Zampa said:
Thats a fair and well reasoned arguement..
Of course not every one of the asylum seekers are crooks on the run..I hope I didnt come across as impliing that, but even the government are finally waking up to the fact the it getting out of control now...they could lose the next election on the strength of their open house policy...
But I ask the question...why if they are so desperate just to make a beter life for themselves travel so far...they could stop at greece...Italy..Spain Austria..France, Germany etc...but no...they come to the UK..
Is it because the word is that we are a soft touch?
Thats what peeves me...the fact that they are abusing our attitude to genuine asylum seekers.
I appreciate a genuine concern, and I agree that all of the developed countries, especially our partners in the EU, should share what some see as the burden of asylum seekers, but this country takes in less asylum seekers than many others, see:
http://www.oxfamgb.org/ukpp/safe/myths1.htm
Maybe some might see this country as a soft touch, others might respect this country above all others and wish to be a part of that and contribute a great deal.
Unfortunately, much of the media wish to paint a picture in a certain way, which mainly goes towards forming the basis of the majority's distorted views regarding asylum.
The major problems are those of illegal immigrants, not asylum seekers, especially the criminal elements. If only this government and others before and in the future would have or could get to grips with this we would have far less problems. The present government are not addressing the important issues, but persist in diverting valuable resources to reducing asylum seeker levels at the expense of the illegal immigrants issue.
The benefits system also needs a major overhaul in this country to reduce bogus claims of asylums, immigrants and the indigenous population.
Unfortunatley, all these issues are on such a large scale, it would take people of vision and the wholesale support of many to formulate and implement policies that would work. All too often bureaucracy is a stumbling block to resolving them.
Global events also affect us as a country with regards to asylum, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Zimbabwe...if we help to resolve these problem areas we would not have so many applicants. The lack of political will or incompetence on the part of some Western powers has contributed greatly to our present predicament.
Most immigrants, if they can't find work or claim benefits will probably go back to their own countries themselves anyway. If the proper workable systems were in place the problems would be reduced.
Sadly, some wish to seize upon the issue of asylum/immigration because of their xenophobic views and not address the issue fairly.
So, I hope a balanced approach is taken, yet many want to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Zampa, I was hoping you'd answer a simple question....do you appreciate the need for immigration to this country at all?
unless like you said , we are a soft touch.
