Aren't you just happy to be living here?

[Papadave]

Just read the news item below from the UK. Having been back there 2 weeks ago I noticed so many changes just in a few years. High incomes yes with a much higher cost of living and increases in direct taxation. Huge influx of EU citizens particularly from Eastern Europe setting up shops and the like and others leaching state benefits - the main attraction I'm sure.
The government's concerns and crackdowns over immigration and what's known as 'youth street corner culture' is I fear too little too late.
God, I'm just glad to be outta there.

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | Fear over skilled foreign workers Fear over skilled foreign workers


The report said the number of skilled immigrants was relatively low

Hostility towards immigrants could stop companies attracting highly-skilled workers from abroad, a report has said.
The Work Foundation said skilled migrants were needed in areas such as science, healthcare and technology.
Report author Katerina Rudiger said the UK needed to be seen as an open and attractive place for skilled employees.
Meanwhile, campaigners Migrationwatch say government figures show just 8% of 2.3 million immigrants in the past 16 years came from Eastern Europe.
'Limit work permits'
The Work Foundation said despite the high-profile immigration debate, the number of skilled workers moving to the UK was "relatively low".
It said official figures showed 167,000 highly-skilled workers came to the UK in 2005, but more were needed if Britain was to prosper in a global market.
But Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a cap should be introduced to limit the length of work permits to four years.
If we are going to say, 'You can come for four years, then you're out' why would anyone try to make a long-term future in UK industry?


Ian Brinkley
The Work Foundation

This, he said, would provide a "proper incentive" to British employers to train British workers.
"At the moment, if you can take a skilled worker off the shelf, you are going to do so, obviously, especially if your competitors are going to do so," Sir Andrew said.
"People come to this country because the pay is good, because the prospects are good, because it's a good place to work. It's perfectly reasonable that people should then move on."
But Ian Brinkley, from the Work Foundation, told Today the UK was competing against countries like the US, Canada and Australia, which have a reputation for being more welcoming to migrant workers.
"If we are going to say, 'You can come for four years, then you're out', why would anyone try to make a long-term future in the UK and in UK industry?" he said.
"If we ever give the impression that the UK is unwelcoming or xenophobic when it comes to these highly-skilled migrants, they will go elsewhere because they do have a choice.
"We need high-skill migrants to complement investment in our own workforce in order to keep these very dynamic, very important fast-growing industries going, to create jobs for everyone and keep the UK in its pole position in the service industries."
'Sweeping changes'
On the government immigration figures, Sir Andrew said supporters of immigration had tried to give the impression most immigrants came from the new EU member states.
"The government's own figures show that this is far from the case," he said.
The Australian style points-based system will cover six out of every 10 migrants wanting to come to the UK


UK Border Agency spokesman

Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green said the figures "blow a hole in the government's argument that the Conservative policy of an annual limit would not be effective".
Net immigration during the past 16 years was less than two million because 422,000 people emigrated from the UK.
The UK Border Agency said "sweeping changes" were being introduced to the immigration system.
"The Australian style points-based system will cover six out of every 10 migrants wanting to come to the UK," said a spokesman.
"Other measures include a single border force to guard our ports and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals."

[kenofthewest]

Well, the reasons you have given above, are partly why I'm heading to LOS next week! I'm in Plymouth, Devon. Been here 48 years and its home. However, now it has a fairly large percentage of other nationalities, which is nice, as I'm not rascist and I like the variety it brings to the shops and life in general. There are more problems with rascist attacks than there were a few years back, but not always involving English, as its often between Serbs and other Balkan immigrants.

The real problem is, that society in general is more unsafe. Its more violent, there are gangs of youths on the street and you avoid going into town after 11.00am, as there are drunks and yobs looking for trouble.

Also, the cost of living is going through the roof! The wages don't go up as fast as the inflation, so your living standard is going down year by year.

On top of all this, the Government is continually trying to tell us all how to live and our freedom is constantly being taken away. For example, if I smoke while standing at a bus stop, I can be arrested! If a yob throws a brick through my window and I go out and punch him, I'll get done for assault! But he will probably get a ASBO for anti social behaviour, probably caused by his poor childhood! Makes me sick!

So, I've had enough and I'm heading to LOS. It may not be paradise, but at least I can afford to live to a better standard than I can here! Plus, the scenery is a lot more interesting!

[kingwilly]

what was the question again?

[Mr Earl]

^did serving fish & chips in old newspaper lead to the downfall of the british empire?

[Happyman]

^did serving fish & chips in old newspaper lead to the downfall of the british empire?

Interesting theory but I hope that it goes no further than this forum.

If by chance it was leaked out to the public in the UK I'm certain that wihin a week Mr Udogo Masambula (an illegal immigrant awaiting deportment procedures) and Mr Ivan Knokabolokoff ( a wandering Latvian potato picker ) will have joined forces and obtained a multi-thousand pound grant to produce a report either proving or disproving this theory.

