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Immigration is still out of control and now we are warned that with the growing number of immigrants, the increased demand for services (benefits) to which they are entitled will cause local taxes (council tax) to rise for those that work and pay their tax bills.
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Of course the fact that at a national level, immigrants on average bring in more tax than is spent supporting them, is conventiently left out of these reports. As is the fact that we passed a variety of laws preventing Asylum Seekers from engaging in paying (and tax paying) work until they get status. We'll let em work for charities of course.
The whole thing has been whipped up out of all proportion. The media loves a good scandal and nothing gets the great british public as excited as a good solid reason, to noisily hate outsiders. Politicians of either side of the divide, know this and pander to it.
Three days ago I was delivering leaflets in my ward (advertising a streetsurgery) and I was stopped by a lady in her mid to late 70s. She informed me that she wouldn't be voting labour any more cause we are letting in too many foreigners.
"Its not right," she said, "People gettin their bags nicked by bloody kosovans."
"Oh," says I, "That's awful, did you have your bag stolen then?"
A pause...."No, not me, but I know people who have"
another pause, "an the police told us. They said. there's a gang of em snatchin handbags in Town. Kosovans."
"Oh, that really bad, "I said, "and they're definaterly Kosovan?"
"An anyways, there's too many of em. I went into town and I could hear 'em jabberin away. It gets to where you feel like you're the only one speakin english."
" Really?" I said, "Now that surprises me. I mean, I go in town qute a lot and, yeah I've heard a few people speakin in some Eastern Eurpoean language but only ever a few. Most people are usually speakin English. Maybe I'm goin in at the wrong times."
"And there's always trouble. Them lot down parkinson lane. (Note: we have now moved on from Kosovans to the resident Pakistani and Afghan community) Always avin riots and causin trouble. All that anti-social behaviour"
I nod sympathetically and say yes, it is a bit of a worry, but then again we have quite a few problems with the youngsters in this area too. Anti social behaviour and gang violence.
"There's a gang down by that shop. I've seen them just hangin about intimidating older people as they go in. Maybe it's a lack of respect amongst younger people of both our communities?"
"Yeah well," She gets to the nub of her argument, "I don't like em. There's too many. I'm not racist, I just don't like em and thats that."
At this point I figured I had wasted enough time exploring the nature of racism and politely made my exit, giving her my card and telling her if she had any problems or issues to raise with the council, just give me a call.
What i find interesting about this is : there was a time that woman's view would have been called racist. Any politician pandering to the 'I just don't like 'em' argument, would have been accused of playing the race card.
Now, we are told by every one in politics, government and the media thatg this woman's opinion should be heard. That's fine, but it seems that now her opinion is the only one that really matters when it comes to immigration.The whole political spectrum is falling over itself to reassure that woman that it isn't racist to dislike an entire people. That it's normal, to be expected and therefore right to view newcomers with mistrust and dislike.