Alan, what surprises me is that you seemingly are not learning much from the disaster in France, which has been created by importing too many people from limited countries.

The AFR had an interesting article in its Aug18-19 edition, entitled "When Two Frances Go to War. Cities surrounded by ghettos full of unemployed North Africans. Regular riots. No go zones, where
cars, taxis, doctors and bus drivers are afraid to go. etc.

Australia has to be very careful to not land up with the same mess that now exists in France, in a few decades. Anyhow, if you can somehow get hold of the article, its worth a read.

Mind you, the French could hardly be called compassionate. Right now they are even turfing out and sending home, a few thousand gypsies.

Alan,
Why can't you just accept your mistake, withdraw the appalling slur, and move on.

Your senario might have been hypothetical but that doesn't negate the slur it contained.

Being stubborn, ducking and weaving, and refusing to accept your responsibility is exactly what that wretched Gillard does.

Why don't you blame the 'whites' for their situation. Gillard would do that too.

Your second hypothetical just could never have happened. Just totally unrealistic. Academicland stuff.

Hello again. I’m back. Thanks for the questions.

@Yabby: Interesting re Asians and Mexicans. Pretty much agree. Again a bit off topic.

Not sure “the disaster in France” is as disastrous as you think. When were you here last, Yabby?

It’s certainly not true this was "created by importing too many people from limited countries”. Many factors interact. That’s not a major one really.

“Regular riots”, Yabby? There was one in Amiens last week. Fairly complex causes. When was the one before?

@SPQR: You seem not to be distinguishing between migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, irregular maritime arrivals and illegal immigrants. Would this be right, SPQR? These are all distinct categories in law and in morality. No?

If you could check recent posts and clarify your categories, then please make a point or pose a question again.

@Chris Lewis: “Australia has and still does quite a good job by world standards. That is if we take accoutn of all the policies that involve foreigners, trade, immigration and so on.”

Yes, perhaps, Chris. But it depends what “and so on” includes, doesn’t it? Do we include population density, mass of unused arable land, unemployment levels, job participation rates, demand for labour from abroad, overall economic wellbeing, past success with integration, other?

Different variables considered yield different assessments of generosity.

Re: “i do not want large groups of people from one or a few troubled naitons congregating in certain suburbs.”

Well, asylum seekers are from troubled nations by definition, pretty much. Where they are settled and in what numbers is a challenge for the receiving country. The Houston report favours a return of something like the Community Refugee Support Scheme abandoned in the late 1990s. Used to work pretty well.

@imajulianutter: You can relax, Keith. No, really! There was no “appalling slur”. There wasn’t a “moderately offensive slur” or even a “happy slur”.

Look, tell you what, Keith: If you know any Zimbabwean or Afghani settlers hyperventillating over this, put them in touch here and I will explain “Hypothetical Situation” carefully to them. I will try not to use big words.

Cheers, AA

*When were you here last, Yabby?*

Ah Alan, but I am there every day. Courtesy of CNN, BBC, Reuters,
The Economist and every other news network. Just because you live
in some quaint, rich part of France, does not mean that its like that
in other parts.

Civil unrest is constant in France, due to these racial tensions, but from memory, they were rioting in Grenoble, burning cars etc, in
2010. Then in 2005 they burned thousands of cars, a couple of thousands rioters arrested, a state of emergency as sections of Paris
burned. Marie Le Penn would not be so popular, if all was sweet.

*Interesting re Asians and Mexicans. Pretty much agree. Again a bit off topic*

Oh its not off topic at all. Economic refugees claiming asylum under an out of date Convention, is part of the core of this debate.Those
hordes from Africa, seeking a better life in Europe, are very much
part of your present problems in Spain, Greece, Italy and elsewhere.

@Alan,

<< You seem not to be distinguishing between migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, irregular maritime arrivals and illegal immigrants. Would this be right, SPQR? These are all distinct categories in law and in morality. No?>>

For your edification:

The correct term for anyone who bribes and bullies and barges their way to our shores is “illegal immigrant”.

“Irregular maritime arrivals” is merely a weasel term concocted by the soft left in an endeavour to cover their own naivety & impotence.

“Asylum seek(ing)” is the pretext that the illegals use to gain entry (if we were allowing in red heads they would all be dying their hair red!)

“Refugees” is the official term for what they become after they are rubber stamped “found to genuine” -- though nothing is ever really verified or determined. And being classified a “refugee” means they have made it. They can now phone home and tell all their relos: "come-on down, its easy-peasy, catch the next boat".

Greetings again,

@Yabby: Good to see some valid sources of info there. The BBC and the Economist are generally sound. But perhaps “and every other news network” may be the source of the problem.

There are many ‘news’ organisations that exist precisely to keep readers/listeners/viewers in a state of ignorance. You have probably seen the research showing how Fox News in the US makes people stupid. And there are various articles here on OLO critiquing Murdoch’s so-called ‘news’ reporting in Australia.

Here is an interesting piece run earlier today showing how the media in Australia serves to keep people misinformed on this very topic:

http://newmatilda.com/2012/08/22/distortions-and-lies-about-refugees

I certainly agree, Yabby, that where one lives can be a bit of a blind. Which is why travel is important. I’m just back from an overnight in Spain. Now there’s a place with problems …

Agree also things are not so sweet in France. This is true. We are beginning the process of recovery after ten years of government which failed in many areas.

@SPQR: Yes, pretty sure now that this is where we fundamentally disagree – on the categories of refugee arrivals.

Also, I expect, on what we understand to be the fate of those who are not genuine.

Do you know – off the top of your head, SPQR – without googling, how many illegal immigrants were sent back home from Australia in 2011-12?

Was it:
(a) 10
(b) 117
(c) 392, or
(d) more than 10,000?

Cheers, AA