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Gwindor's avatar

Thanks for this. Very interesting. It reinforces my belief that the 'populist tide' rhetoric in Europe is overblown. Nominally right-wing governments across the continent, including recently elected ones including parties with very strong rhetoric on immigration, have yet to make any dent in either illegal or legal numbers. And I don't think they will. The demographic imbalance (surging populations in the developing world, shrinking ones in Europe), plus the short-term economic incentives, plus ponzi-scheme welfare states, plus huge pressure from the judicial/academic/NGO complex, mean that any halt to the flows will be temporary.

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Keith's avatar

I must admit, the bit about feeling sorry for the woman who organised the anti-Ukrainian protest that nobody came to made me laugh. And the picture of her was even funnier/sadder. Imagine not only organising such a non-event but going ahead and talking into a microphone to an empty square! And then you see the individual in her coat, her shoes with her well-groomed ponytail. She schleppt that damn loud speaker all that way. Then ultimately the disappointment and embarrassment at being the only person there. Her cause might well have been uncharitable but even my hard heart goes out to her. Had she been a middle-aged man though I suspect I would have felt different.

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