To think this is a lie???

[PFB2]

Just checking before I make a fool of myself on Facebook... this post is a lie isn't it?

I'm 100% sure we are not giving benefits to illegal immigrants because, well, they are illegal and if caught would be deported.

fangirl Two people have posted a factchecking link. Did you not look at it or are you just happy to keep your post-truth emotional response view that has no basis in fact?

Asylum seekers have to declare it immediately on entering the UK? They can't be here illegally for a few months, then rock up and claim asylum.

I don't mind it too much because it's helped me to cull my friends list in the same way I defriend anyone who posts Britain First, Hatie Kopkins etc.. But yes it's a lie promoted by stupid people, racists and by people who benefit from the advancement of stupidity and racism.

I had to unfriend an ex soldier for clogging up my newsfeed with far right Tommy Robinson admiring clap trap. Like the image in the OP, most of it was embarrassingly untrue. The likes and shares he got though!

I'm quite surprised to read here that this happens in a lot of military families but then again, on second thought, it makes sense. They buy into what the government+media want us all to believe. It would be a very, very hard pill to swallow to realise that they've risked their lives and seen their mates killed, and killed themselves, for a load of propagandist nonsense (I'm going back to WW1 here but nothing has changed).

Asylum seekers have to declare it immediately on entering the UK? They can't be here illegally for a few months, then rock up and claim asylum

This isn't true, an asylum claim has to be accepted at any time, regardless of how long someone has been in the country or whether they're here legally or illegally.

The only illegal immigrants who receive direct financial benefits (rather than education, health care etc) are asylum seekers. If they were here illegally at the time when they claimed asylum, then they are still here illegally while their asylum claim is processed, they are just temporarily permitted to remain until their claim is resolved.

But in general, most immigrants, legal or not, are not able to claim benefits and this kind of nonsense is exactly what the far right use to perpetuate their racist ideologies

The same person has just shared this. It honestly makes me sick. FIL has been sharing similar. I really struggle to comprehend the fact that some people think this way, it makes me really sad!

Have just tried to attach image but it's not letting me so I'll type it out instead:

"Deport illegals
Bring back hanging
Stop world aid
No deal brexit
Buy British
Stop benefits for foreigners
Do this and watch UK fly"

Deport illegals - we already do this
Bring back hanging - isn't going to happen.
Stop world aid - why ?
No deal Brexit - probably going to happen in the next few weeks
Buy British - absolutely only British ? including medications, fuel and energy and cars ?
Stop benefits for foreigners - not easy to claim and most not entitled.
Do this and watch UK fly - what like FlyBMI ?

Foreign aid is 0.7% of the UK's gross national income.

Walkingdead. That is completely untrue. As you probably know.

In my experience, an awful lot of this shit put out on Facebook comes from people with family in the military.

Oh Shatners, that's sadly true and difficult to combat as education leads to thinking more broadly about life. That's not required of a soldier, quite the reverse.

Definitely a rise in this recently but as I see it as a positive. I like my racists where I can see them, same as people who think girls should be happy a famous person showed an interest. No more hiding your prejudices in dark corners, let’s all have a look and make decisions with all the information. And the internet is forever, if (when) the world moves on and sense is restored we will all be able to check who harbours horrible misguided ill educated thoughts.

Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric is popular enough that Brexit was voted for.

There are too many people who believe in their prejudice and can't comprehend large-scale economics and world issues. They see a simple solution that blames 'someone else' and genuinely believe that they're doing what is good and right in trying to stand up for their own country.

It's really hard to convince someone that they're wrong once they feel this way - it feels like a betrayal of everyone they love.

Certain politicians and media personalities are more than happy to cash in on this.

I think you've nailed it there KickAssAngel

The sad thing is that these people want to stop our already tiny foreign aid budget. What they don't realise is that there are huge corporations out there not paying their tax and essentially further lining the pockets of the 1%. These are the people we should be chasing for money rather than cutting the small amount we do spend on helping those in the world who need it most.

My friend is an immigration officer and I work for DWP. I can 100% day that illegals DO NOT get benefits. People who think they do are racist idiots

I have unfriended or blocked a number over the years for this kind of stuff. What's almost worst are the "liberals" who haven't thought through any of the bigger issues. I saw one the other day: a young couple holding a sign saying, 'don't abort your baby, we'll take it;" with an accompanying caption about how they are desperate for a baby but can't' have one. And this "friend" was of course, happily sharing it. Not thinking at all about the REALITY of a woman who is considering abortion.

This same person shares a lot of silly things where racism is dismissed as wanting (black) people to just work harder or try harder to avoid lack of education/crime etc. But 10 seconds of reading a wider range of news on whatever issue she's posting about shows there's a huge amount of nuance to the situation involved. And thats without looking at historical/socio-economic issues. It's so frustrating.

Immigrants to the UK, who are in dispute about their right to be here, are entitled to benefits while their case is being assessed. Perhaps not much in the way of cash, but these benefits include access to the NHS, and the Schools, which may cost thousands and tens of thousands of pounds. Maybe good, maybe not.
When their cases have been thoroughly assessed, including the interminable appeals, they are then refused benefits. Why not?

Oh fuck, I'm really disappointed to see it's popular thought in military families. I hoped it was only the ex squaddie on my fb list.

It does make sense though, now I think about it based on posts above

I'm in the US and some of the most right wing racists I've ever met were either active or former military. It's disgusting.

Only low lives would subscribe to such drivel.
And you know it OP.