Points based immigration system

Sometimes I get so angry about stuff I find it physically impossible to express myself coherently. The red mist comes down and I just blurt out unconnected swear words like some kind of Norse Berseker in the heat of battle. Or maybe more like a middle class, 23 year old Berseker, living at home, who's actually swearing at a newspaper in the comfort of his own kitchen. Slightly embarrassed by the presence of his parents. Nonetheless I had one of those moments yesterday as I read a story about our new points based immigration system in the Times. Full article HERE.

Following in the rich tradition of the government making laws that end up criminalising or discriminating against a huge majority of innocent people, in various misguided attempts to catch or stop people whose media-hyped threat to society has been exaggerated beyond any reasonable level, they have engineered an immigration system that stops artists and academics from coming to this country to perform or lecture. Amongst other outrages detailed in the article, the Ballet Russe in Swansea faces closure because their Russian dancers can't get visas. The director claims that:

"The authorities raised endless problems ranging from whether or not the concept of “Russian Classical Ballet” even existed, to suggestions that we should advertise the “vacancies” in a national newspaper"

Advertise in a national newspaper? It's the Ballet Russe you Fokin & Gorsky denying ignoramuses. On a more personal note, even before these new unfair stringent measures, Dan Deacon was stopped from entering the country to perform at Field Day. He was literally the only reason I bought tickets. I had to endure one of the most depressing days ever, including: crap bands, rain, massive queues for the toilet, and beer I could not afford, all the while trying not to cry in front of my girlfriend because I was so sad about missing Dan Deacon. And why? Because our border authority thought it would be dangerous to let this man in the country:



Look at him, he's like an overgrown blind baby tramp with a bald head and a beard. By definition: harmless.

Admittedly there have been some successes: Allisson Crowe, the aurally challenging, female version of Daniel Powter, was banned from entering the UK. But even she didn't deserve to be detained, have her passport stamped 'barred from entry' and then deported all because she lacked a letter of sponsorship. Especially when they have repeatedly allowed fellow Canadian Alanis Morrissette in the country despite various please from yours truly.

Another Canadian, this time a journalist, was also threatened with deportation to Morrocco before eventually being returned to Canada. What's the big deal with Canadians? Are we living in some kind of real life verison of South Park? Actually our lawmakers could probably do with sitting down and watching the South Park movie; seeing as it demonstrates the disastrous consequences of governments acting solely on the basis of reactionary popular outrage and news coverage. I do feel that sometimes, amongst all the simplistic, illogical and baseless cries of 'Britain is full', people need reminding that IMMIGRATION IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING. FC