awalterj: What is the point of comparing Switzerland to the most extreme case in the Middle East, Lebanon, which is indeed overflowing with refugees? Switzerland is already taking in more refugees in relation to the local population size than practically every other European country. You can easily look up the numbers, it's all out there. Switzerland is among the top ranks every year.
Indeed, Switzerland isn't doing a poor job. Keypoint being, that there's one major political party who wants to change that. I don't think I have to tell you which one.
awalterj: And what about the rich Arabian Gulf states, anything to say about that? Saudi Arabia has 28 Million people, massively more space, a more similar culture, is closer and doesn't even have a formal asylum system. They donate money for international refugee projects but they don't appear to want any refugees on their soil. It's glaringly obvious and no one even talks about it.
I'll go with a quote of yours:
"What is the point of comparing Switzerland to the most extreme case in the Middle East"
awalterj: By culture I'm not talking about fondue and cuckoo clocks, I'm talking about fundamental freedoms such as the fact that women in Switzerland can walk around dressed the way they like without being harassed, things like that. I don't want to see circumstances like in Germany where local women are told to cover up in the vicinity of refugees so as to not upset their cultural sensibilities.
Neither do I. However, I also don't see this happen and if I would, I wouldn't have a problem telling this guys to shut up and go if they don't like it.
This however has been raised as a "potential problem" before and especially by your SVP - when the Tamils came. It took a while for everyone to recognize that they aren't problematic at all.
... and again with the EU east expansion, claiming that the polish people will come en masse. And yet again with the second EU east expansion, warning for the inevitable mass exodus of Bulgars, Romanians and especially the Roma minority.
Fact is: the SVP rattles about the same problems that they claim WILL come since more than 20 years. And we still aren't there.
So how about dealing with such problems when they actually arise, instead of fearmongering up front? But that's not part of the SVP political program, isn't it? It certainly wasn't in the last 20 years.
awalterj: Because in my opinion, people who behave should be allowed to stay and people who don't behave should be made to leave so as to make space for others who do behave. Sounds cold-hearted but is actually more humane in the larger picture as it frees resources for those who need it and deserve it more.
Sure. But again, that's not part of the SVP program. Don't believe it? Take a look at the swiss immigration referendum on which they demand a fixed quota INCLUDING political asylum.
Before the voting, several SVP members came over in a more lenient way, as they feared to lose the voting. They also flat out claimed, that the bilateral treaties wouldn't be any problem with it.
After they won (with 0,3% more votes) they quickly switched gear. Now they demand it done "word by word" and are willing to risk the bilateral treaties - you remember which political party deemed the contract with Germany about the aircraft noise dispute as not good enough and was the driving force for it's rejection? Yes, your SVP. Now we have a much worse deal than the one rejected.
And you're willing to risk the bilateral treaties? If that happens, good luck finding a solution, left alone one coming from the SVP...
awalterj: Syrian refugees are actually legit refugees with an actual claim for asylum since their country is still at war, unlike the vast majority of e.g. Eritreans who come from a country where there is no war. And yet, Eritreans are routinely allowed to stay here and not sent back regardless of whether their asylum request was accepted or not. Many even go to Eritrea on vacation and then come back to Switzerland. This is absolute nonsense, to put it mildly. Going on vacation to a place where you supposedly fled fearing for your life? Give me a break, I mean seriously!
I'll give you a break, but only if you at least try to inform you. You may start on any of the following links (sry guys, in german - any one interested, you find similar stuff in english, french, italian or whatever, rather easy):
Und ewig dauert der Wehrdienst,
Man kann von heute auf morgen verschwinden or
Die harte Hand von Eritreas Regime in der Schweiz.
awalterj: There are some on the left who say we can take in literally everyone and that we should even go and pick them up in their countries of origin so as to prevent the risk of them dying on the way. The idea is nice, just like unicorns and faeries. In my dreams, such beautiful things are real. The emphasis being on "in my dreams".
You don't want me to come up with what some on the right said... but one fact I'd still like to point out for you, especially since you consider the lefties far from reality and therefor problematic:
Switzerland never was ran by the political left wing. Not once. You can go back to 1848 and check each and every year.
