The thing that annoys me about these countries that joined the E.U. in 2004 and the ones that will join in 2007 is this.
What exactly have they done to improve their economies since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1990, until their admission to the E.U?
The answer is very little by the looks of things.
They have sat back and waited for membership to the E.U. to arrive, got massive cash handouts which we as British Taxpayers are funding(Britain is one of the few Nett contributors to the E.U).
We have taken in a vast number of their people who are driving down living standards in this country,putting immense pressure on Schools,Hospitals etc.
I wonder if the roles were reversed would they be happy to see hundreds of thousands of Brits invade their countries?
I think not.
I meet many of these ‘incomers’ in my job as an instructor and I have had my eyes opened in may ways with the attitude of some of them. (I highlight the word SOME but sadly it is actually most.)
I have to admit there are the odd one or two who are very grateful to be in the country and ‘safe’ and want to work hard and earn a living - and go to school to learn the language.
But the majority see it as a free ride.
I could complile a book with some of the comments I have heard.
Only last week and Albanian guy I had on training told me “I like this country and will stay. It is a good country they give you money all the time. They give you money for babies - we will have lots of babies to get lots of money!”
I asked him where he thought the money was coming from and I and our other trainee impressed upon him that it was we who had paid this money to the state in the first place and did not feel that he was entitled to any of it. We where treated to the blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders at that one.
Last year I was ‘Babysitting’ some bus students in our yard, doing the reversing instruction while their instructor was back in the office for an hour.
There were about six of them learning on the double decker and one sullen guy was clearly not interested at all. When I asked him if he wanted his turn he sullenly told me that he had no intention of passing the test because if he did he would be asked to go out to work. (The training for this group was paid for by the dole office by the way)
“In my country, I am above manual labour!” he informed me.
Not being well known for keeping a diplomatic silence I told him in no uncertain terms my opinion and suggested he return to his regal place of birth. Of course he complained about me being racist.
Some stories I hear really annoy me, some make me laugh, but some make me want to scream with the ***** we are expected to sit back and take from some of these people.
I’m amazed about this- one thing eastern Europeans are not short of is “work ethic”.
The concept of claiming dole is completely alien to them.
I don’t agree with “open door” immigration policy, but IME, virtually none of them are here to claim benefits- Poles and Lithuanians etc are the ones you see cutting cauliflowers in some sodden Herefordshire field in mid-november because English people won’t lower themselves to do it…
Mothertrucker,your story about the Albanian guy reminds me of a story my ADR instructor was telling me a few weeks ago.
My instructor’s mate got an Albanian Sparky to rewire his house, a few days later the house was gutted by fire.
The Albanian Sparky had rewired the house with 1mm wiring instead of 2.5mm. 
English people won’t lower themselves to do it…
SOME English people let us say.
My daughter and her friend did a full season ‘Straw dividing’ in the strawberyy fields when on summer break from University.
Hard work for very low pay - but they did it and enjoyed the experience. (Apparantly a sense of humour helped!)
They were also - I have to say - two of only three English persons doing the job.
I just looked at your website and your photo, and I know its a strange question but have you ever been to Yugoslavia?
Nearest I got was Trieste in the eighties. Why do you ask??
Does your first name begin with the letter “W”?
If it does, then I think I met you once about 1988
Yep, you got me (no clues from my website then??)
Ok tell me all!
Harry Monk:
I’m amazed about this- one thing eastern Europeans are not short of is “work ethic”.The concept of claiming dole is completely alien to them.
…
Agreed.
Harry Monk:
I don’t agree with “open door” immigration policy, but IME, virtually none of them are here to claim benefits- Poles and Lithuanians etc are the ones you see cutting cauliflowers in some sodden Herefordshire field in mid-november because English people won’t lower themselves to do it…
Not agreed! They cut cauliflowers because
a) its better money than back home
b) theres plenty of entrepreneurs ready to exploit them
Not so much because brits won’t do it. Having said that, i know a few long term unemployed people (Brits)and i have nothing but derision for them now.
And they can cuty cauliflowers while claiming dole money as its cash in hand so its easy for them.
jammymutt:
And they can cuty cauliflowers while claiming dole money as its cash in hand so its easy for them.
They can’t claim until they’ve been working here a year?
True - they cannot claim ‘dole’ but they are allowed Social Security Living Allowance.
This country (of course) cant let them starve to death while they are here so they still get money while they are waiting to be allowed dole. Thast is what I have been told by a friend who works for the SS.