Our generosity is famous. The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of providing asylum to those in need. A lot of the time that has brought us great benefits as just and good people flee from unjust and immoral despots.
And recently, despite the attempts of the right-wing press that has continued… But, and there is a but:
There are, unfortunately, two problems with our current policy:
1. There are, in this modern, mobile world, enough people to replace every person in the country several times who would be deserving of asylum.
2. Our definition of asylum completely fails to take into account the crimes of the seeker.
The news today, then, solves the second of these problems as the following excerpt shows clearly:
Kasonga – described by the Judge as “thoroughly dishonest” – ripped out individual cheques and farmed them out to gang members to cash for up to £1,200 a time while living in a council house and claiming £160 week in benefits.
Widower and father-of-three Kasonga – who also came to Britain as an asylum seeker ‘determined to commit crime’ – was today jailed for three-and-a-half years. The Judge also ordered that both men be deported at the end of their jail terms.
And the first is something that is like the inconvenience of much in this life: unavoidable.
There are, again, two ways of solving the first point. Condemn good people by refusing them access to our shores or invade every despotic regime around the world to rid the world of the need for asylum. You may notice, when reading these options, that neither is realistic.
If neither of the only two options in any given circumstance is acceptable then the status quo should prevail.
We should, of course, be providing for our own disabled and elderly first – which we’re not – but that’s another issue entirely. I would also, as a libertarian, consider asking charity to get involved in paying for asylum seekers, and subsequently, refugee’s care. There is little more democratic and free than charity.
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