Most recently I have followed a blogg that appeared to contain commentaries that were quite xenophobic. One of the tactics used by the partipciants was to cite books by academics to back up their arguements. One of the cited books was by an academic who comes from an institution that he was once a part of, that regards this book as being less than scientific and more opionated. Later, I learned that these blogg particpants were supporters of the nationalist party the Swedish Social Democrats.
In a most recent tv ad, they had protrayed an image of a voting balot. On one side of the balot, you could vote for keeping retirement funds, and the other was for taking in asylam (immigrants) seekers. What the Swedish Social Democrats fail to mention is that Swedish life expectancy has increased drasticly over the past 70 years. The average lifespan in Sweden is over 80 years of age. People that can go into retirement at the age of 65, can live over 90 years of age. This would give us a retirement period of 25 years. Prognosis for statitistics have shown that Sweden will not have a big enough work force in the next years to bring in taxes needed to cover the cost of the extended life expectancy.
Tax breaks for example have been introduced by the government to companies that happen to employ newly arrived immigrants. Because there is a severaly large amont of discrimination in the employment sector towards non-white immigrants, smaller companies are given an incentive to hier immigrants. This is not done simply to better the social conditions of newly arrived immigrants to Sweden, this is done because the work force is needed.
The reality is that countries like Sweden will need to import labor in the near future for it to sutain a functional social system beneficial to all of its citizens. The Swedish Social Democrats do play on the fears of Swedish citizens, by giving voters the choice of chosing between a retirement pension and immigration. Creating an assumption that immigrants will up all the tax money and that Swedes will have to compete for jobs. Facts such as these are not discussed.
Odd as this may sound-there are numerous sectors in Sweden that are in demand of labor. As an example, there are only 2000 recognized auditors (revisor) in the country. Most of which cannot take on more clients. In order for a person to become a recognized auditor one must first get a degree in economy, then must work for an established firm for about 3 years. This means that people need to be hired. There are few students that study economy to enter into this sector, not because there is no demand but because there are so many other sectors related to economy that are not as demanding as a recognized auditor's position is.
Immigrants in many cases already have the needed exam, but rarely are hired for this position. This is just one example but there are several others. One needs but to look at the job center's (arbetsförmedling) website to see what positions demand a workforce, and read up a little on those careers, to understand why these positions demand a people.
Its time to put an end to nationalistic parties, because they cannot promise positive change, expect revenue by via members they draw to their parties by filling people with fear. If the Swedish Social Democrats trully do care about Sweden, then they should talk about how to create better opporunties for Sweden, instead of creating limitiations by saying you can either choose to be humane or be an egoist. Thus their campaign is based on creating fear rather than brining solutions to the table.
Ask any economist and they will tell you that without an imported workforce and exported, no nation can develop with prosperity.
