I am curious to find out what everyone around the world feels about Britain voting to leave the European Union, or has it not been reported to much.
It was reported quite a bit in the US for a couple of days before the media got bored and went back to doing stories about Trump. I've heard a lot of criticism about the vote and the people who voted to exit. But as far as I'm concerned, the people had their say and if they want to go, it's their choice. It should be respected and people should accept it and prepare for the future.
I don't think it's going to be the end of the world. I believe there are upsides for certain segments of the economy, but overall I disagree with the decision. Still, it's not my decision and I can respect the results on that level pretty easily.
I think there are some things that people didn't think about. For instance, passport controls will have to be implemented coming into the UK which is not a big deal because England, Scotland and Wales are an island, right? But what about Northern Ireland? Ireland will remain part of the EU and there are no border controls between the Republic of Ireland and N.I. and it will become an external EU border. Right now about the only way you know you crossed the border is the price of gas goes from euros to pounds. So how is the UK going to limit people coming in if they can just go into Dublin, up to Belfast into the UK? Are they going to put controls on major highways and all the little side roads? Fence all 500km of the border? In many cases the border runs right through the middle of farms. Plus the map looked like four of the six counties voted to remain in the EU so are they going to want to become part of the Republic? Scotland also voted to remain so will there be another separatist vote? It's going to be interesting.
I'm just hearing about this just yesterday. I apologise for my ignorance, but what's actually going on and what does this mean for Britain? I'm very curious, because it's random to me.
I think that people will look back on this for decades to come and regret it. It will be a painfull, if not embarrassing, history lesson.
It's not going to be good for trans people either. The economy will suffer, and the NHS with it. Not to mention the usual effects of living in a bad economy. It wouldn't surprise me to see more intolerance.
I'm thankful its so far away from me.
Quote from: BeverlyAnn on July 01, 2016, 11:59:45 PM
But what about Northern Ireland?
This is one of the more exciting places for the decision. For obvious reasons, sane people really don't want to play up the difference between those two as it has the potential for violence. While it's true that Spain will pull whatever levers it needs to in order to avoid the precedent that breakaway provinces like Scotland or Catalan can join the EU on their own, Northern Ireland joining the Irish Republic and the EU seems a much harder thing for them to prevent.
I voted to leave. I know, try not to hate me to much. However at the time and also now I feel that it was the right decision. I feel sorry for Ireland and Gibraltar but with a little common sense their issues can be easily resolved. Spains always wanted Gibraltar and they always will. Only a small percentage of the Scottish actually turned out to vote in the referendum so their true feelings as a nation are inconclusive. There also appears to be a proportion of the Scottish politicians that are hell bent on splitting away from England, I'm not sure why but I carn't see what there is to gain. Back in 1975 the British public voted to be part of a European Union with a small group of other countries, the idea being to create an environment that was easier to trade with and therefore build stronger nations. Now though I feel that this vision has been lost. Europe is now being controlled by a handful of invisible executives who are answerable to no one. Their vision of Europe is now to be one nation, to have no boards, to have laws that take no consideration of each individual countries history or identity. Why is it Britain can send a terrorist to court, find them guilty, issue extradition orders but then have their findings over turned by the European courts. I work in an industry that is so heavily legislated by Europe that it is now becoming almost impossible to function in so I am now looking to leave the industry. I can remember a time when the roads were always being repaired, now theres potholes everywhere. Don't get me wrong some of the things the union have introduced are good but overall I feel that this country is slowly getting worse and you carn't blame that entirely onto the politicians. I feel once the initial panic has calmed down Britain will come out the other end much stronger.
I don't hate you at all. I was in Ireland not long after they joined the EU and was amazed at how quickly the place had changed, their economy was the fastest growing in the EU at the time and the infrastructure had in no way kept pace. It was not surprising that when the pendulum swung the other way it was equally extreme.
Being of English & Scottish descent, I have some feelings for both the Scots referendum on leaving the UK and now the British exit from the EU.
I wish England all the luck in the world, technology has advanced sufficiently that the costs of separation from the union may indeed be less than the benefits of independence. On the flip side, it seems clear that the brexit vote was conceived on a short time frame and it doesn't seem clear that it's even binding or how it may be implemented.
