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.

  • LePoisson@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I live in the UK and see nothing of this promised land, on the contrary my life is quite shitty, I’m barely making the ends meet

    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.

    • REDACTED@infosec.pub
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      14 hours ago

      Jobs exist because of demand

      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.