Why foreigners are so often a topic in the news

[raamv]

I am also working here for some time, and certainly paying my way. I am happy here and generally like the Finnish way of life and laws and police, but I must say that as I am paying my way and contributing like any Finn I do not expect to be picked on (because I have brown eyes and speak rubbish Finnish) by the police when shopping in my local shops... in most countries racial profiling is frowned upon, and so should it be in Finland.

Well unfortunately that is a reality that we all have to face because of the minority of the people who dont care about any of those issues except themselves..
I dont mind beind asked my ID as it should be if there are any suspicion of any governing body..
Do you think that the ticket inspectors target only the funny lookin ones? I think not..but then in their experience, the ones traveling without tickets are generally the ones who are funny lookin..now who can you blame..the funny lookin one or the ones doin their job?

[blaugrau]

Most of them who come here to study come here for the "Free" education. In terms of what it costs the government to
1) provide the same subsidized housing subsidized food, discounts on transportation etc (2) Invest in Infrastructure and facilities that are provided with Finnish Taxpayers money (3) Pay for teachers(and all other university workers) for which the foreign students' parents have not contributed to the tax system here neither have the students contributed (2) Staying in Finland to do their due diligence of earning and paying taxes.

Last figures of foreigners in Finland I've seen were around 2.3% and in the 90's it was a rough 1%. Compared to other countries, the share of foreigners is really very very low here. Tuititions fees or not, foreign students are more less bound to work and therefore pay taxes (and therefore also finance i.e. the born-and-bred-Finnish pensioner's pension and health care), because they get far less benefits than the Finnish students. And last time I checked, the Finnish state was anxious to get more international students, because apparantely that's good PR.

I guess the "really bad" foreigners accoring to this ridiculous discourse are those with a Finnish passport and double nationality who've lived all their life abroad, and then come to Finland and enjoy all the benefits for which they're eligible simply because they have a blue little book with their picture in it and a cover that says Suomi Finland.
(this is not my opinion, I'm exaggerating for dramatical reasons)

It's always easy to be a good foreigner when you're from a rich country, privileged social stratum and you also blend in physically with the local standard appearance.

[raamv]

Doesnt matter if it is 1% or 10%, the cost of infrastructure is pretty much the same..
and Finland wants them ( Swedish way ) so that when the future "fees" are implemented, it will bring in revenues and make the students "stick" to the place..and be contributing future citizens..
As for students paying the pensioners dues, I dont see a problem with it as the pensioners have been giving their life blood to this society!!
Lets wait and see what the "Innovation University" will do soon!!

[easily-lost]

Because it's more interesting to make fun of us "stupid foreigners", isn't it?

[Mölkky-Fan]

of course foreigners are not a race, but they are from different races... hence the racial profiling

what about foreigners who are the same race as Finns? Is it then racial profiling?

If you are of the same race, or very similar race, then the police will leave you alone in Myyrmaki... I watched the other day as they went from foreigner to foreigner asking them to show ID (albeit in a very nice and polite way), but they did not ask all the Finnish looking teenagers sitting on the benches outside Tiimari to show their ID. By the way, they did not ask me for my ID... I was outraged

By the way although I am sure you know this, typically racial profiling is not necessarily referring to caucasian people all being the same race or all Europeans being the same race, selection based on different eye colours and hair types can also be racial profiling. This could start a great discussion on genes and racial traits... but I am not intelligent enough to take part in such a discussion!

Raamv: It is true that security guards on the search for suicide bombers would do better to look for middle eastern looking people, as most suicide bombers are middle eastern looking at this point in history... but most middle eastern looking people are not suicide bombers, so they should not be unfairly singled out for different and often degrading treatment. I personally do not mind being asked for my ID, but I am not in a racial group that leads to many racial profiling problems here. I do not like the principal of racial profiling as it tends to re-inforce the stereotypes and and create larger race problems. I read in a Finnish paper some time ago about a fight in Varisto which involved 'a lady with a scarf'... if she was a Finn, would they have said 'lady without a scarf'?

