The Brexit referendum thread: potential consequences for GB, EU and the Brits in CH

[family5]

Read an interesting article which likened the EU as an establishment run by bureaucrats for bureaucrats currently filling a power void across europe previously filled by the Catholic Church.
Interesting thought

[kriss kross]

	Quote:
	As a Brit, can you tell me what my culture is? Is it that of the Beaker people, Romans, Huguenots, Saxons, etc etc. The truth is there is no British culture other than the evolution of ideas over time.

I think you'll find that every nation has had some form of foreign influence on their culture, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

	Quote:	family5
	Read an interesting article which likened the EU as an establishment run by bureaucrats for bureaucrats currently filling a power void across europe previously filled by the Catholic Church. Interesting thought

I thought I'd seen that circle of stars somewhere before!

[st2lemans]

	Quote:
	can you tell me what my culture is?

Yogurt?

Tom

	Quote:	st2lemans
	Yogurt? Tom

You're mixing me up with the Greek fella above you.

[st2lemans]

	Quote:	JagWaugh
	Ever been a Canadian?

Nope, but I have two kids, a late wife, another two step kids, nieces, nephews and former in-laws who are, as well as several friends.

Tom

[Jim2007]

	Quote:
	As a Brit, can you tell me what my culture is? Is it that of the Beaker people, Romans, Huguenots, Saxons, etc etc. The truth is there is no British culture other than the evolution of ideas over time.

Perhaps part of the problem is that English don't seem to have any independent national identity of their own aside from being British... Morris dancing, not really... no widely celebrated national day, no parliament of it's own etc....

[greenmount]

It doesn't matter why, how, what for etc. etc. people voted for Brexit. I guess each had their own motives. But this is how democracy functions and it's annoying to see that quite a while after the vote there are still voices who oppose the normal course of action following it. Shouldn't we all have the grace or elegance to accept it and move on?

	Quote:	greenmount
	...But this is how democracy functions

It really isn't though. We have a Constitutional Monarchy, underpinned by a representative democracy. We elect representatives to make decisions on our behalf, and the only reason there was ever a (non-legally binding) referendum was that Cameron shat his load about UKIP.

	Quote:
	It really isn't though. We have a Constitutional Monarchy, underpinned by a representative democracy. We elect representatives to make decisions on our behalf, and the only reason there was ever a (non-legally binding) referendum was that Cameron shat his load about UKIP.

“We serfs are not capable of making our own decisions”.

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	greenmount
	It doesn't matter why, how, what for etc. etc. people voted for Brexit. I guess each had their own motives. But this is how democracy functions and it's annoying to see that quite a while after the vote there are still voices who oppose the normal course of action following it. Shouldn't we all have the grace or elegance to accept it and move on?

In addition to Stirb's reply:
Would you have said the same if the vote had been to remain? Close UKIP for good and shut up Farage with a "Maulkorb" (muzzle?), never ever to mention the topic again?

[marton]

	Quote:	greenmount
	It doesn't matter why, how, what for etc. etc. people voted for Brexit. I guess each had their own motives. But this is how democracy functions and it's annoying to see that quite a while after the vote there are still voices who oppose the normal course of action following it. Shouldn't we all have the grace or elegance to accept it and move on?

Indeed, why do we go back every four years or so and vote in a new Govt.?
Shouldn't we all have the grace or elegance to accept the current Govt. continues for ever?

	Quote:
	“We serfs are not capable of making our own decisions”.

You said it. I much prefer the Swiss voting system, but for the time being, we have what we have in the UK and as things stand, we don't get a vote on specific issues, our elected representative does.

[amogles]

	Quote:	marton
	Indeed, why do we go back every four years or so and vote in a new Govt.? Shouldn't we all have the grace or elegance to accept the current Govt. continues for ever?

and why should the Uk be the only EU country that gets to vote about its membership every few years? Let's raise the game and have everybody vote. What are you afraid of?

	Quote:	amogles
	and why should the Uk be the only EU country that gets to vote about its membership every few years? Let's raise the game and have everybody vote. What are you afraid of?

Why introduce that stipulation? Every EU country can vote as often as they want on the terms of membership, just like Britain did. The fact they aren't doing so probably tells you something.

[amogles]

	Quote:
	Why introduce that stipulation? Every EU country can vote as often as they want on the terms of membership, just like Britain did. The fact they aren't doing so probably tells you something.

Wrong.

Most EU countries have no legal mechanism to force a vote on the matter.

	Quote:	amogles
	Wrong. Most EU countries have no legal mechanism to force a vote on the matter.

I'm afraid it is you who are wrong, your point is disingenuous.

They have exactly the same OPPORTUNITY to leave as the UK, the EU is not forbidding it in any way.

[Chuff]

	Quote:	amogles
	Wrong. Most EU countries have no legal mechanism to force a vote on the matter.

How did the UK people have a legal mechanism to 'force' a vote to leave the EU? Cameron called it of his own volition, didn't he?

	Quote:	Chuff
	How did the UK people have a legal mechanism to 'force' a vote to leave the EU? Cameron called it of his own volition, didn't he?

Indeed, the irony being it was advisory and in no way a legally binding vote.

[Medea Fleecestealer]

	Quote:
	I'm afraid it is you who are wrong, your point is disingenuous. They have exactly the same OPPORTUNITY to leave as the UK, the EU is not forbidding it in any way.

Not really since some EU countries have no means of holding referendums, their constitutions don't allow them.