Article

2005-05-25 Europe

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Posted by Anonymous5089 2005-05-25 08:46|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Immigration appears threatening on two levels: Economically, it increases competition for jobs; This is the conventional wisdom about immigration. However, it is not true about Europe. Historically, immigrants left home for better economic prospects and were prepared to work hard to get ahead. All the data I have seen bears this out and workforce participation rates are much higher amoungst immigrants than native populations. Which makes Europe a glaring exception. Immigrants come not to work, but to collect welfare benefits. The name of the game is to get as many dependants as possible to maximize your welfare take. Any work tha tis done is in the black economy. While governments are starting to recognize the problem, its hard to see how they can stop the trend short of kicking out the immigrants or cutting the welfare system.

Posted by phil_b 2005-05-25 16:54|| 2005-05-25 16:54|| Front Page Top

#2 I am far less optimistic on the demise of the EU if a couple of countries refuse to ratify the CONstitution. There is a tremendous bureaucracy in place that will not fade away. In fact,it has been issuing Directives on the assumption the CONstitution will eventually be ratified. They will continue to do so whether or not it is ratified.
Second,the idea that France or Britain or the Netherlands rejected the EU will be rejected by the EU Elites almost immediately. Already we see the excuses being readied-it's not the CONstitution,it's a vote on unpopular leaders,it's fear of Muslims,the voters don't understand the benefits of the EU(ie,they're stupid!). There will be some summit that will tidy up "unclear language" and then the NO countries will be given another chance to vote the right way. Quite probably,there will not be another referendum in France,the Govt. will simply approve it.
The EU is the living dead-it cannot be killed by mere NO votes. It's going to take some country withdrawing entirely from EU before it can be hurt.

Posted by Stephen 2005-05-25 17:15|| 2005-05-25 17:15|| Front Page Top

#3 It's going to take some country withdrawing entirely from EU before it can be hurt.
!

Posted by Shipman 2005-05-25 19:45|| 2005-05-25 19:45|| Front Page Top

17:28 Liverpool !!!
17:06 VOTE
16:49 DEMOCRAT
23:58 Minni Mullah
23:52 Sobiesky
23:50 Angie Schultz
23:45 trailing wife
23:42 Tom Dooley
23:37 trailing wife
23:30 Tom Dooley
23:26 Minni Mullah
23:25 Sobiesky
23:21 trailing wife
23:20 badanov
23:17 Phil Fraering
23:17 Minni Mullah
23:16 trailing wife
23:14 mojo
23:07 Anonymoose
23:07 mom
23:07 BH
23:05 trailing wife
23:05 Anonymoose
23:03 trailing wife