The Referendum – Some thoughts

Posted on by Opher

These are the results of the referendum. It was close. The population of Britain is 60 million. 46,500,000 were entitled to vote. 17,410,742 voted us out.

What does that all mean?

Remain: 16,141,241 (48.1%)

Leave: 17,410,742 (51.9%)

Total Electorate: 46,500,001

Turnout: 72.2%

Well under half of those who were eligible to vote voted out.

Just over half of those who voted wanted us out for a number of reasons – terrorism, immigration, sovereignty, hatred of EU, economy, protest against establishment, bureaucracy, undemocratic aspects of EU, loss of hope, more trade with the rest of the world.

Just under half wanted us to stay in – collaboration with EU, multiculturalism, economic prosperity, fighting terrorism and crime, environmental collaboration, outward looking, caring, more global perspective, bigger part in the world, compassion.

Since the referendum there has been an upsurge in nationalism and hate crime. The pound has dived putting petrol and other prices up and there has been a lot of division and belligerence. The worst economic shock will come if we actually leave. As a vociferous remainer I have had to put up with abuse – being described as a whinging remoaner or remainder and as being undemocratic. Well that’s alright. I am not only moaning I am furious and in despair of my country and what it is becoming. I do not like nationalism, isolationism or xenophobia or right-wing politics, and despise the licence it has given to that small element of racist thugs who have abused people of colour or those stemming from the EU.

I am now looking to a dismal future if we do go ahead and pull out. The cost of Brexit looks to be in the region of £26-£46 Billion. That makes our £8.5 Billion contribution to the EU look a bargain. The result of Brexit looks to be years of restricted growth, austerity, job losses and public service cuts. You can bet that the ones at the top won’t suffer!! Worse than that is the fact that we now have an extreme right-wing government and an empowered xenophobic segment of the populace who are affecting the ethos of the country. The atmosphere is not pleasant.

I have always stood for a caring, tolerant, and compassionate society. That is what I continue to fight for.

I noted that Nigel Farage said, when he thought he was losing, that the battle would go on. It will – because it is the whole ethos of our country that is at stake. When we lost general elections we did not stop fighting for a return to a Labour government; we continued to fight for our principles. That is what is required – we have to stand up for what we believe.

For me I hope that there might be a way to prevent this looming disaster. Brexit will be a great blow to everything Britain stands for. I hate to see it become an insular, fear-ridden, hate-filled, isolated country living in a past that never existed. People soon forget the evils carried out in the name of Empire and the poverty, inequality and racism extant in the fifties and sixties. We’ve moved on and become much better than that.

My hope is that sanity prevails; that parliament and the people take a good hard look at the prospect of economic doom and social division that is looming (now that the lies have been exposed), and apply a democratic vote to keep us in.

There are far better ways of dealing with the undemocratic aspects of the EU, terrorism and mass migration. We don’t have to plunge the country into chaos, division and economic peril.

For now the government has to find a path through this turmoil and hatred. At present 50% of the population do not feel represented! There is no attempt to unite or find compromise – only a jubilant crowing from the arrogant Brexiteers who belligerently, cheered on by the likes of the Mail, Express and Telegraph, bellow every time someone raises an objection to this suicide note.

A tolerant, compassionate and caring ethos is one worth fighting for! You can hurl abuse all you like but I’m sticking to my principles! I’m not moaning – I’m shouting my thoughts, feelings and beliefs! I want a fair world!!

 

4,031,679 people sign the petition for a Referendum rerun – What does it mean?

Posted on by Opher

In the wake of the referendum there is turmoil.

Both political parties are in meltdown. The money markets are down. The pound has fallen. There is social upheaval and a rise in hate crime.  There is uncertainty over the future of the UK. There are hard-line stances from Europe. There is a dip in the world markets. There are backtracking over promises.

Nasty words have been exchanged between those who voted in and those who voted out. People have been extremely emotional and have entrenched themselves in their stances – seeing things in black and white. Tempers are running high.

There are great fears as to where Britain is heading. The pessimists see a terrible future of break-up of the UK, recession, austerity and social upheaval. The optimists think that it will all settle down and be OK. The reality is that nobody knows. We have never been here before.