[mCowboy]

they would've said vantaalainen nainen

[raamv]

Raamv: It is true that security guards on the search for suicide bombers would do better to look for middle eastern looking people, as most suicide bombers are middle eastern looking at this point in history... but most middle eastern looking people are not suicide bombers, so they should not be unfairly singled out for different and often degrading treatment. I personally do not mind being asked for my ID, but I am not in a racial group that leads to many racial profiling problems here. I do not like the principal of racial profiling as it tends to re-inforce the stereotypes and and create larger race problems. I read in a Finnish paper some time ago about a fight in Varisto which involved 'a lady with a scarf'... if she was a Finn, would they have said 'lady without a scarf'?

But isnt that the unfortunate situation!! In the end, history and experience are blind to the fact that you wrote above ( Tell that to Israel and see what reply you get).
and the most important part is How do you intend to solve this, apart from asking for an ID? ( If you dont ask how will you ever know if someone is illegal or not?)

[Mölkky-Fan]

McCowboy
very true!

[Mölkky-Fan]

Raamv: It is true that security guards on the search for suicide bombers would do better to look for middle eastern looking people, as most suicide bombers are middle eastern looking at this point in history... but most middle eastern looking people are not suicide bombers, so they should not be unfairly singled out for different and often degrading treatment. I personally do not mind being asked for my ID, but I am not in a racial group that leads to many racial profiling problems here. I do not like the principal of racial profiling as it tends to re-inforce the stereotypes and and create larger race problems. I read in a Finnish paper some time ago about a fight in Varisto which involved 'a lady with a scarf'... if she was a Finn, would they have said 'lady without a scarf'?

But isnt that the unfortunate situation!! In the end, history and experience are blind to the fact that you wrote above ( Tell that to Israel and see what reply you get).
and the most important part is How do you intend to solve this, apart from asking for an ID? ( If you dont ask how will you ever know if someone is illegal or not?)

by asking everyone to show their ID cards, that would be OK. By the way, I am a Brit but I am totally for ID cards.

[Hank W.]

[ By the way, they did not ask me for my ID... I was outraged ?

Darn, then we'd seen a foreign race...
... with a police dog.

/get me coat

[greenhorn]

I think the whole tax thing - "that someone uses someone else's tax money" is not so easy to surmise. There are many, who pay taxes, much like everyone, but don't stick around long enough to get pension, daycare for kids, Kela, etc.

I think they balance out for those who come and study here. If the situation becomes worse, and causes a drain on the economy then there will be regulations coming up for it. If there is no regulation yet, means there is no serious issue.

[Hank W.]

I read in a Finnish paper some time ago about a fight in Varisto which involved 'a lady with a scarf'... if she was a Finn, would they have said 'lady without a scarf'?

No, but what if she was a lady in a national costume

[sammy]

I read in a Finnish paper some time ago about a fight in Varisto which involved 'a lady with a scarf'... if she was a Finn, would they have said 'lady without a scarf'?

No, but what if she was a lady in a national costume

A lady with two scarfs

Hank, how about a game of ID check baiting for us Finns? Who's the first to fool the police into thinking that we're foreigners and getting one's ID checked in Myyrmanni? Talking loudly in foreign tongues is allowed, hair dye or other colour substances are not

[raamv]

I think the whole tax thing - "that someone uses someone else's tax money" is not so easy to surmise. There are many, who pay taxes, much like everyone, but don't stick around long enough to get pension, daycare for kids, Kela, etc.
I think they balance out for those who come and study here. If the situation becomes worse, and causes a drain on the economy then there will be regulations coming up for it. If there is no regulation yet, means there is no serious issue.

I am sure you remember the Brain Drain of India in the 80s...
and now the recent Brain Drain of America happening now!!
The cost is always upfront and huge as compared to the benefits which always come back slowly and in little amounts!!

[mCowboy]

I think the whole tax thing - "that someone uses someone else's tax money" is not so easy to surmise. There are many, who pay taxes, much like everyone, but don't stick around long enough to get pension, daycare for kids, Kela, etc.

I think they balance out for those who come and study here. If the situation becomes worse, and causes a drain on the economy then there will be regulations coming up for it. If there is no regulation yet, means there is no serious issue.

Why do you think there's discussion about imposing tuition fees for foreign students then...