I am afraid TFC and myself rather highjacked the CHP thread on this subject, so have started a proper one.

Will cut and paste as necessary from CHP, where our opposing stances are self-apparent

Yep. Worked there Cynic.
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, RAK, Kuwait, Bahrain and more. Ringside seat for the 911 response and all that.
I know exactly what the conditions are like. I had a friend arrested in RAK for chewing gum. Not that this is against the law, but during Ramadan the police and magistrates found it offensive to their religion.
appeal??? Not a chance.
I joined a darts team where there was an Egyptian and a Bengali who both worked for the same department of government doing the same job. The Egyptian (Basil) was paid 8 times the salary received by the Bengali!! Racist? Absolutely. Against the law?? No way.
I could give many more examples of how the indiginous were treat much better than the immigrants in UAE, but I would bore you. The point is, you accepted it for what it was. You did not bang on the door of Sheik Zayeds palace demanding fair treatment and Sundays off to practice your religion.
In essence, it was the worst racism I have ever seen, it was completely legal and in the open yet the country had only a 10% indiginous population and almost no racial problems or tensions. Strange.
Alan

personally, would rather live in a faulty democracy than even under a benevolent dictatorship, whose benevolence could be withdrawn at a moment's notice.

and to return to the original question ..... yes, in my not at all humble opinion, immigration has an overall beneficial influence on the host nation, notwithstanding the small number of bad apples that will inevitably be included in the mix.

though the UK's virtual open-door policy currently in operation is a disaster (an overstatement), in the fullness of time, which i too hope will not be too far away, some sort of common sense and generally acceptable policy will be implemented..... no doubt the the uber-liberals will jump up and down in horror and the mindlessly prejudiced will rail that it is still far too open, but one can live in hope that the wishes of the thinking majority will prevail.

Al
retv

Now we have someone saying that all British people who emmigrate to Spain are gangsters or Chav's.

Harrycat,

There is a big difference between the British retiring abroad and the asylum seekers & economic migrants in this country

well it wasn't christened the Costa del Crime for nothing ... lol!

' J '

How is that English Rose Lottie, these days ? ....... LOL Ha, Ha,

was rather wondering when you would bring that little gem up ? LOL Seriously. SO sssssssssssh or you will blow my argument out of the sky ,Now play the white man .......@+ J ....Did u see the Utd match ? Enjoyed it (except the result). But rather be in Milans position in returning the san siro . That Carrick is useless.What Fergie saw in him i dont know .......

Really, aldwickk? So you would be quite happy to see a large number of elderly immigrants from all of the british colonies retiring to the U.K., contributing nothing to our economy in the way of taxes, but burdening the health service yet further with the ailments which are normal with the onset of old age??? Which is exactly what the british are doing in other countries, except for one detail. Instead of buying health insurance abroad & contributing to their economies, they are returning to the U.K. for free treatment!
Also, I did not say that all people who emmigrate to Spain are gangsters (though I have a feeling you know that & are just stirring things up :o)). Someone earlier said that local tradesmen in his area are packing up & going abroad to Benidorm & Fuengirola. Of all the beautiful, cheap & friendly places to emmigrate to on the planet, who in their right mind would pick the Costa Brava? Answer: Those people who want to go & live in the sun, but predominately who want to live in an english community.

O/T

who gives as shite about Carrick when you have Ronnie and Runney up front.

The big give away was the last 20 minutes.

Both Scholes and Runney had run themselves into the ground and looked poor on the night.

All, of a sudden the Italians over ageing lungs and legs went.

It was a sure give away.

Both Runney and Scholes dominated.

Next time.... the Italians will need more puff in defence, I dont believe they have.

M UTD versus ..............

Dont want to upset anyone, well bar the Italians, Kaka (fine player) and all.

Looks like an all English Final on the cards.

V Liverpool ......G/f,,,,,,,, i dont disagree that both Ronaldo and Rooney are rare talents . My point is what on earth is Fergie doing playing such dross as Carrick in the same side /... cant disagree Milan legs went in the last 20 mins or so ,,Similar to the final of two years ago . Seedorf must be about 35 now ,,,but have they never heard of subs injecting some vigour back into midfield. ........................

Good point TFC but the subs are even older than the lads on the park.

Itl be tough for UTD away though.

I expect them to just slither through, the great Italian defenders of the last decade wont give up without a fight and UTD need to stop silly goals like the second one.

Having said that RENALDO does really rule the World at the moment, but hes still a long way off the great late Bestie and thats a fact.

Just thought.

Although I mentioned this was O/T its not really.

Have the great imported footballers like Henry, Renaldo and that big fat lad at Chelsea (the forward) enriched our lifes etc, etc.?????????.

Come on Cynic first one for you in the morning and Ive given you a great opening here, just like a Ballack through ball (when hes not injured or shagging)???.

Harrycat,

You were talking about Brit's retiring to Spain,
The Brit's who retire to Spain have paid into the NHS via 40 years of N I contributions and are more entiteled then anybody else for free treatment

Spot on aldwickk.

If thats correct i'm about to defect to the murky underworld of the costa's, Where my kids will be donned in burburries finest.

Although the costa del crime would not be my choice of retirement the English pats have probably also contributed more to the Spanish coffers than the indigenous population .From turning scrubland into beautiful villas thearby stimulating the entire building industry from bricklayers, joiners, plumbers to surveyors and architects Also pumping money into the local eateries/ bars and entertainment sector .Plus the retail sector and provision of jobs for locals - the list is endless And thats merely the tip of the iceburg ....Basically responsible for dragging Spain into the 21st century ,,,,,,,,and Spain is grateful ,,,,,,,,,,And as aldwick points out this is after 40 years of restrictive progressive taxation in the UK ...................Without them it would be no more than a banana republic growing oranges and sugar beet for the rest of Europe ....Ever been to Barcalona ?? Try your very best to avoid it ./,,,...lts a shithole with more junkies and thieves per square metre than anywhere in Europe....Rather like Bradford, Leeds and Liverpool and London ---unfortunately ....@+ J

GF. check out KMR. I know your into them.

up 3.5 last time i looked ...But who isnt into them >? lol

I sold out @49.08