Across the English Channel, the U.K.'s white cliffs beckon. On fine days, men and women with children in their arms and determination in their eyes can see the shoreline of what they believe will be a promised land as they attempt the perilous crossing clandestinely, ditching belongings to squeeze aboard flimsy inflatable boats that set to sea from northern France.
In a flash, on one recent crossing attempt, French police swooped in with knives, wading into the water and slashing the boat’s thin rubber — literally deflating the migrants’ hopes and dreams.
Some of the men put up dispirited resistance, trying to position themselves — in vain — between the boat and the officers’ blades. One splashed water at them, another hurled a shoe. Cries of “No! No!” rang out. A woman wailed.
It’s easy to see how someone might fall into an anti-immigrant pipeline with news like this.
Of course what’s missing is the first-hand insight in the immigrant life, which is far from comfortable.
Which makes me think what is driving those people to see specifically the UK as a promised land. Rather than any other country. Mass hysteria/cultural phenomenon? An extreme case of FOMO?
Blood and soil nationalism has nothing to do with economic reality, and everything to do with being born and raised into a serf-mindset. These kinds of people would be happier in abject poverty with a life expectancy of 40 so long as they never have to move or retrain, and their community is culturally homogenous.
Dumb labour tied to the land.
I imagine most of the immigrant trying to get to the uk speak English. And the uk is the only country/kingdom in Europe where English is the native language. But this is just speculation from my side.
Ireland is another European country that speaks English, but I’ll grant you that it’s not super relevant in this case considered it’s geographical position behind the UK
I think the point missed by a lot of people is that the immigrants are experiencing even worse lives and living conditions. Even after they immigrate.
Also, the whole “they took err jerbs” thing, really just spits in the face of economic theory and …idk… Reality? Jobs exist because of demand for them and that demand goes up as more people join your society. Jobs aren’t being "taken " from anyone. It’s not like there’s some imaginary pool of jobs that once they’re gone they’re gone.
Now, caveat, it’s more complex than that but this whole notion of jobs being “stolen” is just a false narrative used to stoke the fires of infighting amongst us proles while the rich laugh at the top.
I understand what you mean, but immigrants are not really the big spenders. Not at first anyways. So during initial phase, demand for output hardly moves, while demand for jobs go up, especially when many of the people work there to send the earned money back home, stalling the economy.
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