please log in to view this image ARE YOU VOTING IN OR OUT? please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Boris Johnson: EU exit 'win-win for us all' WHO IS SAYING THE TRUTH?
Only one major difference: we are not Norway. A small nation who has never been in the EU. GB is a big member trying to get out. Huge difference. IMO the economic fall out from a Brexit vote will be massive. Think about it. The EU have to make life outside the club as difficult as possible. Otherwise more members will start thinking of leaving. They have to show that life will be worse outside. Those who think that we will have a cosy relationship with the EU are just living in cloud cuckoo land. Many think the economic fall out is worth it but if we do leave at least we should do it with our eyes open.
This ^ Leaving the EU would be an economic disaster for the UK. People need making aware of that reality, without the ridiculous hyperbole of that bobble headed Tory twat Cameron. If the Nation votes with xenophobia as it's driver then it needs to fully aware of the flip side of that decision. The 'In' campaign has been so overblown that people are sceptical of it's entire premise. I'm waiting for them to declare that a plague of locusts will descend and they'll have covered every base. Way too many people are still unsure of the actual facts around this issue, and the fault for that lies with Cameron and his clowns.
There was a brilliant post about why we should stay in from a guy called George Bevan which has been shared around Facebook for a few days and in full it's here: https://glwtf.net/2016/05/26/eu-referendum-in-or-out/
EU Referendum: In or Out? I wrote a post on Facebook that went viral. I didn’t expect that. But now that it’s happened, I’m cashing in all my chips and going for broke by starting this blog in the hopes my internet fame will last longer than the requisite fifteen minutes. Also because I really like swearing at David Cameron. ****. Thank you to all the lovely folks who had so many nice things to say about this, and to the friends who encouraged me to start a blog. You’re all wonderful. Thank you also to the people who didn’t have nice to things to say, but messaged me anyway; at least you showed you care. You little ****puffins. So, without any further ado-ing, here’s the full post for your delectation: Alright, you filthy animals. I don’t normally do this, because I believe that everyone should have the right to vote how they want at elections, but: a) this ain‘t an election, it’s a referendum so go **** yourself and b) I honestly believe that the stakes are too high for me not to get involved here. If I can influence even one person with this post, then I’ll feel like I’ve done something important. So, I’ll put my cards on the table: I believe, very very strongly, that we need to stay in the EU. I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with David ‘PigFellatio’ Cameron, but in this unfortunate case I am, and here’s why: We stand to gain SO MUCH from staying in the EU. “How much”, you’re (probably not) asking? Well, I made a convenient list for your perusal, WITH sources, so you can’t be a twat and say ‘you’re making that up!’ and froth at the mouth like a rabid ****. I know people on the internet like listicles with clickbait titles, so here are “14 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Leave The EU That Everyone Should Know! You Won’t Believe #8!”: 1) The EU provides easy access to 1/3 of the world’s markets by value (in other words, the EU’s combined market value is 1/3 of the entire world’s, and we can tap into it whenever the **** we want). [1] It also gives UK businesses preferential market access to over 50 countries OUTSIDE the EU, including some of the fastest-growing economies in the world like South Korea and South Africa. [2] 2) The EU gives us better product safety. You know, so your toddler doesn’t impale him/herself on a ****tily designed toy, or swallow a load of poisonous plastic. [3] 3) The EU gives structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline (hello, Cornwall). [4] 4) The EU gave us lead free petrol. [5] 5) The EU gives us cheaper mobile charges. [6] It also gives us cheaper air travel. [7] **** yeah, cheap things! 6) The EU gives us cleaner beaches, rivers and air (hello again, Cornwall). [8] 7) The EU gives us improved consumer protection and food labelling, so you actually know what it’s in your Chicken McNuggets (hint: it’s chicken. It wasn’t always chicken, though). [9] 8) The EU has helped break up monopolies. [10] If you don’t know why monopolies are a Very Bad Thing, try playing the popular board game ‘Monopoly’ and see how many friends you have left when you win. 9) The EU gives us cross-border policing to combat human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling, and terrorism. [11] 10) Being a member of the EU means no paperwork or customs for exports throughout the single market, as well as the freedom to travel, live and work across Europe. [12] This one is particularly important for me as someone who likes to live, work and travel abroad. Do you have ANY IDEA how ****ing great it is to be able to travel and work visa-free?! Having to a get a visa for every single country you enter is a nightmare, believe me. If you’ve ever tried to travel around Asia, Africa or South America, you’ll understand what I’m saying. 