Socialism and communism are basically founded on the brilliant idea that everyone should be equally poor.
BNP - Could it really happen? Page 20
The famous story of Marx and Engels on a train.
Engels
Come the revoloution we'll all travel 3rd class together!
Marx
No my friend we'll all be firstclass/
Of course in reality the train would be cancelled in either case due to shortage of funds and industrial disputes.
How did we get onto socialism anyway?
I'm no socialist but I do believe in democrasy with social welfare.
Quote: sootyj @ September 7 2009, 12:18 AM BSTGood thing our great grandparents got in early? That said I think we should discourage immigration. Some poor sap coming all the way from China or Afghanistan and getting into debt. Only to find no benefits or housing and not enough to live on from working is a profound failure. Our government should finally take some responsibility and sell the message that there are no streets of gold in the UK.
Technically, it's the people traffickers from that country who are telling everyone the UK is paved with gold. It doesn't help when there are schools in Pakistan set up to teach people how to fill in benefit forms when they reach the UK. Similarly, when a University in Leeds run by Pakistanis, is selling student visas on the open market, it does make our current system seem a bit of a joke.
This isn't just tabloid hysterics, dis am da troof, unfortunately.
Yes which is why we should be making an effort to tell people the truth. The UK system is horribly uneven, turn up at Lunar House as a genuine assylum seeker and expect to be in Yarlswood quick smart.
Also if we get 1000s of Rumanian Gypsy refugees. WHy the hell don't we say to RUmania no more money, unless you stop beating your gypsies and encouraging them over here?
One thing that needs facing up to on the issue of immigration is that we're simply not a major world power now. We're a second rate economy and a small island with few natural resources (though industrious). We can't keep on running our immigration system with the air of an Empire desirous to make amends for our mistakes. This country has paid its dues to former colonies and now the rest of the world and ourselves have to realise that it's time to concentrate on our domestic affairs. Problem is that on the right we have people thinking we're still the envy of the world and on the left we have people who feel that we continue to owe the world something for nothing.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 12:40 AM BSTOne thing that needs facing up to on the issue of immigration is that we're simply not a major world power now. We're a second rate economy and a small island with few natural resources (though industrious). We can't keep on running our immigration system with the air of an Empire desirous to make amends for our mistakes. This country has paid its dues to former colonies and now the rest of the world and ourselves have to realise that it's time to concentrate on our domestic affairs. Problem is that on the right we have people thinking we're still the envy of the world and on the left we have people who feel that we continue to owe the world something for nothing.
Or move to Norfolk!
Quote: Marc P @ September 7 2009, 12:51 AM BSTOr move to Norfolk!
And drown when it eventually floods?
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 12:58 AM BSTAnd drown when it eventually floods?
Not necessarily, a lot of them have webbed hands and toes.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 12:40 AM BSTProblem is that on the right we have people thinking we're still the envy of the world and on the left we have people who feel that we continue to owe the world something for nothing.
Problem is that we have people who feel we continue to have a left and a right.
Quote: Badge @ September 7 2009, 1:00 AM BSTProblem is that we have people who feel we continue to have a left and a right.
I feel we continue to have a left and a right. Makes putting on shoes so much easier.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 1:03 AM BSTI feel we continue to have a left and a right. Makes putting on shoes so much easier.
Explains why I've started walking funny.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 7 2009, 12:09 AM BSTThe simple fact is that this country does not have the infrastructure or economic reserves to sustain the current rates of net immigration (without a serious long-term decline in living standards). This is a debate that all mainstream parties will have to have at some point. Better that it is done by them now with open debate and understanding (yet with firmness and willingness to take tough decisions) than leaving it to become the USP of a far-right movement.
Quote: sootyj @ September 7 2009, 12:18 AM BSTGood thing our great grandparents got in early?
Quite.
I think there still are old right-wingers and old left-wingers around. Old left-wingers are usually hilarious, some of them still thinking the USSR was essentially a great idea. As far as I can see, the more extreme someone's political position, the less inclined they are to get on and do some bloody work.