German & Austrian voters support Swiss-style immigration quotas for EU-residents

[Tender Branson]

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Germans favor them by a 55-41 margin and Austrians by a 48-41 margin (54-46 among decided voters -> "referendum question").

[Tender Branson]

     Anschluss Mk. II? Someone had to say it.

Yes, but this time annexation to Switzerland (because they made the ball roll) ...

Germans and Austrians in general are favourable towards Swiss-style direct democracy and sceptical towards an increasing centralism that is forced down our throats from Brussels ...

[Tender Branson]

At the same time, German and Austrian voters expressing support for a racist idea isn't exactly a novelty.

That analysis is too simple I think:

Setting immigration quotas is not racist. It has more to do with streamlining immigration to a point that is good for the economy, but does not strain infrastructure such as traffic and housing (high immigration could lead to explosions in rents and property prices, as well as shortages of apartments in general, because the building speed does not catch up with massive immigration).

Therefore, I support that the EU "free-movement policy" is amended so that if for example immigration/population growth tops 0.5% for 2 consecutive years in a 5 year time-span, a country would be free to set immigration quotas to protect the domestic economy and local communities from the problems above + wage dumping.

Also: If I remember correctly, even the country you live in (Canada) has immigration quotas and handpicks skilled workers. So, it must be racist too, right ?

[Tender Branson]

If the Germans and Austrians can feel free to violate the Schengen agreements, they'd better shut up if Italy or Greece does the same regarding the austerity treaties.

Which examples do you mean with "violating the Schengen agreement" ?

[Tender Branson]

If the Germans and Austrians can feel free to violate the Schengen agreements, they'd better shut up if Italy or Greece does the same regarding the austerity treaties.

Which examples do you mean with "violating the Schengen agreement" ?

I'm pretty sure immigration quotas would violate it.

Not necessarily I think: Schengen is an greement that ensures people are not stopped at the borders for short-term travel purposes, not an agreement for long-term residency or work.

If for example work or residency quotas would be issued in lets say Austria, people could still come in for travel purposes without being checked at the border.

Only the residency/work-permits would be subject to quotas: Businesses/cities would be allowed to hire/register only a certain amount of people on a first-come-first-serve basis.

[Tender Branson]

Also: If I remember correctly, even the country you live in (Canada) has immigration quotas and handpicks skilled workers. So, it must be racist too, right ?

Europe has Schengen, Canada doesn't.

We can argue about whether it's good or bad policy, but your claim is "supporting immigration quotas" is racist because there's such a thing as Schengen, but the same policy is not racist if there's no such agreement? Did I get that right?

My claim is than the proposed change is driven by racism. Not the policy in itself, but the action, because of the likely reason behind it.

It's not like immigration quotas would keep a single race out, nor does any politician intend to achieve this with introducing these quotas: It's only to keep immigration at an acceptable level, because - theoretically - in the "EU's free movement policy" population growth rates in a country of lets say 5% a year would also be possible if this country is appealing for people while other countries experience a recession and out-migration ... Switzerland, a country that is already densely populated (yes, it is - for example relative to Canada) is experiencing this right now, just with population growth rates of 1% (which is pretty high for a developed and densely populated country). But saying that the reduction is "racist" is odd, because the quotas would still bring in people from all races and countries, just fewer and in a more sustainable way. In the end, it's also a way to show people from other countries that countries like Switzerland are not the Schlaraffenland where these people can move to like moving into paradise. We are not paradise, or a hotel for the whole world - nor should we be ...

PS: I will answer Franknburger's post later when I have some more time, but now I need to iron my clothes first ...