British Politics Thread.

[Alaric]

Well, past influxes of migrants and refugees generally just became part of the nation to my knowledge- got jobs, intermarried, settled down. Some of them went back when whatever they were hiding from stopped being an issue, but I think the majority of the refugees staying here in WWII stayed afterwards too.

So, my next question would be: do you have enuff jobs to support the influx? Isn't your country on the recession ropes as well? (sheer ignorance on your economy, truly no idea where you stand, all I know is our dollar SUCKS vs. gbp right now) If it isn't then hell yeah, if you can take em in do so, but if you cant it seems your just hoopin yourself for the future..

[CoffeeGrunt]

So, my next question would be: do you have enuff jobs to support the influx? Isn't your country on the recession ropes as well? (sheer ignorance on your economy, truly no idea where you stand, all I know is our dollar SUCKS vs. gbp right now) If it isn't then hell yeah, if you can take em in do so, but if you cant it seems your just hoopin yourself for the future..

Culturally, we've always benefitted from previous waves of immigration. Americans coming over during the War loosened up a pretty stiff culture. Indians and Pakistani people brought delicious food, as did Asian cultures. Chinese, Indian, Greek and Turkish food is considered to be proppa' pub food right next to the humble Chippy.

I dunno, I'd personally rather integrate a new segment into our society to see what they can bring to it, rather than clamp down because of a fear of change. Britain's culture is all about waves of immigrants evolving the social landscape. It started with the Beaker Folk or most likely, even earlier cultures, it continued with the Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans and so many more. Each time we've evolved and gained something.

[Kirsten]

So, my next question would be: do you have enuff jobs to support the influx? Isn't your country on the recession ropes as well? (sheer ignorance on your economy, truly no idea where you stand, all I know is our dollar SUCKS vs. gbp right now) If it isn't then hell yeah, if you can take em in do so, but if you cant it seems your just hoopin yourself for the future..

Britain would manage. and regardless of how tough it might be, it is an utter disgrace to sit back and do nothing when people are dying in droves. job concerns for a few thousand refugees is utterly petty and ludicrous compared to people drowning by the thousand and being treated like criminals.

[Filthy Casual]

All studies show that migration has a net benefit for the country, its always better to welcome people in.

Welfare systems also have a net benefit, although our more right wing papers try and paint claimants as feckless and workshy, most are short term claims between jobs and the fraud rate is under 2% (more than we can say for taxes, where avoidance and evasion cost at least 100 billion), the disabled or those unable to work are looked after. This is being cut by the ruling conservative party, under the banner of austerity to reduce a deficit but really an ideological move by wealthy men who'd rather we had a more american style system.

This type of welfare system contributes in that the next generation have more chance of social mobility and actually being contributing, tax paying members of society, and thus less likely to resort to crime, cutting those costs too. The american system, as far as I can make out, seems to be "give them as little as possible in the hope they die out and aren't a problem any more", right?

[Mr Mystery]

Britain would manage. and regardless of how tough it might be, it is an utter disgrace to sit back and do nothing when people are dying in droves. job concerns for a few thousand refugees is utterly petty and ludicrous compared to people drowning by the thousand and being treated like criminals.

This.

100% this.

Whilst America tosses itself off over a bellend with ridiculous hairdo claiming he'll build a wall to keep 'em out, and make another country pay for it....let's crack on and remind them how a civilised society responds to the plight of the vulnerable and the lost.

[Filthy Casual]

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door

[Alaric]

All studies show that migration has a net benefit for the country, its always better to welcome people in.

Welfare systems also have a net benefit, although our more right wing papers try and paint claimants as feckless and workshy, most are short term claims between jobs and the fraud rate is under 2% (more than we can say for taxes, where avoidance and evasion cost at least 100 billion), the disabled or those unable to work are looked after. This is being cut by the ruling conservative party, under the banner of austerity to reduce a deficit but really an ideological move by wealthy men who'd rather we had a more american style system.

This type of welfare system contributes in that the next generation have more chance of social mobility and actually being contributing, tax paying members of society, and thus less likely to resort to crime, cutting those costs too. The american system, as far as I can make out, seems to be "give them as little as possible in the hope they die out and aren't a problem any more", right?

ouch, truth hurts lol

fwiw I hope the problem is resolved without detriment to the countries helping. I wish the middle east could get its sh*t together, oldest cultures in the world and they just fight fight fight.

[Haighus]

Yeah, we are a country who's culture is essentially built on migrant waves- hell, our history is even taught in such terms: we learn about the Romans, Angle-Saxons, Vikings and Normans, simply because they are all large waves of migration that have heavily influenced our culture. Ironically, it seems to be the successful defenses of the nations soil that don't get taught about, except WWII with the Battle of Britain, but I think that is only because it is recent. Without immigration, English as a language would have genders for objects like tables. For that alone, migration is good in my book, and we've gained far more as a nation than that from it.

[40kGamer]

The American definition if welfare is very different from our more European Socialist understanding of it. :P

Basically, our current Jobseeker's system has people do work in order to earn their wage. This is normally stuff like working at a local Pound store, an equivalent to a dollar store, or things like that. On top of that, you get help writing a CV and are expected to send out applications for a certain number of jobs each week.

Some people do the bare minimum, take the handout and pray they never actually have to work. For most it's an interim thing between jobs. The difference is motivation, and let's be honest, the guys who have travelled across the Middle East and Europe to get here probably aren't lacking in motivation to build themselves a better life.

Interesting... your system sounds far better than ours. The US is so resistant to Socialist systems that it has created a weird semi-capitalist environment that punishes the poor. Although it seems the wealthy still run rampant in every system.

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Culturally, we've always benefitted from previous waves of immigration. Americans coming over during the War loosened up a pretty stiff culture. Indians and Pakistani people brought delicious food, as did Asian cultures. Chinese, Indian, Greek and Turkish food is considered to be proppa' pub food right next to the humble Chippy.

I dunno, I'd personally rather integrate a new segment into our society to see what they can bring to it, rather than clamp down because of a fear of change. Britain's culture is all about waves of immigrants evolving the social landscape. It started with the Beaker Folk or most likely, even earlier cultures, it continued with the Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans and so many more. Each time we've evolved and gained something.

I take care of hundreds of people through my business and some of the most successful and industrious are immigrants. I agree that there are a lot of benefits to sharing cultures.

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This type of welfare system contributes in that the next generation have more chance of social mobility and actually being contributing, tax paying members of society, and thus less likely to resort to crime, cutting those costs too. The american system, as far as I can make out, seems to be "give them as little as possible in the hope they die out and aren't a problem any more", right?

The American system is a disgrace. It strips people of their dignity and purpose and hopes to shuffle them off to a corner to be ignored. This is on top of the insane desire the country has to lock everyone poor in prison to die. The Land of the Free can be a cruel place if you lack wealth.

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Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door

My history is a bit rusty... was it the French that added this to the statue of Liberty or was it carved after it arrived in the states?

Either way it doesn't represent the way the country behaves at the present.

[CoffeeGrunt]

America's a great demonstration that building a Giant F*cking Fence with a small army defending it doesn't do anything to actually stop immigrants getting through, actually. These people are desperate as all-hell to get somewhere better.