We believe in freedom, we talk about giving people equal chances, we say we do not discriminate... yet at the same time, we have immigration policies meant to keep people out of our country, even if they want to come in. Even if there are two persons of the same capabilities, and both want the same job, only the one in-country gets the job; the other person, if he does not meet immigration requirements, cannot get into country to take on the job.
Singaporeans have been complaining about foreigners taking up jobs in Singapore, about foreigners not being able to fit into our culture. We are looking at stricter immigration rules to prevent foreigners from easily staying in Singapore. The same can be said of the US (although if you are willing to fight for the US by joining the military, you can become a US citizen). France is also looking at introducing stricter immigration rules to keep out immigrants.
Protecting the interests of citizens is what governments do. But countries also have guiding ideologies that define them in the international arena, and thus their foreign policies. So this becomes a dilemma... how to safeguard the interests of your own citizens, yet not contradict yourself when dealing with other countries? Is the country's ideology the priority (because it is what attracts people to the country, and it was what the country is founded on) or is the priority the citizens?
Singaporeans have been complaining about foreigners taking up jobs in Singapore, about foreigners not being able to fit into our culture. We are looking at stricter immigration rules to prevent foreigners from easily staying in Singapore. The same can be said of the US (although if you are willing to fight for the US by joining the military, you can become a US citizen). France is also looking at introducing stricter immigration rules to keep out immigrants.
Protecting the interests of citizens is what governments do. But countries also have guiding ideologies that define them in the international arena, and thus their foreign policies. So this becomes a dilemma... how to safeguard the interests of your own citizens, yet not contradict yourself when dealing with other countries? Is the country's ideology the priority (because it is what attracts people to the country, and it was what the country is founded on) or is the priority the citizens?
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