Refugees come here fleeing persecution in their home
countries. They are not economic migrants. And the
lives they build for themselves is due to their sheer
hard work, doing jobs (often having more than one)
that many locals don't want.

Any economic benefits that they gain - are a result of their
own hard work, savings, and talent. Their own sheer
perseverance and determinatio0n to provide for their families.
It's a cultural thing for many. And they are the ones to be
congratulated not only for their hard work, but for their
rich contribution to our country.

You always blame either academics or Lefties.
Foxy,
Yes, because anyone with an ounce of sense can see that these groups are the main instigators for the many problems modern society is plagued with !

Indy, don't forget the Old Farts as well.

Issy, I wasn't refering to the boat people, if that was the only consideration then we all would be trying to sail a boat to Switzerland, reportedly to have the highest mean standard of living in the world.

Paul,
Who, apart from the Swiss, would want to live in what is possibly the most regulated society in Europe?
You wouldn’t like it, they have compulsory military service, apart from which the place is full of steep hills, the winter is bloody cold and the trains run on time.

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Dear Is Mise,

.

You ask :

« … if having the Union Jack in the canton of our flag makes people think that we are still a British colony, then what do they think of the 50th State of the USA, Hawaii? »
.

Probably the same thing as they think about Australia. But I guess you know more about it than I do, Is Mise.

In case you might not have already seen it (but I suspect you have), here is a brief historical account of Cook’s discovery of what he named “the Sandwich Islands”, that later became known as Hawaii :

http://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5014763.pdf
.

And, for good measure, Is Mise, here is a picture of the coat of arms of Alabama (which you may also have already seen) that sports the emblems of the five governments that have historically held sovereignty over Alabama: Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. (The design includes the flag of the United Kingdom rather than that of Great Britain) :

http://archives.alabama.gov/emblems/st_coa.html
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As for your comment that “the majority of our immigrants come from Republics”, that would not be surprising because about 80% of the world’s 206 sovereign states are republics, and “as of 2020, there are 52 nations with a dictator or authoritarian regime ruling the country: Three in Latin America and South America, 27 in Asia and the Middle East, and 22 in Africa” :

http://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/dictatorship-countries#The_Countries_with_Dictatorships_in_the_Modern_World

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Here's the plan Issy,

We sail our boat to the sunny shores of Switzerland via Swaziland, which is next to Switzerland, I checked the list. On arrival we claim to be two lost yodellers looking for our Om-Par-Par Band. Once inside we open Swiss bank accounts, everyone with a Swiss bank account is a billionaire, like Swiss drug lords living in Mexico. Then we have a big meal of Swiss cheese and chocolate, that is all Swizzlers (natives of Switzerland) eat. I also suggest you learn the Swiss language, Swisscanese, very similar to Cantonese, you do speak Cantonese, don't you, never mind you'll pick it up. If the Swizzlers become suspicious of us, despite telling them how much we admire their leader Mr William Tell, remember that name, when they are not yodelling, or eating cheese, that's all the Swizzlers talk about, and the national sport of shooting apples of children's heads with a crossbow. Remember if you miss the apple and get the kids head there is a 3 point penalty which could cost you the game, and that would be a tragedy, losing like that. If the Swizzlers are still sus of us we will simply take jobs as cuckoo clock repair men, everyone in Switzerland is a cuckoo clock repair man, even the women and children. That national service is a breeze, all you have to do is dress up in colourful pj's, carry a pig sticker, and say "hi" to the Pope. And everyone who joins gets a free Swiss army knife to take home, how neat is that. Snow, Switzerland has no snow, they exported it all to Saudi Arabia, snow is Switzerland's 4th biggest export behind cheese, chocolate and cuckoo clocks. Any questions?