Our Island is to be invaded yet again.... (priest, elder)

[giant space amoeba]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

I have to settle for minimum wage because of immigrants, mainly the Polish who are more than happy to accept minimum wage and live like kings compared to how they were back home.

Doesnt that tell you something?

[darkpenguin]

Originally Posted by Atomic Amoeba

Doesnt that tell you something?

Yeah that instead of running they should be focusing on making something of thier own country instead of leeching off ours!
Aslum seekers also annoy me, women and children I get and can deal with but men claiming asylum from thier own countries should grow a bit of backbone and fight if thier country is so bad that they feel the need for a new one!

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

You've obviously not tried applying to factory jobs for the past year have you?
I have to settle for minimum wage because of immigrants, mainly the Polish who are more than happy to accept minimum wage and live like kings compared to how they were back home.
It's an absolute nightmare trying to find a job that pays more than the joke that is the minimum wage because of immigrants!

No, I haven't but Romanians that come to Britain are highly unlikely to be competing with you for such jobs. Almost everyone from Romania who I know in this country is either a doctor or is in software. I also know a few in construction. The sorts of people who will want such jobs (quite apart from the fact that Romanians cannot work in factory jobs in the UK) are much less likely to speak English and hence much more likely to go to work in one of the other Latin countries. 99.9% of the unskilled workers I know who have left Romania are either in Spain or Italy. Greece is pretty popular too.

Unlike you, I'm intimately familiar with the Romanian community in this country and it is, and remains, small. The Poles have indeed flooded into the country (and where I live at least, there's been a noticeable improvement in the community as a result) but this thread was about Romanians not Poles and the predicted 'invasion' hasn't materialised.

For goodness sake, I know what I'm talking about when I say the UK isn't even considered by most Romanians - my brother-in-law is a skilled plasterer, speaks fluent English and, obviously, has relatives here. He's not even interested in coming here and is going to France instead. Both my sisters-in-law are in Denmark. The vast majority of Romanians I do know here would rather they weren't here. And given the opportunity I would move back out there because the standard of living, if you have a decent wage, is so much higher, so I don't blame them.

James

[giant space amoeba]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

Yeah that instead of running they should be focusing on making something of thier own country instead of leeching off ours!
Aslum seekers also annoy me, women and children I get and can deal with but men claiming asylum from thier own countries should grow a bit of backbone and fight if thier country is so bad that they feel the need for a new one!

There is only so much fighting you can do, i agree that they need to be able to stand for themselves and in fact maybe our own country can help that in some ways, but that would still require out tax money.

Im sorry but leaching? They come here and work for minimum wage and even pay taxes and you call that leeching?

Why are the women and children different from the men? They have voices too.

However i still have no problem with ayslum to a point, because what i highlighted told me two things:

1 - That they live like kings on our minimum wage tells us how spoiled we and unappreciative we can be

2 - This highlights the problems they face in their own countries and why they sometimes feel they have to move.

[michel]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

You've obviously not tried applying to factory jobs for the past year have you?
I have to settle for minimum wage because of immigrants, mainly the Polish who are more than happy to accept minimum wage and live like kings compared to how they were back home.
It's an absolute nightmare trying to find a job that pays more than the joke that is the minimum wage because of immigrants!

That's a good point. I can see that that would be a problem. I know of a polish girl (whom I met at College) who had a degree (from a polish university) in economics, who was having to be happy with waitressing here. True, her English wasn't perfect - but I should imagine that it would take her some years before she wouldn't be rejected for a job for which she has qualifications.

Originally Posted by Atomic Amoeba

Perhaps, but could that be due to the health and sometimes irrisponsibility of the "natives"?

Chain smoking, obesity, more travelling in cars, pollution... etc.

Also the way funding is distriubuted within the NHS.


Housing shortage? Ive seen plenty of council houses knocked down up north and brownfeild sites left in place and there remains some empty houses. Left empty for years! Perhaps as they come to our country and work they contribute more taxes to help build again? (Not that i think this would happen, i dont think the taxes are distributed well anyway within our country).

