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Brexit
Jun 28, 2016 21:04:09 GMT
Post by Young Ireland on Jun 28, 2016 21:04:09 GMT
So what do people think about this? My own belief is that this is probably a mistake that the British will probably end up regretting, though I am also aware that for many people, it appears to be a cry for help from people who have suffered from decades of ultra-liberal economics who are looking for a scapegoat upon which to pitch their troubles. Nevertheless, self-mutilation is not the solution. One positive is that Scottish independence seems to be a great deal closer, and there are now questions about the future of the North. In this context, I do think that Irish Confederate's platform is quite prescient in that the Unionists will have to be accommodated in a unified Ireland as they will simply not accept the status quo without violence. On the negative, I am deeply disturbed in the increase in racist and xenophobic incidents in the aftermath of the vote, and of course the murder of Jo Cox before it. As for the future, Boris Johnson will almost certainly be PM now, while Jeremy Corbyn's days as Labour leader look numbered. What do you think?
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Brexit
Jun 28, 2016 21:48:51 GMT
Post by maolsheachlann on Jun 28, 2016 21:48:51 GMT
I think the supposed wave of racism is mostly propaganda. I mean, the BBC have a whole news report about a man and a boy flicking beer and saying bad things to an African on a tram. www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-36656382Boorish? Certainly. Worthy of national news? Come on. Apart from an arson attack that might have been racially motivated, there's been nothing tangible reported but graffiti and reports from 'groups' which obviously have an agenda. I'm so tired of self-reported discrimination being used to influence policy.
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Brexit
Jun 29, 2016 21:09:56 GMT
Post by assisi on Jun 29, 2016 21:09:56 GMT
I voted Leave, mostly for social and cultural reasons rather than economic reasons. Partly too there was an element of protest in my vote, protest against the influence of big government and big multinationals dictating to us a new moral order which, generally speaking I find offensive. I also think the move from a trading community, which was a good way of seeking cooperation between previously antagonistic countries, to a political union where sovereignty is gradually swallowed up, was a mistake.
Straight after the vote many Leave voters felt intimidated by the sheer ferocity of the the liberal left criticism and the dire warnings of financial consequences (value of pound falling, national credit ratings being reduced). Talking to a few friends and family who were adamant Remainers, when they heard my Leave vote it was like I had just shot their cat. Some voters actually regretted voting Leave when they began to understand the possible economic consequences.
Now that the panic of the first hours of the result have passed I am glad that I voted the way I did. I did notice that many people online started to show their true colours calling the Leave voters racists and rednecks etc, the assumption being that they were stupid. The Leave voters that swung the vote were the poorer people in the cities of northern England and the Midlands, the very category that many of the liberal Remain voters would claim to champion.
There is no doubt that no-one knows the economic outcome of this vote. I would hazard a guess that there will be short term instability, hopefully followed by better times. But I was surprised that there was very little concrete policy from the Leave side and the Government about scenarios to pursue. Surely, knowing in advance that this vote was happening and there was a distinct chance of a Leave vote prevailing, the Government/Civil Service would have researched several scenarios. This doesn't seem to be the case and confusion now reigns - surely a missed opportunity to get ahead of the game (for example, there could have been a costing of those UK voluntary organisations who are currently partly funded by EU monies, to see how much was needed to keep these organisations running until an alternative funding structure was established).
There are interesting times ahead. The success of the departure from the EU will depend on the political and organisational skills of the British government and people. They need to be bold and decisive and put forward a vision and policies that are generally acceptable to the country as a whole. Less internal bickering.lets see what they are made of.
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