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I just can't understand why anti-immigration policies are so very popular. I'm absolutely certain that this is what a proportion of brexshit-voters want -- the

I just can't understand why anti-immigration policies are so very popular. I'm absolutely certain that this is what a proportion of brexshit-voters want -- the cruel and degrading treatment of those who frankly better the country they come to work in. I just don't understand the reasons behind it and why governments, which privately acknowledge that immigration is good for the economy, remain so keen to be seen as tough on it in the eyes of the tabloid media.

extropy 5y ago
It's basic tribe psychology. At times of stress we seek out the enemy. And external imaginary enemy is always easier to accept than internal or god forbid a bad habit that we are all guilty of.
Veen 5y ago
Because what's good for the country's balance sheet and for businesses may not be good for certain segments of the population.
knorker 5y ago
Don't say "I can't understand". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chALQCm9VgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chALQCm9VgE > the cruel and degrading treatment I don't think this part has as wide support as the part where people see entire towns lose their jobs, while from their point of view foreigners are being let in left and right. Those foreigners didn't literally take their jobs, but someone's gaining jobs and someone's losing jobs. It may be good for the economy, but you know that saying "taxation without representation"? Yeah, the government is supposed to represent the voters. And from these local's point of view they are not being represented. It's taxation without representation. And some people get upset about that. These people didn't get elected to represent the economy as a whole or even humanity as a whole, but to represent the voting population and their interests. Don't say "I can't understand".
- Stevvo 5y ago
  "someone's gaining jobs and someone's losing jobs" More jobs = more jobs for everyone. If I immigrate to your country nobody looses a job; I get given a job that a native was unwilling or unable to take. My economic contribution to the society will also increase the total number of available jobs, meaning more jobs for everyone.
  - azalemeth 5y ago
    Indeed. It's my understanding that in economics wealth can be created (and destroyed!) and isn't necessarily a zero-sum game. The UK had huge problems with the combined effects of the pandemic and brexit in getting its vegetables harvested. The most convincing explanation I've had as to why migration ends up being hated so much come from The Simpsons, in which Mayer Quimby [sic] blames migrants for other political problems...
  - knorker 5y ago
    I'm not disagreeing with you. Well, except for the spelling of "lose".
- azalemeth 5y ago
  By "I can't understand" I mean, "please explain to me" -- I am sure that political scientists will write at great length about the reasons behind brexit and xenophobia. I am not a political scientist and I have recently accepted a job in a country other than that which I was born in. What is the pracie of the argument as to why saying "I can't understand" is a bad turn of phrase?
  - knorker 5y ago
    Some ways of phrasing things are conversation enders, not inviting anyone to talk at all. This is one of those. It's telling people there's no point in engaging, there's nowhere to go from here.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

extropy 5y ago

It's basic tribe psychology. At times of stress we seek out the enemy. And external imaginary enemy is always easier to accept than internal or god forbid a bad habit that we are all guilty of.

Veen 5y ago

Because what's good for the country's balance sheet and for businesses may not be good for certain segments of the population.

knorker 5y ago

Don't say "I can't understand". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chALQCm9VgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chALQCm9VgE > the cruel and degrading treatment I don't think this part has as wide support as the part where people see entire towns lose their jobs, while from their point of view foreigners are being let in left and right. Those foreigners didn't literally take their jobs, but someone's gaining jobs and someone's losing jobs. It may be good for the economy, but you know that saying "taxation without representation"? Yeah, the government is supposed to represent the voters. And from these local's point of view they are not being represented. It's taxation without representation. And some people get upset about that. These people didn't get elected to represent the economy as a whole or even humanity as a whole, but to represent the voting population and their interests. Don't say "I can't understand".

Stevvo 5y ago
"someone's gaining jobs and someone's losing jobs" More jobs = more jobs for everyone. If I immigrate to your country nobody looses a job; I get given a job that a native was unwilling or unable to take. My economic contribution to the society will also increase the total number of available jobs, meaning more jobs for everyone.
- azalemeth 5y ago
  Indeed. It's my understanding that in economics wealth can be created (and destroyed!) and isn't necessarily a zero-sum game. The UK had huge problems with the combined effects of the pandemic and brexit in getting its vegetables harvested. The most convincing explanation I've had as to why migration ends up being hated so much come from The Simpsons, in which Mayer Quimby [sic] blames migrants for other political problems...
- knorker 5y ago
  I'm not disagreeing with you. Well, except for the spelling of "lose".
azalemeth 5y ago
By "I can't understand" I mean, "please explain to me" -- I am sure that political scientists will write at great length about the reasons behind brexit and xenophobia. I am not a political scientist and I have recently accepted a job in a country other than that which I was born in. What is the pracie of the argument as to why saying "I can't understand" is a bad turn of phrase?
- knorker 5y ago
  Some ways of phrasing things are conversation enders, not inviting anyone to talk at all. This is one of those. It's telling people there's no point in engaging, there's nowhere to go from here.
deleted 5y ago
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