I don't know if Scotland will stay with the UK or seek her fortune on the path of joining the EU.
I have some feelings about the red/blue split in our US union, will save those for after the election.
Brexit and the US election are both well reported here in Canada. I have strong opinions about both since the repercussions of both will be felt strongly here. That said, I can't vote in either the UK or the US so I have to trust that the citizens of those countries will make the best possible choices... I expect that trust is misplaced.
I do think that the Brits will find out one or two things. First, they may find that it is harder to leave the EU than they thought and eventually they may find that an isolationist policy is harder to maintain and more damaging than they thought. Rejoining the EU if they change their minds will probably involve giving up many of the perks and exclusions that they currently have. Do I think it will be the end of the world, no... but I do think that many people will be hurt by it.
I will not comment in the American election sufficed to say that I am glad I am not voting there.
Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk
The way the EU is headed is not where I want to be. It's apparently so undemocratic that if it were a country itself hoping to become part of the union it wouldn't be let in. Last I checked we originally joined the "economic community" for trade benefits, not for the EU to start peripherally dictating our laws, creating an army, or an anthem, interfering in marriage classifications, etc. and trying to become a "United States of Europe" for political as well as economic purposes.
The situation is by no means black and white as neither staying in or leaving the EU as it stands now are remotely ideal for the UK. Either way you slice it, the single currency wasn't exactly a well thought out idea, the free movement 'deal' does have consequences, and the Western World is on the slippery slope downwards economically, not upwards. The EU and its "precariat" labour force is what allows it to at least hope to compete with the likes of China and India economically, but this is basically plugging the hole in the boat, not repairing it. In the long run what "opportunities" this is providing is only doing so because big and small business benefit from it, but it is creating here in the UK an employment market exploitative of employees, who are losing their security and worker's "rights" by the year, and in my lifetime it's never been so hard to get a job with all the ready competition for one. It seems to me the future looks bleaker, not better... where if your kids and grandkids want a job they probably better be ready to go travel where the work is, just like those folks from Eastern Europe -- if there is any to be had.
I saw it coming from a mile away. I lived in a community where there was fairly clear disgust and disdain towards migrants from Europe. Employers discriminated against them, even restaurant staff gave them terrible service.
While they might not have been calling names, it was practically impossible to ignore.
This is due to various reasons. One, the country is in horrible, horrible debt with taxes on the rise (and many, many cuts) and the EU was brought up at a convenient time. If I recall, £10 billion/year is sent off to the EU. The NHS was doing really badly with doctors going on strike, people not getting the level of care they deserve, etc.
Well, how convenient. £10 billion/year which could go towards the NHS to give us a better healthcare system.
And so, the out campaign waved this around. I didn't look into it too deeply, but apparently even the trans community was doing pretty badly with countless people self-medicating and on long waiting lists.
There was also a flood of migrants arriving from the EU and sapping the resources of the UK. Taking low paid jobs, draining vast amounts of money from the welfare system, etc. so it's not necessarily that surprising that people voted for it and they probably have no regrets.
I sure hope they won't kick me out from Wales since I work here and have a degree. I'm scared.
Quote from: SidneyAldaine on October 06, 2016, 09:52:01 AM
I sure hope they won't kick me out from Wales since I work here and have a degree. I'm scared.
I heavily doubt they'll just turn around and kick everyone out. But, they'll probably stop people entering. I really don't know, the government is one level above useless.
I don't know if I would say the government is useless. I think it is likely to be a lot more effective at achieving its aims than either of Cameron's governments. That said, I am downright terrified of the way things are going. Not because it is conservatism, but the xenophobia, the suppression of academic freedom...
As for Brexit specifically. I have a master's degree in International Politics. The issues they discussed were too complex for me to get head around. How are people without that specialist education supposed to have been able to make a decision in this referendum when both sides were exaggerating or downright lying in order to press their message?
What I am seeing is that my country has become exceptionally divided by this, and it has allowed an authoritarian into Downing Street.
This is the result of a political gamble on the part of Cameron in order to win an election he should have lost.