11) The EU creates and helps uphold all kinds of awesome human rights, such as equal pay legislation, holiday entitlement, and the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime. [13] I’d also like to point out that it’s some of these same human rights that David ‘PorkTwatter’ Cameron tried to erode back in 2014, with the EU playing a major role in stopping him. [14] 12) The EU creates and upholds all kinds of great animal welfare legislation; it has the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world and contributes to improved animal welfare in food production. [15] 13) The EU funds incredible scientific research and industrial collaboration(including, most recently, a project that may be the catalyst for a cure for breast cancer being found in the next few years, I **** you not). [16] 14) Finally, and arguably most importantly, the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after many years of bloodshed. [17] It has also assisted in the extraordinary social, political and economic transformation of 13 former dictatorships, now EU members, since 1980. [18] SOURCES: [1] http://news.cbi.org.uk/…/eu-business-facts/10-facts-about-…/ [2] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1080_en.htm [3] http://ec.europa.eu/…/general_product_safety_d…/index_en.htm [4] http://ec.europa.eu/…/general_product_safety_d…/index_en.htm [5] http://ec.europa.eu/environme…/…/project/Projects/index.cfm… [6] https://www.theguardian.com/…/europe-abolishes-mobile-phone… [7] http://europa.eu/…/citizens/travel/passeng…/air/index_en.htm [8] http://www.theguardian.com/…/england-beaches-bathing-waters… [9] http://ec.europa.eu/…/la…/labelling_legislation/index_en.htm [10] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w…/European_Union_competition_law (I know I’m not supposed to use Wikipedia as a source for its less-than-rigorous academic standards, but **** YOU I’m not in uni anymore, I’ll do what I like). [11] http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage… [12] http://ec.europa.eu/…/borders-and-…/visa-policy/index_en.htm [13] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/…/European_Convention_on_Human_R… [14] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/David-Camerons-plan-to-scrap-t… [15] http://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/index_en.htm [16] http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94691_en.html [17] The Second World War, motherfucker. Read a history book. [18] The Cold War, motherfucker. Read a history book. And now, let’s take a moment to address some of the arguments for leaving the EU. Apart from the fact that I can’t find a single reputable study that suggests we’d be any better off outside of the EU (and believe me, I’ve looked; I want to research my counterarguments as thoroughly as my arguments), the most persuasive arguments I’ve found are what I’m going to term ‘the trade argument’ and ‘the immigration argument’. The trade argument goes as follows: if we left the EU, we could negotiate a sort of ‘amicable divorce’ where we somehow retain strong trading links with the EU while not being subject to its laws. Many people point to Canada as a good example of this model, which recently negotiated a CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement- do I have to google EVERYTHING for you?) with the EU. I have two retorts to this argument. My first retort: Canada was never a part of the EU in the first place. To return to the divorce analogy outlined above- whereby the EU and the U.K. are a sort of ‘married couple’ and trade is their kids- the U.K. seeking a CETA after leaving the EU would be like a nasty, messy divorce where one parent uses the kids as a weapon against the other, threatening to take them away whenever their demands aren’t met. Canada’s CETA, meanwhile, is like a married couple approaching someone else to have a threesome at a swinger’s party, which sounds a lot more fun and exciting, I’m sure you’ll agree. My second retort to the above argument is simple: why even take the risk? If we stay in the EU, our trade with them will continue to be prosperous and full of great sex while the kids are asleep (okay, I’ve taken the analogy too far now). If we leave, however, there’s a chance any trade agreement could fail catastrophically and leave our economy in a ****storm. In fact, I would argue the likes of Germany, France and other leading EU nations would not simply let us pick and choose what rules and trade agreements we adhere to, so the likelihood of us being absolutely fine, trade-wise, after leaving the EU seems overly optimistic. Plus negotiating a CETA of any kind could take years and have a completely uncertain outcome. Again, why take the risk? An additional point: arguments no. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12 above are examples of really great laws and regulations the EU has introduced. If you say you want to leave the EU so we have autonomy over our own laws, you know that you’re effectively handing control of our country over to David ‘HideTheSausageLiterally’ Cameron, don’t you? In terms of making laws that benefit all of us, I trust the EU way more than that guy. The immigration argument tends to centre around the whole ‘visa-free work and travel’ thing, and is generally espoused by people terrified of dem immigantz stealin are jobz. Alternatively it’s espoused by people afraid of terrorists being able to come here more easily, but for that I’d refer you to point no. 9 above; we’re safer from terrorism in the EU because we can share intelligence and resources with other countries more easily. But back to the ‘stealing our jobs’ fear; while it’s true that technically speaking there could be an influx of foreigners coming to claim your particular job at any moment, just remember, we’ve been part of the EU for 43 years now and it hasn’t happened yet, despite what the mainstream media may tell you (and you DEFINITELY shouldn’t trust those guys; more on that later). Seriously, do you know ANYONE, personally, that has had their job stolen by a foreigner? Be honest now. I’d be willing to wager that you don’t, and I’ll explain why that is too: the immigrants that are coming here are not stealing YOUR jobs, specifically. They’re either starting their own businesses (in which case they’re actually creating jobs), or they’re skilled labourers taking jobs there just aren’t enough trained British people to take (such as doctors or surgeons), or they’re unskilled labourers taking the jobs that you don’t want (like toilet cleaning or washing dishes). Incidentally, about a year ago I taught English to some Eastern European immigrants who worked in a salad-packing factory in Lichfield. One Latvian girl was actually a teacher back home, but she was making more money as a salad-packer here than she was as a teacher in Latvia(!)