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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be surprised by how many people are anti-immigration?

326 replies

Mimstar · 09/09/2013 18:48

I was called naive today. Apparently 'if you aren't concerned by immigration, you've got your head in wonderland'.

And I thought - actually, I know hardly anybody else who isn't anti-immigration.

I'm trying to understand this attitude, it seems so common nowadays. Maybe I do have my head in wonderland.

I'm so tired of hearing 'job stealers!' type comments.

Sad
OP posts:
LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 21:54

Does Eastern European immigration (or any planned immigration, for that matter - distinct from asylum seeking for now) put a net burden on resources, though? Don't we depend on them too?

chibi · 09/09/2013 21:55

you are making it sound like i have an irrational dislike of the uk

it is very hard to feel comfortable and at home and happy in a place where you are regularlyy reminded that you, and people like you are ruining everything, and that you are unwanted

funny, that, eh?

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 22:00

Yes, I don't think it is irrational at all to feel that way. Sad

I feel so ashamed when I see such a lot of the xenophobic stuff.

Jinsei · 09/09/2013 22:03

Those most concerned about immigration generally know the least about it.

^^This.

I would not be averse to having an informed debate about the impact of immigration on this country, but I find that those who shout the loudest on this subject very rarely know what they're talking about. It renders the debate a bit pointless and makes it mind-numbingly boring.

JustinBsMum · 09/09/2013 22:05

What I do want is some recognition, and funding, from government for the additional burden this is placing on local services.

You mean we should all pay more tax to pay for the immigrants' costs.

We provide gov money remember.

Katz · 09/09/2013 22:08

LRD - it is interesting isn't it, net migration really isnt as high as people think.

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 22:09

Yes - and it's not just numbers, it's what people do, I think. Because a lot of immigrants are young, healthy people who will do many years of work paying taxes. Oddly enough, a fair few of our emigrants are retirees. So I am a bit sceptical that we lose out, overall.

JustinBsMum · 09/09/2013 22:11

but I find that those who shout the loudest on this subject very rarely know what they're talking about

Oh, really? I would say that no one knows what they are talking about because we aren't told the extra costs of incomers to the country eg the number of recent immigrants in jail, the number who drive without insurance, the numbers who don't pay council tax. The numbers who are on student visas and shouldn't be here. I'm not saying all immigrants break the law, just that if they do we don't know about it. So a proper debate is not possible. They do the jobs Brits don't want to, the upshot is that we pay benefits to Brits whilst the immigrants do the work and possibly send the money home, so we are losing out twice. But we don't know so can't debate.

skylerwhite · 09/09/2013 22:11

Immigrants pay taxes too, JustinBsMum

BigPawsBrown · 09/09/2013 22:12

Us/them rubbish. Hate it. We're lucky to have been born here, do we have the right to tell less fortunate people where to go? Awful. If concerned about rising population by not be concerned with british people who have six kids? It's just racism.

ShellyBoobs · 09/09/2013 22:12

Immigration is a good thing for the country, on the whole.

Adult immigrants are a much cheaper source of labour than 'breeding our own' labour.

I know that sounds crass but it's fact; the very thing that the feeble minded some people think is so bad - immigrants 'stealing' jobs - is exactly what makes them important: they arrive ready-educated and productive.

And another thing, as someone else said above, we're just lucky to have been born in a relatively wealthy country. It's wrong to 'pull up the drawbridge' behind us, especially as a lot of those advocating it are the very people who bring the least to the table as far as contribution to the economy and society in general.

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 22:13

justin - you're right, you know more than me, so can you link please?

Obviously, you wouldn't speculate that immigrants are criminals without some evidence, because that would be racist.

Btw, DH isn't doing jobs Britains don't want to do. Smile He's doing jobs Britains aren't qualified to do as well as he does.

Katz · 09/09/2013 22:13

LRD - exactly and the main reason people come to the UK is to study. I think immigration is being blamed for things it just not responsible for.

ShellyBoobs · 09/09/2013 22:21

You mean we should all pay more tax to pay for the immigrants' costs.

We provide gov money remember.

Are you sure about this?

Only households with incomes in the top 40% are net contributors, so the chances are you take more out than you put in, therefore that argument is a non-starter.

Now obviously I don't know your personal circumstances re: income and taxation, nor do I care, but the point is that on balance of probability, you don't 'provide gov money'.

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 09/09/2013 22:23

At the end of the day, we are only a small island.

It would be far better if we had more room for our growing population and those who want to live here.

It's difficult but we can't simply say yes to everyone who wants to live hear. And it's this that people feel they cannot say because they are deemed as racist.

deakymom · 09/09/2013 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 22:24

forthe, did you see the post upthread about the numbers?

Jinsei · 09/09/2013 22:24

Oh, really? I would say that no one knows what they are talking about because we aren't told the extra costs of incomers to the country eg the number of recent immigrants in jail, the number who drive without insurance, the numbers who don't pay council tax. The numbers who are on student visas and shouldn't be here.

No, indeed. Nor are we told about the vast amount of income that international students bring into this country, nor about the jobs they generate and therefore the tax revenue that flows from this. We don't get to hear about the tax revenue generated by migrant workers either, nor about the jobs created by migrant entrepreneurs. We have no idea of what the cost to the nation might be if all the immigrant staff in the NHS were to leave tomorrow, but at least we can guess that it wouldn't be counted in economic terms alone.

You're quite right, it's hard to have a sensible debate without access to all of the relevant information.

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 09/09/2013 22:24

deaky - I am assuming your post is satire? If so, it's not very funny.

ForTheLoveOfSocks · 09/09/2013 22:24

Shelly every penny you earn is taxed.

Most items you buy are subject to VAT.

Yes most people do contribute to the government, not just too earners.

ShellyBoobs · 09/09/2013 22:25

Shelly every penny you earn is taxed.

No it's not.

Jinsei · 09/09/2013 22:27

It's difficult but we can't simply say yes to everyone who wants to live hear

We don't.

Original poster
Mimstar · 09/09/2013 22:27

Sorry to have abandoned the thread, will be back to post shortly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mimstar · 09/09/2013 22:28

Sorry to have abandoned the thread, will be back to post shortly.

OP posts:
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