Anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise in... SWITZERLAND?!

The Swiss are a famously tolerant people -- even more so than Canadians! They are known to be polite, orderly, peaceful and clean. So it stands to reason that they would be increasingly concerned about the large and rapid influx of people who are not... errr... you get the picture. If you don't get the picture, look at this!

This poster is the work of the Swiss People's Party -- a nationalist grouping which has come from nowhere to a position of considerable political clout, holding over a quarter of the seats in Switzerland's lower house. The party was born of the backlash against mass immigration, particularly of Muslim "refugees" from Africa and the Middle East.

Other posters show a huge tree crushing a map of Switzerland, and a heavily veiled woman beneath the headline "1 million Muslims soon?" The posters are meant to encourage voters to support a proposal to impose an absolute limit on the number of foreigners who can move to Switzerland each year.

Voting is in progress even as we write. Recent polls show growing support for the plan, with 43% of people surveyed on January 21st backing the proposal, against 50% opposed and 7% undecided. A month earlier only 37% were in favour, with 55% against and 8% undecided.

In the past, Swiss voters have approved a number of measures loosening immigration rules. But the tide turned in 2009 when voters approved a plan to ban the construction of new minarets. The message would seem to be clear. Half a million Muslims out of a population of just 8 million is enough!

If the tolerant Swiss vote to restrict immigration, will the people of other "white Christian" countries have the courage to follow their lead? The UK already has its British National Party and UK Independence Party. How about an American People's Party? [Or a Canadian People's Party?! Len.] Where do we sign up?!