Blogs > BIG GOVERNMENT DECREASES TOLERANCE

Sep 20, 2010

BIG GOVERNMENT DECREASES TOLERANCE



Much of the American famous acceptance of immigrants has been the result of small government. After all, immigrants were expected to stand on their on two feet rather than on the feet of American citizens. Much of the European reluctance to accept immigrants has to do with their ever growing safety net. For the bigger the government, the higher the taxes. The worse the economy the less are those taxes tolerated. That means governmental needs to make choices. As immigrants are believed not only to contribute less to the economic pie but also stranger, there is less willingness to share with them the decreasing pie. Hence, the rise of anti-immigration parties in Socialist Europe including, believe it or not, Sweden. On Sunday, Sweden Democrats are about to join parliament. Watch their ad. It cannot be blunter:

A Harris poll found

Majorities in Britain and Spain, and large minorities in the U.S., France, Italy , and Germany think that immigration has a bad impact on the economy;

Majorities in the U.S., Britain, Italy, and Spain believe that immigration makes it harder to find a new job, as do 45% in France and 46% in Germany;

While most people who are working do not believe that immigration has had any effect on their pay, those who think they are paid less greatly outnumber those who say they are paid more;

Only minorities, between 13% in France and 40% in Italy, believe that immigration has made it more affordable to hire services such as cleaners, builders or plumbers;

Majorities in the U.S., Britain, France and Spain and over 40% in Italy and Germany believe that immigration makes the level of health care services worse; and,

Majorities in the U.S., Britain and Germany believe that immigration has made public education worse, as do over 40% in France, Italy and Spain.

Overall, many people in all six countries believe that the current level of immigration makes their countries worse places to live in , varying from 64% in Britain, 60% in Spain, and 57% in Italy to 49% in the U.S., 44% in Germany, and 43% in France.

He can add the rise of anti-immigrant parties to the list. Sweden is the latest

The entry into parliament of the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, who won almost 6 percent of the vote, was a new turn for politics in Sweden, traditionally one of the most open countries in Europe for asylum seekers and refugees.

But it also highlighted a real concern among some voters, which observers say established parties completely failed to address in the run up to the election, about integration and cultural clashes.



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