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

[Blueangel]

	Quote:
	So he went on a road trip a decade before the EU was established, and this demonstrates that the EU has done more for integration than the things Loz1983 suggested? Eh?

The EU didn't come into being overnight you know, and my dad saw a great opportunity to expand his business, so decided to secure the contacts needed early.

More disillusioned Leave voters...

	Quote:
	I swallowed the Brexit lies. Now I regret telling curry house workers to vote leave Oli Khan

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...urant-industry

	Quote:	Blueangel
	More disillusioned Leave voters... https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...urant-industry

This is disgraceful. It could easily be fixed at a domestic level, though. Perhaps a change of government will help? I don't think we'll be waiting very long for that...

[John William]

Meanwhile over in Post Brexit Britain's land of opportunities, somewhere East of Suez

A ghastly blow to Britain's hopes of securing trade deals with China after Brexit emerges today,
as Chancellor Phillip Hammond's planned trip to China is called off amid an escalating row with
Beijing over her territorial claims in the South China Seas.

BBC News - Chancellor Phillip Hammond's visit to China is called off

[YuropFlyer]

I wonder at which point does Britain realizes it's not an Empire anymore and can't invade other countries at will.

Oh, and hand back Gibraltar and the Malvinas

	Quote:	John William
	A ghastly blow to Britain's hopes of securing trade deals with China after Brexit emerges today, as Chancellor Phillip Hammond's planned trip to China is called off amid an escalating row with Beijing over her territorial claims in the South China Seas. BBC News - Chancellor Phillip Hammond's visit to China is called off

I think this is another bonus of the EU - the world is, as always, in a perilous state. New superpowers are emerging, as the old guard attempt to cling on. Never mind the military implications of a hungry Russia next door; but in trading terms, the US is the superpower (perhaps a tad on the wane), China has emerged (and is light years ahead of where the press would like you to think) India now has a bigger GDP than the UK and growing...

The Balkanisation of the EU is exactly what all of these countries want - who wants to try and negotiate with a 500m people block when you could get much better deals of 30 smaller trading nations (all of whom would be scrabbling against the others in a race to the bottom to get the best deal with China, US etc).

So whilst it is by no means perfect, the EU is the best solution we have at the moment to predation from larger economies.

[Clocker]

	Quote:	yuropflyer
	i wonder at which point does britain realizes it's not an empire anymore

1997.

[Sky]

	Quote:
	English people are not European. Even Odile acknowledged their awkwardness (because let's be honest here: it isn't the Scots who object to everything the EEC stood for and the EU stands for). The English people have never been interested in integrating, or going full steam ahead into a united Europe. The English are a conservative bunch, and stubborn too. Throw a toaster in a swimming pool and tell the English to get out and they'll hurl abuse at you and stay where they are. It should be no surprise that most English people (at least the ones in England, rather than those who emigrated and have 'world citizen' pretentions) see Brexit differently to people in Europe. And when did English people ever deal with anything without taking the piss? This is why we don't belong in the EU.

Read this out loud to an approving Englishman.
"'e's right" (if only one could write the lovely lilt of the midlands accent).

Yes you are.
Once more the British are a leading bastion of individuality.
The sense of fearless freedom and headstrong opinion has been the country's strength and success throughout the centuries.

Once more isolated yet daring.
It's the strength of the British culture and the resolve that will see them through.

[John William]

	Quote:
	I think this is another bonus of the EU - the world is, as always, in a perilous state. New superpowers are emerging, as the old guard attempt to cling on. Never mind the military implications of a hungry Russia next door; but in trading terms, the US is the superpower (perhaps a tad on the wane), China has emerged (and is light years ahead of where the press would like you to think) India now has a bigger GDP than the UK and growing... The Balkanisation of the EU is exactly what all of these countries want - who wants to try and negotiate with a 500m people block when you could get much better deals of 30 smaller trading nations (all of whom would be scrabbling against the others in a race to the bottom to get the best deal with China, US etc). So whilst it is by no means perfect, the EU is the best solution we have at the moment to predation from larger economies.

