IQ

Although many on the left want to deny its validity, IQ has stubbornly retained its usefulness as a predictor of achievement-- particularly academic achievement.  The 'nature/nurture' question of whether heritable or environmental factors dominate remains open, but few doubt that both factors are significantly at play.  The latest research seems to indicate that heritability sets a 'floor' for IQ but that environmental factors can add as much as 15-20 points to adult IQ-- which is quite a lot.

First-world societies are, it seems to me, relatively high-IQ societies.  As a society, therefore, we should aim to increase average IQ over time through both its heritable and environmental factors.

immigration

Immigration reform needs to concentrate on bringing in high-skills people who will benefit the overall economy.  The low-skills illegals who would benefit most from current proposals should not be the focus of reform.  The problem with this latter group is not themselves, but rather their children:  1.  There are too many of them, likely to be a drain on government  services and benefits.  2.  They don't do well in school, which means they'll just produce another generation of low-skills people-- or more welfare recipients and criminals.