E.U: Leave or Stay? Your thoughts.

This evening I argued UK, US, and EU politics with a German person, a Norwegian person, and a member of the Welsh government.

For a while there I almost felt as if people could hold differing opinions and yet still get along, without having to resort to rhetoric or over-simplifications.

 

That's how the EU works.

That's how The Express readers work.

 

Genuine lols at that one.
I love how the Simpsons has layers of meanings in each episodes, stuff I never noticed as a kid means something completely different now.

Although I think Zapp Brannigan is a more apt metaphor for the UKs negotiations.

 

If you want to see protectionism just look at how we in the EU have kept Africa under a big foot with regards to agriculture.

Not looking forward to leaving but the EU needs reforming, some are as blinkered about the EU as others are about the UK.

 

When you say we've kept Africa under a big foot do you mean by levying tariffs on African imports and exports? Because when i looked at The Observatory of Economic Complexity for Cenral and Southern Africa it shows agriculture to only make up relatively small parts of their export/imports and most of their trade is with China.

EDIT: Never mind i did some Googleing. You mean because the CAP kept prices artificially low, yes?

 

Moreso EU farming being heavily subsidized and the African markets flooded with cheap goods from the EU for starters.

There's a lot to it TBH, plenty to read if you're partial.

 

The EU is in constant tension between left-wing socialist ideals and right-wing liberalism. Guess which side the UK usually pitched for?

The EU does need work. Now the UK is leaving, it may actually go in the right direction.

 

With respect, considering 95% of all votes in the EU the UK has sided with the majority and 2 or 3% of the time we've abstained I can't say I share your optimism.

It's not good for anyone although I hope you're right.

 

True, but I suspect that the UK, as second largest economy, exerted a lot of influence to make those votes come to pass.

 

So is talk of Dover shutting down, food, medicine, and petrol running out, simply more of project fear?

It would seem odd if it was as the vote has been cast so there seems little point in trying to scare people now and it can't be because they're hoping people will change their mind as we all know democracy doesn't allow people to change their minds, not that *anyone would as that would mean admitting they got it wrong.

*Anyone BTW means everyone who voted no matter if they voted leave or remain.

 

I think it is the civil service covering its back. When things go south --and deal or no deal, unexpected complications will make things go south-- the first thing ministers tend to do (apart from blame the EU) is blame the civil service for not implementing their instructions right, or not briefing them properly.

This way whatever happens, the civil service can say: "Don't say we didn't warn you...".

 

Look at what happened with KFC recently where they ran out of chicken.
Yes, it was a change in shipping company rather than a change in paperwork due to brexit, but it nicely demonstrates just how fragile supply chains are, so if there was even just 2 - 3 days of total chaos at Dover the impact would be absolutely massive.

 

I guess it will all be worth it in the end though if it means we get back the feeling of being a sovereign nation.

 

I hated watching Deal or No Deal, living in an episode of it is doing my nut in.

 

I thought that feeling was called hunger?

 

I need @Nexxo's dutch self to confirm this says what i think it does but...

Hanananananana: I always thought 'brexit' would mean 'remain but with tweaks'

 

"Daniel Hannan, British MEP and since being a student fervent advocate of Brexit, is surprised that after the referendum the EU didn't make more of an effort to keep the British in the Union. "I though we would get a proposal from Brussels to rearrange the relationship between the EU and the UK. Our door was open, but the EU has slammed that door closed". Hannan is in the Netherlands by invitation of the Forum for Democracy."

Yup. Brexiteers are now blaming the EU for respecting Britain's wish and letting it leave.

Yet another Brexiteer who won't take ownership. Hannan is such a sickeningly despicable little dick.

 

Apprently he descriped the NHS as a '60-year mistake' on US TV too...

If true, i'm fairly sure he's not alone in that world-view...

 

Meanwhile: poll records new high in number of voters saying Brexit is wrong, Corbyn suddenly learns to love the EEA, the great and serious Brexit vision White Paper that was going to be definitely ready for the June 28th EU summit is not going to be ready for the June 28th EU summit, and Liam Fox's department for international trade is being blamed for chronic mismanagement and lack of expertise (act surprised, everyone!).