Too right and what about all the wonderous emerging markets that were members of the Warsaw Pact and
the 3 independent states of the former Soviet Union; where in the workers paradise, it took half a generation
to reach the end of the waiting list for a new car which in East Germany mean't a Trabant whereas
in the Soviet Union it was a Lada.
All now members of the EU, this would be a hard blow for many British businesses who have been
satisfying the needs of unrestrained consumerism in the former Eastern Bloc countries.

	Quote:	Sky
	Read this out loud to an approving Englishman. "'e's right" (if only one could write the lovely lilt of the midlands accent). Yes you are. Once more the British are a leading bastion of individuality. The sense of fearless freedom and headstrong opinion has been the country's strength and success throughout the centuries. Once more isolated yet daring. It's the strength of the British culture and the resolve that will see them through.

It's also our greatest weakness.

Time will tell!

[Sky]

If history is a reference, you'll succeed.

	Quote:	Sky
	If history is a reference, you'll succeed.

Which bit of it? Of the 7,000-10,000 of civilisation we've been successful for about a 400 year period out of that timescale. The rest of time time we were either irrelevant or getting invaded by Vikings, Germans, French, etc.

[Blueangel]

...or murdering each other en masse.

	Quote:	Blueangel
	...or murdering each other en masse.

Blackadder style

The Mash report, with Frog:

https://www.facebook.com/bbccomedy/v...5549033042519/

[TobiasM]

	Quote:
	I used to teach a kid call Ryan, who was being bullied. Every single playtime he'd come back into the classroom in floods of tears, with a bruise on his cheek or a black eye. I was determined to get to the bottom of the problem, so I spent a whole playtime at the window watching Ryan and his interactions. It was weird. For twenty minutes, the kid had a great time. He was clearly enjoying himself, the other kids seemed happy to play with him, there really was nothing to see, no indication as to why he was getting thumped so often. Then the whistle blew and the kids lined up. Still, everything was fine, until... Ryan looked around to make sure nobody could see, then he whacked the lad in front of him right in the kidney. Naturally, the lad turned round and lamped him. Ryan burst into tears and ran in to find me. He didn't get the sympathy he was expecting. It too him a while to learn, too. Some people are just slow learners.

wtf was that anecdote trying to prove.

Anyway the EU offers a hell of a lot more to Britain then your expert opinion is rattling out. From joint research programs and funding, academic research and collaboration, conservation regulations, standards in consumer products and consumer protection, to environmental legislation, policing and general legislation, construction industry standardisation, medical industry research and collaborations, space research, telecommunications development, and the list is endless that is all down to being a part of the EU which has allowed us to be part of all of this. But you want it to stop, because you know better!

	Quote:	TobiasM
	wtf was that anecdote trying to prove. Anyway the EU offers a hell of a lot more to Britain then your expert opinion is rattling out. From joint research programs and funding, academic research and collaboration, conservation regulations, standards in consumer products and consumer protection, to environmental legislation, policing and general legislation, construction industry standardisation, medical industry research and collaborations, space research, telecommunications development, and the list is endless that is all down to being a part of the EU which has allowed us to be part of all of this. But you want it to stop, because you know better!

You've got a real chip on your shoulder about this, haven't you?

It's getting a bit boring. But then, you never were particularly scintillating at the best of times.

And you say not to make things personal- wow ...

	Quote:
	And you say not to make things personal- wow ...

... writes the person who has been making this personal for nearly three years.

Go on. Mention my kids. You know you want to.

[MusicChick]

	Quote:
	... writes the person who has been making this personal for nearly three years. Go on. Mention my kids. You know you want to.

Just wait for "I can't believe you work with students" bs that seems to come out fast but is never well received from others

It's not an EF discussion without bitching!