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First Legal Union of Illegal Street Vendors Created In Barcelona
dkatana writes: Street vendors across Barcelona's tourist districts last week created their own union to negotiate with city officials. Barcelona has a new mayor, and new policies dealing with the "Top Manta" (for the blankets — or mantas — they spread out on the sidewalk). The recently-elected left-leaning administration in this Mediterranean city is taking a new — and controversial — approach to this complex issue. They argue that the real fault is the government's for not having a more comprehensive immigration policy. Mayor Ada Colau has welcomed the newly created Popular Union for Street Vendors (Sindicato Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes), established by the illegal vendors themselves.
They are just poor _illegal_ migrant, trying to sell _counterfeit_ good, _scamming_ tourists if not _robbing_ them at knife point. Expecting them for respect the locals, their laws and customs is ignorant of the conditions they come from, oppressive and almost racist. Shame on you!
OK, I can agree with most of what you said here, but claiming we're ignorant of the conditions they came from is fucking offensive. Countries are breaking their own laws to accept these people from war-ravaged nations or States of massive oppression. Believe me we know damn well of the conditions, and you can't break reporting enough to bias that into a mere nothing. Instead of focusing on the conditions they came from, how about we start waking up as to the conditions they're going to create in the aftermath. Governments certainly are at this point.
As far as bringing along laws, well...you move to another country, you better learn to adapt. The entire justification of relocation at the macro level is because where they are leaving from is 100 times worse in just about every aspect. Don't complain. Laws are being broken by governments to assist you. Customs most countries will try and accommodate as long as they don't become intolerant of the interference it may cause.
The key here is learn to adapt. Especially if you want to stay.
It reminds me of prostitution in my country: it's illegal, but there's the professional category for when you declare your taxes. So it's illegal but perfectly taxed. Talk about state hypocrisy. I don't know about pimp though.
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