the witch hunt has begun

The clamour started a few months ago, and it has been fuelled by a government and press that needs new blood. The immigration bandwagon is a great one - the only losers could be the immigrants themselves, who will be beaten up on the drunk, drugged and hooded dark streets of England.

Recently, the parliament joined the bandwagon, with a ridiculous attempt at waving aside all economic benefits of immigration. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeconaf/82/8211.htm#a32

So, a listing of costs, none of benefits. One sided decision making. Openly acknowledged data free policy making. And a beautiful play on words that makes each line defensible in an argument and debate.

Take this one:
"Vacancies are, to a certain extent, a sign of a healthy labour market and economy. They cannot be a good reason for encouraging large-scale labour immigration "

Of course adding the terms - 'to a certain extent' and 'large scale' make a stupid argument a defensible one.

Why am I surprised at this? Did I expect intelligence of politicians and bureaucrats? Did I expect fair play from the English? How very naive..

I take small consolation from the fact that I am smart enough to admire the artistry in this document and the game that is being played. I take sadistic pleasure in the fact that very few of those this report defends can actually understand this game.

While I acknowledge that economic immigration too brings its own problems, and non economic immigration is always a strain on a system, I have to ask this - when you sent your youth out 400 years ago as emigrants and colonisers, were you not dumping the same issues on to them.

I also have to ask - If you thought you organised entire swathes of the world a better place and left them better than you found it - can you not find a way to count and organise a few millions?

If you thought the rich immigrants (the non doms) were worth reversing policy for, why not the poor?

After all, who will pick your vegetables, nanny your babies, clean your aged parents and pay your pensions bill?