Thread: UK out of EU

Apparently the vote was to get out.
Now comes the harder part of actually doing it.

On the up side, Scotland will join the EU this afternoon, or shortly afterwards. Welcome!

Originally Posted by RobinK

On the up side, Scotland will join the EU this afternoon, or shortly afterwards. Welcome!

They might do it via Scandinavia as well

Well alea iacta est and everyone should respect the results because Britons have to live with everything there is to come for decades to come. Both good and bad.
It was most interesting to read the British media before the elections. I was sorry to see that specially those for exit used sometimes arguments that were not so true as they should. Now it seems that some people based their votes on feelings and prejudices, not facts.

58/42 is an interesting result. Had it been the either way, now it leaves a lot of people dissapointed. The nation is polarized and divided in two.

Originally Posted by Sailor

The nation is polarized and divided in two.

This seems quite common these days!

Originally Posted by Sailor

The nation is polarized and divided in two.

I find it interesting that the U.S. is polarized, split essentially in half politically as well. I don't think it's a coincidence. Very interesting indeed.

I wish Great Britain all the best and my sincere hope is that GB can and will thrive on its own. It certainly is an upset for global governance.

It seems there are two possible outcomes with forming such unions: 1) Economically "stronger" countries stimulate and motivate economically "weaker" countries to become stronger economically. 2) Economically "weaker" countries erode economically "stronger" countries' progress and slow overall economic growth. It seems to me the EU in general has been exhibiting outcome 2?

ChrisL

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I find it interesting that the U.S. is polarized, split essentially in half politically as well. I don't think it's a coincidence. Very interesting indeed.

I wish Great Britain all the best and my sincere hope is that GB can and will thrive on its own. It certainly is an upset for global governance.

It seems there are two possible outcomes with forming such unions: 1) Economically "stronger" countries stimulate and motivate economically "weaker" countries to become stronger economically. 2) Economically "weaker" countries erode economically "stronger" countries' progress and slow overall economic growth. It seems to me the EU in general has been exhibiting outcome 2?

ChrisL

Imho polarization is rarely or never good. At worst it might lead into tragic consequences like what happened here 99 years ago.

I'm sorry to see these days when people carelessly put critic on bit wrong directions, be it EU or USA or whatever. When they in fact should put their critic on globalisation. Which happens no matter what governments, EU or USA do. There is no escape except maybe in North Korea. The wheel is not turning back. Factories do not come back to Manchaster, Denver or Turku Finland from China. No matter what we decide.

EU is actually pretty loose union that leaves individual governments changes to make also bad decisions. That is what we saw in Greece. People there decided to vote for politicians that promised nice things and rose gardens, and at the same time, lead their country into bankrupt. At the same time Union has been the only hope for former eastern European countries where standards of living have raised dramatically since the days of the iron curtain.

On the other hand EU has done remarkable job securing peace in the continent. From where i stand, it has done a lot more good than our politicians could have never done. Giving people more changes and more alternatives to choose from. Too often politicians that keeps bad yell and big mouth on 'right to choose ourselves' actually mean that they want to decide for people. Not giving people right to choose themself.

EU is not ready of course but keeps changing, not only today but also in the future.

Originally Posted by Sailor

Imho polarization is rarely or never good. At worst it might lead into tragic consequences like what happened here 99 years ago.

I'm sorry to see these days when people carelessly put critic on bit wrong directions, be it EU or USA or whatever. When they in fact should put their critic on globalisation. Which happens no matter what governments, EU or USA do. There is no escape except maybe in North Korea. The wheel is not turning back. Factories do not come back to Manchaster, Denver or Turku Finland from China. No matter what we decide.

EU is actually pretty loose union that leaves individual governments changes to make also bad decisions. That is what we saw in Greece. People there decided to vote for politicians that promised nice things and rose gardens, and at the same time, lead their country into bankrupt. At the same time Union has been the only hope for former eastern European countries where standards of living have raised dramatically since the days of the iron curtain.

On the other hand EU has done remarkable job securing peace in the continent. From where i stand, it has done a lot more good than our politicians could have never done. Giving people more changes and more alternatives to choose from. Too often politicians that keeps bad yell and big mouth on 'right to choose ourselves' actually mean that they want to decide for people. Not giving people right to choose themself.

EU is not ready of course but keeps changing, not only today but also in the future.

Yes, polarization is rarely if ever good. Meaningful dialog ceases and no consensus can be built on the way ahead. Pure dogma never got anyone anywhere.

Unfortunately there is no turning the wheel back on a globalized economy but that does not make it any more palatable to large sections of the population that formerly had a decent standard of living.

The EU no matter how it has improved things in Europe still is seen to interfere with the very different cultures in the various countries that comprise the EU. Cultural identities, customs and traditions, are a very important part of being a distinct country. Whether or not they are in fact being trampled does not matter only that they are perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be trampled.

Add to that the fear of the unknown/foreign to the problem.

Bob

The sky will not fall with Britain leaving...regardless of the carping and braying of the offended EU oligarchs, they have two years to negotiate exit terms.

Britain was never really that, "European" to begin with IMO...France is a bit of a basket case with Unions that are far too powerful, the Italians don't bother to pay much taxes, same with Greece, all are a huge drag on the EU, let alone if Turkey comes in, so leave it to the Germans to carry it all, it's what they want anyhow, and always planned to do.

What is extremely surprising, is that the majority of those that voted "out" are people over the age of 50.

Guess whose retirements savings have been hard hit by the "out" vote? Yes, those same over 50's!!

Next I foresee both Scotland and Ireland having referendums for independence and then voting to be part of the EU!

I don't think it's that easy for Scotland and NI. They have no central banks and use Westminster for a lot of the trade they do. The EU may well want them to operate independently and meet certain criteria before they get accepted. Also any independence would be lost. As they would have to join on new members terms. So no nice bonuses like the UK got, Enforced Euro currency, And whatever border controls the UK requires. Also no NHS.

Then comes the really odd part. Scotland has based it's independence on oil. The oil however is mostly in the north sea in Shetland waters. And Shetland may well not want to be part of Scotland. This island will need it's own independence vote, and may well elect to become part of England, Norway or Denmark. Denmark have a very good track record with the Faroe islands, and Norway already has a thriving oil business.

It's like someone kicked a wasp nest over here atm on social media!