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Comment by hacksonx | Hacker News Reader

South Africa has received a huge influx of refugees overs the years from Zimbabwe, Mozambique & Nigeria. Even though the "people" have protested this and asked for the foreigners to be deported (Legal/Illegal) the government has not done that to humans. How a 3rd (2nd?) world country is able to accommodate people of such numbers while 1st world countries in Europe complain is beyond me.

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So the government should ignore the concerns and wishes of the people (or "people" as you refer to them), because they know what is just better than anyone. When, for instance, the government decides to engage in war despite lacking public support, you would of course approve of that. Or should they only concern themselves with democratic principles when you disagree with their decision?

Well, it seems to me that if a majority of South Africans oppose allowing these people in, they should not be allowed in.

It might be because richer people can take more time out of their daily routine to complain, but I'm not actually sure it is fair to say that the situation in South Africa is stable. I've read about lots of lynchings, forced deportations and other difficulties for refugees, many of which are not officially recognised.

Syrians who make it to Western Europe and achieve refugee status can probably expect to be treated very well.

But there are also far fewer of them than South Africa has had to accommodate.

There are no easy comparisons.

Yeah, given a choice between liberal values and democracy always pick liberal values. We know what's best, not the plebeians.

And Jordan.

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