Comments on: Immigration in Europe http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/general/immigration-in-europe.html Blog of an entrepreneur Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:31:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Easy http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/general/immigration-in-europe.html#comment-661 Easy Fri, 21 Jul 2006 06:39:19 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/en/?p=297#comment-661 Martin, There is no need to accomodate immigrants instead of native nationalities. There is just a need to have more children in Europe, and have politics which suport having more children. Martin,

There is no need to accomodate immigrants instead of native nationalities.

There is just a need to have more children in Europe, and have politics which suport having more children.

]]> By: J Feka http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/general/immigration-in-europe.html#comment-660 J Feka Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:32:01 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/en/?p=297#comment-660 As with many of your blog posts you have raised some interesting issues. As fellow ex-pat, I agree that there are many prejudices concerning immigrants, some of which are advantageous. For example, I've found that "gringos" in Chile are considered to be different and this allows me to do things different from others without anyone raising their eyebrows. In fact, I had an amusing confrontation in my early days of being in business in which I pulled out of a deal in which the other party was attempting to shortchange me. He (a native Chilean), obviously intending to insult me, accused me of becomming "very Chilean" in my actions. (If I'm doing business in Chile, what could be wrong with acting like a Chilean?) As with many of your blog posts you have raised some interesting issues.

As fellow ex-pat, I agree that there are many prejudices concerning immigrants, some of which are advantageous. For example, I’ve found that “gringos” in Chile are considered to be different and this allows me to do things different from others without anyone raising their eyebrows.

In fact, I had an amusing confrontation in my early days of being in business in which I pulled out of a deal in which the other party was attempting to shortchange me. He (a native Chilean), obviously intending to insult me, accused me of becomming “very Chilean” in my actions. (If I’m doing business in Chile, what could be wrong with acting like a Chilean?)

]]> By: Pete http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/general/immigration-in-europe.html#comment-659 Pete Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:16:38 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/en/?p=297#comment-659 I agree. I'm an Icelandic born, British expatriate living in Spain. To begin with, I found it very dificult to integrate with society here, eventualy I gave up and decided to become a member of the expat minority (majority?) community on the Costa del Sol. Since then, I've come to realise that the only way to succeed in business, outside that community of 'foreigners', is to become a Spaniard. I love the Spanish, their culture and the laid-back way of life here in the south. I do have the right to vote and I exercise it. But it saddens me greatly that it can do nothing today, to stop the deaths of hundreds of African immigrants in the waters of Straits of Gibraltar, off Canairies and on the fences at Ceuta and Melilla. Why can't we use our resources to: 1. Make their home countries safer, more prosperous places to live in? And 2. Welcome those who are looking for a better life, a life we take for granted? I agree. I’m an Icelandic born, British expatriate living in Spain. To begin with, I found it very dificult to integrate with society here, eventualy I gave up and decided to become a member of the expat minority (majority?) community on the Costa del Sol. Since then, I’ve come to realise that the only way to succeed in business, outside that community of ‘foreigners’, is to become a Spaniard. I love the Spanish, their culture and the laid-back way of life here in the south.

I do have the right to vote and I exercise it. But it saddens me greatly that it can do nothing today, to stop the deaths of hundreds of African immigrants in the waters of Straits of Gibraltar, off Canairies and on the fences at Ceuta and Melilla. Why can’t we use our resources to: 1. Make their home countries safer, more prosperous places to live in? And 2. Welcome those who are looking for a better life, a life we take for granted?

]]> By: Thomas Crampton http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/general/immigration-in-europe.html#comment-658 Thomas Crampton Tue, 25 Apr 2006 08:55:31 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/en/?p=297#comment-658 Martin, Interesting point giving the vote to immigrants in order to get them "invested" in society. Conversely, I find it amazing how expatriates often get excluded from their home nation's politics. This is especially stark with the United States, where US citizens pay taxes on worldwide earnings no matter where they live, but do not have any representative in Congress. Ironically, "Taxation without representation" was one of the reasons behind the American revolution. The French do have some sort of overseas representative system in the Assemblee Nationale, but I am not totally clear on its workings. Martin,

Interesting point giving the vote to immigrants in order to get them “invested” in society.

Conversely, I find it amazing how expatriates often get excluded from their home nation’s politics.

This is especially stark with the United States, where US citizens pay taxes on worldwide earnings no matter where they live, but do not have any representative in Congress. Ironically, “Taxation without representation” was one of the reasons behind the American revolution.

The French do have some sort of overseas representative system in the Assemblee Nationale, but I am not totally clear on its workings.

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