In der vergangenen Woche ging es an dieser Stelle um die Frage, ob Deutsche noch in Deutschland leben möchten oder ob nicht England die bessere Wahl sei. Heute wird auf der Website des Daily Telegraph eine ganz ähnliche Diskussion geführt, wenn auch mit umgekehrten Vorzeichen.
Angesichts der Tatsache, dass im letzten Jahr so viele Briten ihr Land verlassen haben wie noch nie (zumindest seit Beginn entsprechender Statistiken), fragte der Telegraph seine Leser “Why are so many people emigrating from the UK?”. Die Antworten - und es sind Dutzende - ergeben eine traurige Lektüre für Englandfreunde. Hier ein paar Auszüge:
“We moved from London and settled in Toronto 3 years ago. It was the best decision we’ve ever made. Everything is much cheaper than London, there is LOTS of space, people are much friendlier, and it’s a beautiful city. Canada has a lot to offer and if you enjoy the nature and scenery then you will absolutely love Canada!”
“People (like me) will continue to leave a country in decay, the socialist / liberal / left wing wimps have destroyed the country, you are about three years away from becoming a total Muslim state.”
“Those people who leave this country are taking with them their skills and their money - we are exchanging them for people from all over the world with few skills and no money, what sort of an immigration policy is that?”
“Britain is a low-wage, high-tax, high-cost, overpriced, over-governed, low-productivity, low-education, poor-service, higher-crime, post-industrial, post-agricultural, congested, overcrowded, grey, dreary, windy, rainy, cold island. It is not hard to see why many are tempted to quit.”
“I am British by birth and love my country of origin. I find it heartbreaking to see the depths to which much of it has sunk.”
Und ja: Es gibt sogar einige Telegraph-Leser, die selbst nach dem gestrigen Abend noch Positives über Deutschland zu sagen haben:
“In Germany, rents are lower, food is cheaper, I have affordable public transport and don’t need a car, I can cycle to most places in my city without being mowed over as we have cycle paths/lanes, my salary is comparable to what I was earning in England, I don’t have to shell out for private health insurance to get half-way acceptable medical care, and some time in the future, I might even be able to afford to by my own flat. Who on earth would want to go back rip off Britain? I came to Germany with my company for 4 months in 1996. I was a fresh graduate, having graduated in the summer of 95. The 4 months has now turned into nearly 12 years. The opportunities, way of life, standard of living, healthcare, cleanliness and just about ecerything else I can think of which affects or influences your way of life are so much better here, even the weather. We live in the southern part of Hessen, about 40 KM (25 miles) from Frankfurt and experience almost mediterranean summers and proper Spring, Autumn and Winter times. Nothing would make me want to return to that miserable little grey island of the north east coast of mainland europe. I do feel sorry for my parents who are still stuck in the UK, but they come and visit their 3 grandchildred often enough and are considering selling up and moving abroad themselves.”
“I live in Switzerland and previously lived in Germany. Here, I enjoy a higher salary, lower tax, better public transport, lower crime, proper health insurance and a better pension than would be possible in Britain. No, I do not think I will be going back.”
Wenn man sich die Kommentare beim Telegraph, aber auch auf ähnlichen Seiten anderer britischer Zeitungen heute durchliest, dann bekommt man einen merkwürdigen Eindruck. Die Briten wirken resigniert, gerade so, als ob sie sich damit abgefunden hätten, dass es ihr Land nicht mehr gibt. Und die Statistiken sprechen in der Tat eine eindeutige Sprache, denn während gut qualifizierte Briten in den vergangenen Jahren ihrer Heimat den Rücken gekehrt haben, gab es gleichzeitig eine Welle tendenziell schlecht qualifizierter und nur bedingt integrationswilliger Einwanderer - eine gefährliche Mischung.
Eine Leser drückte es so aus: “What goes on in the land of my birth ... (is) a bit like watching a train crash in slow motion. ... I shall be watching but from a safe distance!”