- the point being that unskilled immigrant workers are generally happy to work ****ty menial jobs that no British person wants, and your cushy 9-to-5 office job is not under threat. Not even a little bit- so don’t worry your xenophobic little head about it. Oh, and one last thing on this subject, to paraphrase Louis CK: maybe, if an immigrant with no contacts, no skills and no local knowledge of the language and/or culture can steal your job, maybe, just maybe, you’re **** at your job. If you’ve made it thus far through this absolute essay of a post, congratulations! You’re nearly at the end! But before I go, I just want to hit you with one final thought. Over 80% of UK newspapers are owned by five right-wing media billionaires (aka five massive ****stacks): Lord Rothermere (Daily Mail), Rupert Murdoch (Sun/Times), Richard Desmond (Express), and the Barclay Brothers (Telegraph). Murdoch is an Australian living in New York and Rothermere lives in France, while the Barclay Brothers live in the tax havens of Monaco and Guernsey. All of them use tax haven entities to avoid UK taxes. And guess who wants to stop billionaires using tax havens to avoid paying their taxes? That’s right, the EU. So of COURSE the British newspapers are trying to persuade you to leave the EU; it benefits their owners personally. The moral of the story is, don’t gather your views from newspapers. Do some research like I have with this post, you lazy twonknoggin. In conclusion: we’re in a really great position right now. We’re part of the EU with all the benefits that entails, but without being tied to their notoriously unstable currency. Leaving the EU would not only be hypocritical since we spent so much time telling Scotland they shouldn’t leave the UK this time last year with all that lovely ‘better together’ rhetoric, it might also be downright stupid and harmful to our economy. tl;dr version: Vote to stay in the EU, you filthy animals. Because reasons. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. End Transmission
Great posting from George. I can understand why young people would overwhelmingly vote to stay in. Never mind the economic forecasts etc. At the moment in the EU, they have a huge pool they could in theory apply for jobs in. They can travel anywhere without any restriction, work in summer and study courses as home students. They also feel part of a big club so why change it to be isolated and become a Canada, Switzerland or Norway? There is bound to be some economic fallout. The Brexit people don't even bother to deny this.
I see this as a much broader issue than just the economy. Both sides concentrate on this as they understand the venality of the voting public and they can use scare-mongering to sway opinion. I'm more concerned with long-term social issues. To me, the evolution of social history is one of unification, and devolution is a step backwards. No matter how much they'd like to, the Little Englanders will never take us back to a perceived golden age of Disraelian "splendid isolation" and empire building. The world has moved on. The EU is relatively young, it has many problems, but they are better sorted from within than just walking away from it, imo. I feel that much of the hostility towards it is xenophobic and born out of the traditional enmity between us and most of the nations in it. I know that many people see the U.S. as our natural cousins and Europeans as johnny foreigner and I think this is the danger. Out of Europe, it will be even more difficult to stem the tide of U.S cultural invasion. We have already inexplicably adopted far too many of their spectacularly failed policies and I can only see us going further down that route. The most powerful country in the world is incredibly ******ed in its attitude to race, religion, poverty, health, education, justice, gun law and foreign relations. I see nothing in the important aspects of their society that we should aspire to. Also, a vote with Boris now, may well turn into a vote for Boris in the future. Boris in no.10, Trump in the White House -it really is beyond parody.
The issue for me is really that irrespective of leaving unless someone stands up and reforms this thing it will fall apart and the fallout from it falling apart will be far bigger than the fallout from Brexit. Brexit supporters don't seem to see this Someone inside the thing needs to slap it back to a basic trade model
Lol..doesn't matter either way...the EU as a body will self destruct within a generation anyway. Only thing that annoys me about the "what it does for you lists" is there is no reason our own govt couldn't provide those things...and better yet if they don't you get to vote them out every 5 years. It's incredibly lazy minded of us to pass that kind of decision making outside of our democratic borders and allows our own govt to pass the bucket while getting reelected for doing feck all. Having said that..I've still to hear a credible plan for post Brexit.... Both sides of this campaign have treated us like mindless toddlers...there should be a third option of deporting the lot of them to Syria in an exchange for kids...
