Brexit

From: milko22 Jun 2016 13:41
To: Harry (HARRYN) 23 of 30
Some of the arguments for exit about having more control over our laws or whatever, I could be persuaded by if I had any confidence our lawmakers would use them for good. Like, the EU would make it quite difficult for us to renationalise some industries (eg railways, utilities) and there's a few other left-wing reasons to want to leave. However what we'd actually get right now is instead further dismantling of worker protection, shitter trade deals that we have less influence over with EU countries, less opposition to TTIP and countless other things I don't like one bit. 

Meanwhile arguments most prominently had seem to be red herrings -
immigration: we already have control of non-EU immigration and don't do anything much about it because the politicians know that actually it's needed and in fact a net benefit to the country. EU immigration we'd still have to accept freedom of movement as part of trade deals, see Norway for example. In other words, it is more or less entirely irrelevant. What we need is proper investment in infrastructure to keep things like housing, hospitals, schools and transport working well. Which'd also benefit the economy! But isn't going to happen.
Elected officials: The House of Lords is not elected, so that's what, 50% of our own government straight away. Meanwhile our representatives in Europe are elected. I'd in principle love to abolish an unelected House except again recently they've pretty much been the only thing standing between us and some really shitty Bills from Parliament.
Taxes: mainly as has been mentioned, this is entirely misrepresented as a one-way fee we get nothing back from. But actually a lot of our funding for deprived areas comes from EU grants and you can be damn sure the Tories wouldn't be providing it.

Just about everything the Brexit campaign wants they could have already if they elected a government to do it instead of one to make it worse. Meanwhile what they're all going to vote for now will actually do nothing to reduce inequality (the opposite in fact), nothing for immigration, nothing for 'being pushed around' (we'd no longer have a veto on EU policy but it would still affect us if we want to trade with them) and argh, it makes me mad.

I think/hope we'll get a 51% remain vote tomorrow. If we don't, well I was already idly considering emigration possibilities. Brexit would do nothing good for the company I work for so I'd have to think a bit more seriously about it for sure.
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)22 Jun 2016 14:59
To: ALL24 of 30
I've been following this pretty closely on the Guardian web site (it barely rates a mention in the Canadian press, except in business sections where it receives a lot of attention). My sympathies lie with the Remain crowd, I agree with whoever said they have largely botched making their case before the British public -- I blame Cameron and other Cons, though Corbyn has been pretty lukewarm.

Having said that, I have no idea what the long-term fallout would be from a brexit, it seems like it would be damaging to the EU itself which is already under considerable stress, due to rising nationalism and xenophobia among many constituent countries. And I think Britain would find itself cut off from a huge, important market at least for a while, which will likely be very, very damaging to its economy. I can see many head offices of large corporations (including our main client) there relocating tout suite. And then there's the Scotland thing.

Really hope it doesn't happen. :-&
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)22 Jun 2016 16:26
To: ALL25 of 30
From: milko22 Jun 2016 17:06
To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) 26 of 30
Phone polling is generally more optimistic and seen as a more reliable indicator, but lots of pre-election polls were way off last GE so who knows. It's certainly a nail-biter, you're right there.
EDITED: 22 Jun 2016 17:12 by MILKO
From: patch22 Jun 2016 18:56
To: ANT_THOMAS 27 of 30
I voted Stay a couple of weeks ago. I have very little idea what most of the points made by either side were (it takes ages for the carrier pigeons to get over here), I just can't see how splitting up into smaller and smaller units can be helpful in any way. Also, I'm not sure I can complain about immigration when I'm living in another country.
From: fixrman25 Jun 2016 03:44
To: ALL28 of 30
You're out! Good on you!

The American Market Manipulating Twats are trying to cash in.  (fail)
From: ANT_THOMAS13 Oct 2017 15:28
To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) 30 of 30
We can only hope.