EU Crisis

I'm not talking about the Eiffel Tower falling down or some such crisis, but there seems to be a certain sense that Europe is facing an identity crisis. A sort of EU Midlife Crisis.

With the recent momentum that the UK Independence Party has gained in the European Elections it's surprising to see that this wave of nationalism is not just local to the UK.

Considering that the more time that passes, the more integrated we all become due to cross country migration it's interesting to see us clinging to a sense of national identity in the face of this. I can understand that the more personalities and cultures we encounter in our country the more our own culture comes at risk of becoming lost in a sea of voices. This being said it seems we've made the mistake of falling into Right Wing thinking as a way to preserve it.

Stopping immigration in this day an age for a country such as the UK would be as economically viable as stopping manufacture of the wheel in an attempt to reduce pollution.

I only recently -- over the last 5 or so years have come to understand and appreciate what it means to be British. Part of that rich cultural heritage is the result of influences from outside.

Our ancestors were all the result of foreign influence, all the way back through a series of invasions similar to your yearly kitchen home invasion by ants. Except these ants planted flags and built houses.

Ever since I can remember and I dare say anyone else under the age of 70 we've been driving Japanese cars, wearing clothes with American and German Flags on, designed by French and Italians and made by the Chinese using Egyptian cotton. Drinking tea, burning incense and wearing shirts all of which were made in India while on my Korean phone. Is it that bizarre to imagine that people should want to make the journeys that their produce has been making for many years already?

A lot of the problems are caused by a minority of people who abuse the system and take advantage of our naive healthcare and benefits system and great standard of living.

The real problem is there are bastards all around the world in every country, including our own. Don't let those people ruin it for everyone else.

I can only imagine how UKIP would destroy the country through their utter lack of experience and intelligence in actual policy towards the economy but even if they only stopped immigration we would simply find ourself with more illegal immigrants and less legal ones.

People that would still come, with less money, less possessions, more desperate, less potential or hope. You may not agree with the numbers of immigrants coming into your country, but at least it's regulated. Closing the door would simply make all the gaps in the windows much more apparent.

~Fraser