To provide them with a stable environment, whilst they carry out this work of national importance, naturally they will be allowed to bring 3 generations of their respective families into the country and given 14 council houses to live in .

All members will be entitled to social and health services and those between the ages of 16 - 65 will be invited to apply for unemployment benefit .

Cynical ??
Too near the truth to be funny ??

From OP
Report author Katerina Rudiger - see its been done before !!

[Papadave]

Inflow to UK 1,600+ daily, outflow 1,100- daily. Net inflow was 500 per day in 2006 (see below) and the trend is rising! Who's paying and gonna pay for all this? I worked and paid taxes there for 35+ years and now feel sorry for my (struggling) kids all legitimately working and paying taxes.



Following extract from UK National Statistics Office.
Link: National Statistics Online

Migration
UK Emigration reaches 400,000 in 2006


Total International Migration (TIM) to/from the UK 1997-2006
In 2006, an estimated 400,000 people emigrated from the UK for a year or more. This is the highest estimate of emigration since the method to calculate Total International Migration (TIM) was introduced in 1991 and up from 359,000 in 2005.

In the same period an estimated 591,000 migrants arrived to live in the UK for at least a year. Again, this was higher than all other years since 1991 but only slightly higher than the 2004 estimate of 586,000.

Net migration, the difference between immigration and emigration, was 191,000 in 2006. This is the equivalent to adding more than 500 people a day to the UK population.

[Moses9991]

I am delighted to be living here now.

My work is fruitful and my cause is just.

God Bless you all.

[caller]

Net migration, the difference between immigration and emigration, was 191,000 in 2006. This is the equivalent to adding more than 500 people a day to the UK population.

And that's just the one's they know about!

I'm confused about these stats as no-one monitors who leaves. I believe they use a questionnaire? If true, that's just too funny.

[melvbot]

The real problem is, that society in general is more unsafe. Its more violent, there are gangs of youths on the street and you avoid going into town after 11.00am, as there are drunks and yobs looking for trouble.

Many people would agree with that.
Im mid 30's now but I used to be one of those youths in a "gang" at night. There were 5 or 6 of us just mates from school but any more than 3 kids together and its a gang. I along with others carried knives on occasion. Difference was back then that we werent carrying knives for protection it was the "Rambo" era of the hunting knife with a compass in the top and a compartment for waterproof matches etc. The last thing anyone would have done is stabbed someone. We used them for making catapults, carving your name in a telegraph pole and lighting older kids fags because we had matches.
Plenty of times people would tell us to go somewhere else for making too much noise (usual kids stuff) while standing there with knife sheaths on our belts. No-one was scared of us. So whats changed? I look at the BBC website and every week without fail theres at least one or 2 teenagers been stabbed to death. Its either getting worse or getting reported more by the media.
Theres always been gangs of kids on street corners and drunken yobs in town centres whichever town but somethings changed with the kids. It used to be fists at 10 paces then either go home or youve just made a new mate, nowadays its wrong postcode and youre stabbed. Englands youth are killing each other over nothing.

[November Rain]

Sorry, I guess I'm missing something here. I just found the posting of that article to prove it's better here laughable.

How many of us have to jump through hoops just to live here? Many. Lose your job & you have to leave immediately (legally speaking). Don't have the requisite money? Forget the retirement or marriage visas then. Plus, visas have to be constantly renewed. How many foreigners are actually given residency here? A mere handful.

So, exactly how are we better off here? Apart from the fact that we're the problem immigrants who aren't really welcome, that is?

[Texpat]

Thailand only welcomes foreigners who can support themselves, and makes no social services available to them.

Western countries could learn some lessons from Thai immigration. (funny name --Thai immigration. How many immigrants are there really?)

[November Rain]

^ That's exactly the point I was (perhaps clumsily) trying to make, Tex.

It seemed an odd article to post to illustrate how life is better here. Although I think it an odd article to post, anyway. That's why I thought I was missing something. I actually agree with you that Western countries would do well to tighten their Immigration (also agree that there is virtually no real immigration for foreigners) rules so that they resemble Thai ones. Get their money but don't give them any entitlements - seems to work for here.
I just don't see how the Immigration laws for immigrants into the UK would make one feel elated about coming to Thailand to be a largely unwanted & completely unentitled 'immigrant' themselves.

[Papadave]

I'm happier here, that's for sure.
Financially, my hard earned shekels go a lot further. I enjoy a healthier lifestyle and good social life with my fellow farang and the Thais. Things could of course be lot better if the government relaxed and simplified immigration, residency and working procedures for the long established and self supporting 'jai dee farang' among us.
Many long-term farang have heard about but not experienced the changes going on back 'home'; my opinion is that Thailand remains the lesser evil.