I really like that ****er Leaving would have a massive deleterious effect on scientific R&D in the UK. IN
will it orderly step back as a trade block or will it fall apart to the point where ze germans get their pound of flesh while the rest suffer then end up going bust and refusing to pay.. Yes our government can and actually does provide most of ti. the endless sillyness in brussels is unnecessary. the trade blocks where on a global level we can negotiate deals with us and china etc... well thats the important part. I don't think we can alone.. we will get worse deals thats all. The point of the eu is to be free movement... that should not mean free benefits.. just hey i wanna go there.. i can if i get a job ok.. but i don't think we should be seeing guys flying in taking dole and flying home ****e... its also meant to be free trade... so if we think the markets out there want to just give us free trade for nothing ok... but thats not how it worls.
I think the Germans have screwed the pooch with the single currency and don't know how to get out of it without destroying the treaties...so only option is to plough ahead with even greater integration...i.e. they control the little countries economies for them but then that isn't exactly an open market is it lol. France is run by its Unions and Farmers who don't give a **** about high youth unemployment in the cities. As long as Germany stops US interloping they are happy...sort of. Until the **** hits the fan. The Southern states are screwed. They found out too late it wasn't a free market at all as well as the euro has ****ed them royally. Their unemployment figures are disastrous...so who wants to freely move to a place the original inhabitants can't get a job? The Eastern states are just now figuring out that their workers are all freely moving to Germany and Britain while they are supposed to welcome in every waif and stray from any current war zone because Germany put out the welcome mat. The common defence stuff is nonsense. Agencies don't talk to each other within European states (see Belgium) never mind across the board. Us, Israel the Yanks and Saudis collect most of the intelligence for Europe. Any existing cooperation predates and will survive the break up or Brexit. Personally I think it will be a bad breakup rather than ordered step back. Next nig global financial crisis might be enough...and there's one coming.
Norway also has a shed load of oil which, to their credit, they haven't got a neo-liberal economic zealot government who use the revenue to fund low welfare costs that keeps down unit labour costs. Did you also know that in order to trade with the EU that Norway has to have practically the same rules on the movement of people throughout the EU into their country as we do? But just swallow Boris' lies, and you'll believe Turkey is joining next week and 70m Turks will be here the week after. And they're Muslems. And not really white.
This: "Over 80% of UK newspapers are owned by five right-wing media billionaires (aka five massive ****stacks): Lord Rothermere (Daily Mail), Rupert Murdoch (Sun/Times), Richard Desmond (Express), and the Barclay Brothers (Telegraph). Murdoch is an Australian living in New York and Rothermere lives in France, while the Barclay Brothers live in the tax havens of Monaco and Guernsey. All of them use tax haven entities to avoid UK taxes. And guess who wants to stop billionaires using tax havens to avoid paying their taxes? That’s right, the EU. So of COURSE the British newspapers are trying to persuade you to leave the EU; it benefits their owners personally. The moral of the story is, don’t gather your views from newspapers. Do some research like I have with this post, you lazy twonknoggin." FFS, Boris and Gove were at Murdoch's wedding the week before he came out as Chief Brexiter. I hate Cameron, but Murdoch has never forgiven him and Hunt over the phone-hacking scandal and the failed Sky total takeover (which they were all for - it was actually Cable who ****ed him). Well I'm a middle-aged man now, and I admit I'n no wiser with age as to how politics and those who control society, like Murdoch/Citizen Kane, operate, but I do know this: everything Rupert Murdoch has said and done throughout my whole adult life has been to my detriment, and also to the detriment of people like me. He is, without laying on the hyperbole, the embodiment of a 21st century Darth Vader. His evil empire has its tentacles in everything, and his flying monkeys throughout the media (not just in the arse-end Sun, but those pseuds in the Times) are mostly irritated that though they can easily control MP's, police and judiciary in this country, they find it immensely more difficult to do the same with Europe. In short, if he is against it you can rest assured there's good reason why we should be for it.
And yet we hand over 90% of our decision-making re defence to an organisation that is run by the US, and spend hundreds of billions of pounds on a submarine system that we physically can not use unilaterally as the US hold all the launch codes and satellite tracking/targetting systems. Odd then that the same US passionately want us to stay in the EU, isn't it?
