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Original poster

OK - Britain is a small country

304 replies

friskyfox · 30/12/2006 16:04

So why are we taking in more immigrants? We now have an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians coming here. Before anyone calls me racist or the like, I am 100% not. It just annoys me because we are a tiny country. Why are countries like Australia, NZ, USA, and Canada more selective and Britain is not.
thelink

OP posts:
UCM · 30/12/2006 16:43

Oh well in for a penny and all that.

I personally feel that this country has tremendously huge social problems as it is. Which IMHO it should be addressing and sorting out first before importing more problems.

When the balance on crime/nhs/employment/general fucked uppedness is evened/ironed out properly, then and only then, can the UK start to help others.

Sits back with cup of tea & hard hat and shield.

MKG · 30/12/2006 16:48

No hard hat UCM. I agree that a large influx of immigrants can reak havoc on the infrastructure of a country.

LittleSarah · 30/12/2006 16:49

Hmmmm, would that not mean that no one should be able to move anywhere?? Seen as nowhere (as far as I know) is perfect, and most places are far from it?

'then and only then, can the UK start to help others.'

Or does that mean you don't mean economic migrants but refugees? So those who don't need help but work, etc, are okay?

Nope, I didn't think so.

hippmummy · 30/12/2006 16:54

'importing more problems'?

UCM I think you have your issues mixed up here. Are you assuming that everyone who moves to Britain from abroad is some kind of problem case?

What about the qualified (or not), but hardworking people who contribute to the economy and society, pay taxes, and just want to make a life for themselves.

We are not 'doing them a favour'. They are working hard for themselves.

flack · 30/12/2006 16:54

I really wish I could find an unbiased and reasoned analysis of population flux, including the projected birth/death rates. I'd like to see year by year (modelled) data on population flux, broken down by age groups, for Britain, over the next 80 years. Under different assumptions. Does such a thing exist? Because then I could understand this whole immigration thing.

My understanding (may be wrong) is that even with the current immigration rates, Brits are dying off too fast/not breeding that fast, so population is likely to decline, in next 30-80 years, anyway.

And that the main reasons for the crush on housing/land is the increase in one person households, and the still increasing rarity of people who walk to work or school nowadays (so more roads, infrastructure, to transport everybody around). This is compared to only 30 years ago.

Pruni · 30/12/2006 16:55

Message withdrawn

UCM · 30/12/2006 16:56

No, LS. I think we should put a closed sign up completely and sort out what problems we already have here, where it counts, right now for me & my family and everyone I know, UK as a whole etc.

You wouldn't expect someone in an abusive relationship, also an alcoholic/drugtaker who had wild children with issues/behavioural problems to be allowed to foster children would you?

Tinker · 30/12/2006 16:56

My brother lived there (Poland) for 2.5 years, cannot speak too highly of teh place or its people.

UCM · 30/12/2006 16:59

But Hippmummy. If 10 people who come are settled hard workers and 1 is a serial killer, is it really right to impose that on people already living here?

Twinklemegan · 30/12/2006 16:59

I'm just going to hop on my hobby horse for a minute and then leave. They say we need the immigrants because there's a skills shortage in this country. WHY NOT TRAIN PEOPLE THEN???! Why not cut the ridiculous vicious circle of no experience no job, no job no experience??? Of course there's a skills shortage if employers can't be bothered to get off their fat arses to train people to do the job!!!

Rant over!

SnafuOutOfHiding · 30/12/2006 17:00

Oh UCM, I don't think you're doing your argument any favours.

Twinklemegan · 30/12/2006 17:01

BTW - I'm not anti-immigration per se. I just think the skills shortage is a very weak argument. Especially since so many immigrants come here for a better life and end up doing all the shitty jobs that no one else wants.

tissy · 30/12/2006 17:01

erm, because brits don't want that sort of job! It's not actually difficult to get trained in bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, whatever (most FE colleges run vocational courses). Most brits would rather have desk jobs that pay a lot for sitting on yer arse all day! (OK, a sweeping generalinsation, but YKWIM)

hippmummy · 30/12/2006 17:03

Sorry, but your foster care analogy makes no sense. You are missing the point that economic migrants are not coming here to be looked after.
I think you are confusing migrants with refugees (easily done if you read the Mail...)
A countries problems will not suddenly disappear because you close the door to immigrants.
Unless you are suggesting that all of this countries problems are caused by immigration...

Twinklemegan · 30/12/2006 17:04

It's extremely difficult if you're over the age of, say, 24. Believe me, I know.

UCM · 30/12/2006 17:04

Snafu, probably not. I am not as eloquent as many on here. I have read, taken in the views and tried soooo hard to change my attitude to this as I thought I was being harsh and horrid, but I am still not convinced that opening the borders to everyone is the way to go for this country. I know that social problems have got worse in this country whilst I have been growing up and I have no idea what it's due to or whether it's just a general no one gives a shit any more.

UCM · 30/12/2006 17:06

Oh and the brits that don't want those jobs. Why on earth would they when they can live off the state rather than do a manual job. One of those problems I mentioned that needs to be addressed IMO>

MKG · 30/12/2006 17:06

UCM putting up a closed sign will lead to more problems. Here in the US a closed sign means that people come in without papers.

Tinker · 30/12/2006 17:07

But the borders aren't open to everyone.

Original poster
friskyfox · 30/12/2006 17:07

Looks like its just you and me that agree UCM.

OP posts:
Tortington · 30/12/2006 17:07

who are the borders open to?

UCM · 30/12/2006 17:07

HM, my analogy was about someone, in this case an island, not being given any more problems to deal with until it gets a grip on it's own.

Original poster
friskyfox · 30/12/2006 17:08

The borders are open to A LOT.

OP posts:
UCM · 30/12/2006 17:09

If you want to come into this country you can if you really want to.

There was a programme on recently abuot a woman who collected fraudulent passports from every country in the EU alone.

There are no borders anymore.

SnafuOutOfHiding · 30/12/2006 17:10

It's just such an easy target though, isn't it? Schools are getting worse, blame immigration. NHS is underresourced, blame immigration. A friend of a freind got mugged on the tube, blame immigration. What a lazy way of thinking.

I'm not denying for a second that the UK has problems that it needs to get a handle on. But I'd be thrilled if someone could explain to me - with proper unbiased evidence, if you please - exactly what effect 'shutting the doors' would have. Unless of course, shutting the doors is actually code for 'send 'em all back where they came from'...??