Both good points. The national health is strapped for cash - as you say, because people don't take care of their health. But I am sure, there again, that there is waste - My wife worked at the local hospital (in the staffing administration department) and was - frankly - schoked at some of what she saw as "wasted" money spent on what she saw as unimportant things.

As for the housing shortage, you are perfectly right, again. What is even worse has been the increase in "Buy to let" - a phenomenon that people have taken up with gusto - though, when property prices fall (which they will), and interest rates go up, the owners will find themselves in murky water..

The number of empty potential accomodation in town centres - vacant buildings that were shops, before they were out-gunned by out of town supermarkets..is also a total waste.

To my mind, owners of empty properties should be made to pay council tax.

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

Ethnic minorities? You're really serious arn't you?
I really wish I could find a part of the country where I was a majority I really do!
'Ethnic minority' is a serious contradiction in terms when it comes to England!

Again, a valid point - years of unrestricted admission to economic migrants have caused this imbalance; other countries (such as the States and - particularly Australia) - have much to tech us in being more discriminate in those who we allow to settle here.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

Yeah that instead of running they should be focusing on making something of thier own country instead of leeching off ours!

They are taking advantage of economic opportunities that I'm sure many in our own country would (and do if you take a look at the levels claiming unemployment benefits) if the situation was reversed. Further, they are directly contributing to Britain's well being - they generate a lot of money. Lastly, there is no good reason, outside of the rhetoric of the BNP and National Front, why people from without our borders should not be granted the same opportunities as ourselves as far as possible.

Originally Posted by drakpenguin

Aslum seekers also annoy me, women and children I get and can deal with but men claiming asylum from thier own countries should grow a bit of backbone and fight if thier country is so bad that they feel the need for a new one!

I suspect you may be joking. If you aren't, however, I suggest that your view of people fleeing murder, torture, political or religious oppression in other parts of the world is a disgrace. It is quite simply racism.

[mcteethinator]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

Yeah that instead of running they should be focusing on making something of thier own country instead of leeching off ours!
Aslum seekers also annoy me, women and children I get and can deal with but men claiming asylum from thier own countries should grow a bit of backbone and fight if thier country is so bad that they feel the need for a new one!

Yes because if you lived in an undemocratic country you could totally change it right. it's not like it would be risking your life or anything...

[rhys]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

I have to settle for minimum wage because of immigrants, mainly the Polish who are more than happy to accept minimum wage and live like kings compared to how they were back home.

No - you have to settle for a minimum wage because Thatcher was allowed to destroy the unions and local democracy and because Blair and his chums decided to adopt tory policies, so that we have no political choice. Very few of these particular emigrants were here at the time. They move because they need better money, the way all our ancestors did, and the 'national' boundaries they cross are neither here nor there. If you want better money, learn that Unity is Strength. Here endeth the lesson.

[michel]

Originally Posted by rhys

No - you have to settle for a minimum wage because Thatcher was allowed to destroy the unions and local democracy and because Blair and his chums decided to adopt tory policies, so that we have no political choice. Very few of these particular emigrants were here at the time. They move because they need better money, the way all our ancestors did, and the 'national' boundaries they cross are neither here nor there. If you want better money, learn that Unity is Strength. Here endeth the lesson.

This thread is going slightly off-topic, but a salient point here is that since Polish builders have flocked over here for rich pickings, there is now a lack of them in Poland, and they are slowly returning to Poland where they are needed.

Besides, our dentist is Latvian, my wife's consultant at the hospital is from India, and one of the radiographers is Ejyptian........

Besides, Thatcher's plans for this country included the policy that all should be given the best opportunity to go into business for themselves, and that all should be encouraged to buy their own houses.

The fact that both of the above went wrong was because of human greed as usual, and inflation that was absurdly high. Now, under Labour (albeit that they have a blue tinge), those who save are actively dis-incouraged to do so because the return rate on Investments are barely above inflation............