On the day that far right Dutch politician Geert Wilders'
anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV) looked set to win 37 seats in thecountry's general election, making them the largest party, the BBC Newswebsite decided to lead with some far right "populism" of their own,running the headline "UK net migration in 2022 revised up to record745,000". ---- It's worth taking this figure into context. The Office ofNational Statistics (ONS) estimates that the current population of U.K.in 2023 is 67,736,802, a 0.34% increase from 2022. On the other hand,the global population growth is around 0.88%, so the UK increase rate isstill much less than half the general world increase rate. This is notexpressed in the news items, which are left context-free.Here the BBC is playing to the right-wing narrative of Farage, Sunak andBraverman.We in the ACN are very clear that we want an end to capitalism. But evenin capitalist terms, and plain old racism aside, the fear-mongering overimmigration does not make sense. "They are taking our jobs" is theimplication, but that doesn't happen. The size of the workforce does notstay static while the population rises.In 1960, the UK population was 52,543,017. The workforce (16 - 64year-olds in employment) was around 25,250,000. When the population roseto the estimated 67,826,318, the number of jobs in the economy did notremain at 25,250,000. The number of 16-64 year-olds currently estimatedto be in work is 75.7%, compared with 72.8% when the population was 15million less. Of course, employment rates go up and down, but this isthe result of the inherent booms and busts of capitalism, and does notcorrelate with population growth.It's worth noting that under capitalism, people on low to averageearnings spend more of their money than the rich do. The wealthy tend tosave it, or worse still send it to tax havens, out of reach of the economy.If an immigrant is allowed to work (and remember the rules do not allowasylum seekers to do so), they buy food, clothes, bus fares. This ismoney that goes into circulation, unlike the tax haven hoardings of therich which goes out of circulation.Please note, we are not making an argument for capitalism, justdescribing how things work at the moment.So, the argument that immigrants are a drain is false. Of course, itcould be argued that there is not sufficient infrastructure. But that isa political decision. A decision not to invest in primary health, orhospitals, or schools. Governments could decide to spend that money ifthey wanted, but they'd rather subsidise the wealthy. Those same wealthywho are hiding their fortunes from the revenue in tax havens.Thus, we have demonstrated that even by the standards of capitalism,immigration is not too high. It is therefore just another scare story todivide the working class against itself.Were governments actually concerned about immigration, rather than justusing it to divide and rule, then they would act now on climate change.For as more and more areas of the globe become inhospitable, more andmore people will inevitably flee to the temperate zones.But ask yourself this. What would it take you to flee your home andcommunity with barely any possessions, and take desperate chances ondangerous sea crossings? Would you do it on a whim or for an "easylife"? You would not. And so, we must act with human compassion and withhuman solidarity for those driven to do so. And we must recognise thatas capitalism continues to destroy the planet more and more people willneed our compassion and solidarity.By Dundonaldhttps://anarcomuk.uk/2023/11/24/when-a-flood-is-not-a-flood/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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