Immigration

[Jebus]

Immigration has become a hot issue in my native country in Sweden as the third largest political party runs on an anti-immigration platform. Unfortunately those who support this party are often branded as racists.

Here are my opinions on the issue: I think borders should be open and people should be allowed to go anywhere they want in the world. However, as a Swedish Citizen I wouldn't want my tax money spent on this as I believe this money could have a much more positive impact elsewhere. In other words, I think anyone who wants should be able to move to Sweden. However, until they contribute to the economy they should pay for their own room, board, health care and education. The same amount of funding would save so many more lives if governments, like the Swedish one, decided to instead help impoverished Africans with mosquito nets, vaccinations, clean water and food.

[miniboes]

Immigration has become a hot issue in my native country in Sweden as the third largest political party runs on an anti-immigration platform.

We have one of those too!

Unfortunately those who support this party are often branded as racists.

Don't know about Sweden, but in NL the people in the party and most of their supporters are pretty much racist.

The same amount of funding would save so many more lives if governments, like the Swedish one, decided to instead help impoverished Africans with mosquito nets, vaccinations, clean water and food.

I fear that if we do not support immigrants they might end up just like the impoverished Africans. This might not often be the case with economic immigrants, but it is very plausible in the case of political migrants and refugees.

In other words, I think anyone who wants should be able to move to Sweden. However, until they contribute to the economy they should pay for their own room, board, health care and education.

I don't think most can though. It is very rare for immigrants outside of the western world come with much money. I do think we should mandate them to actively search for a job, but if they cannot they aren't accountable.

I would also not vote for an anti-immigration party even if I agreed to their policies, as there are more pressing issues my vote could go to (i.e. climate change and animal exploitation).

[Volenta]

Well, I personally don't think it's wrong to put certain limits on immigration. But the thing is, most people that talk about immigration quite openly without any shame, are the ones that want to fully close the borders and do so out of somewhat xenophobic and culture preservative reasons. It's really hard to have an honest discussion about creating certain restrictions on immigration and the problems of the current immigration policies.

I think it mostly comes down to a question about multiculturalism. And my personal opinion on that is that it isn't wise to go as quickly as it currently goes, because you aren't giving enough time to it to let people of both sides adapt to it. It's not because I can't adapt to it myself (I'm pretty open minded regarding different cultures), but you can see other people struggling with it, which is leading to polarization. If there is something we should try to avoid, it is this polarization. I think integration is important, but I am not a proponent of assimilation—which sometimes get confused with integration because of right-wing populism. People should be able to live side-by-side comfortably, not separated from each other having their own territories—which happens much too often.

However, until they contribute to the economy they should pay for their own room, board, health care and education.

And how are they supposed to pay for all these things without a job (a.k.a. not contributing to the economy)?

I'm more a proponent of letting people in that you know to be competent enough to benefit the economy/society, which can be measured through education level for example. We should try to avoid creating second class citizens. It doesn't seem right to me to ascribe too much different rights to people because of different origin (some are pretty much inevitable, to somewhat decrease the attractiveness of immigration). It is a hard, and pretty complex question.