries’ biggest request is ESL training. Currently 2,100 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in 60 countries worldwide from Vietnam, Pacific Island nations, to Africa and South America.

More information can be found on the Peace Corps website www.peacecorps.gov.

Stuart Moskowitz, CORVA board member, Dublin

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Immigrants make America better. Cut the hogwash and rhetoric.