The Brexiteers react very defensively regarding any discussion of the troubles – denying there are any problems.

The Remainers focus on every indication of a problem and see it as the beginning of worse to come.

Somehow we have to find a way of solving the problems instead of making them worse. Somehow we have to apply intelligence and objectivity to find a way forward that is in the best interests of the country and all the people who live in it.

Step one is that we need to recognise that there are real problems being felt by a range of different people. These need addressing.

The Brexiteers resent feeling that they are being blamed and ridiculed.

The Remainers are dismayed at the vision of a broken Britain.

Foreigners are feeling unwelcome and are becoming frightened.

Politicians for Brexit are looking at the future and trying to see a way of keeping their promises and realising that these are not possible. Some want a hard line and some want to backtrack.

Politicians for Remain are looking for ways of going forward. Their parties are in disarray and the country is split.

The right-wing extremist thugs think they have a mandate to express their hatred and racism.

The young are blaming the old.

London, Scotland and Ireland are blaming the rest of Britain and want to be rid.

Europe wants to punish and make an example.

What a cocktail of emotion.

The 4 million signers of the petition are expressing their fear and dismay. Never has there been such an outpouring. They cannot just be ignored.

The important thing is simple – what is in the best interests of the country? How do we solve these problems? How can we apply intelligence instead of partisan emotions?

Well step one must be to recognise the state we are in and then to look for solutions.

My greatest fears should we vote to leave Europe.

Posted on by Opher

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  1. We end up with a rabid right-wing government led by Johnson, Gove and Fox.
  2. That would spell mass privatisation and the decimation of our public services (schools and NHS are already suffering under the more moderate Tories with creeping privatisation and reduced funding)
  3. Human rights, workers rights and conditions and pay would be undermined.
  4. Deregulation would run slip-shod over environmental and health and safety in pursuit of profits.
  5. Our economy would drop through the floor causing decades of austerity and further excuse to decimate public services.
  6. The banking and insurance sectors might up sticks to Berlin to be at the centre of Europe which would bankrupt us.
  7. Other businesses might uproot to the mainland if we are no longer part.
  8. We would still be subject to the same bureaucracy and legislation if we wish to trade with Europe but we would have none of the advantages of free movement and no tariffs.
  9. We would have an increased risk of terrorism due to worse cooperation and intelligence exchange.
  10. We would create havoc in areas of the economy requiring free movement of workers.
  11. Our position on the world stage would be reduced. We would not carry much clout.
  12. Europe would be weaker and might split into bickering factions, protectionism and even conflict.
  13. We would have no unified defence against the Soviets.
  14. Our trading position with China, India and others would be weakened.
  15. I think the UK would split up – Scotland would go first.
  16. Our country would be ruled by a bunch of Eton old-boys who would look after their own at the expense of the rest of us. I’d much rather be governed from Europe.

We might descend from being the world’s seventh biggest economy to being a minor island on the fringe of Europe. We produce little, have no resources, no empire and no voice. Our children would live in a Third World country.

That’s my view – what’s yours?

 

Things I like about the European Union and things I don’t like

Posted on by Opher

Things I like:

  1. It has brought peace in Europe for the longest period in history
  2. It has brought in legislation to protect the environment and wild-life
  3. It has brought in legislation to protect workers rights and conditions
  4. It has brought in legislation on essential human rights
  5. It has unified countries in the fight against crime and terrorism
  6. It has created greater cooperation with intelligence gathering
  7. It has greater clout on the world stage and can negotiate better deals
  8. It supports the weaker countries and has helped raise their standards
  9. It has allowed free movement of goods without hindrance
  10. It has allowed me to travel, live and work anywhere in Europe without hindrance
  11. It has opened up European universities to British students
  12. It has opened up European jobs to British workers
  13. It has stimulated the economies of European countries
  14. It has brought prosperity

Things I don’t like:

  1. The freedom of movement has increased our immigration
  2. There is a wastefulness
  3. Corruption and bureaucracy
  4. Opening borders enables criminals and terrorists to move more freely
  5. It costs us money

I come down strongly in favour of staying in despite the negatives.

I think we should work hard on the inside to put a stop to the wastefulness, bureaucracy and corruption and stem the ‘gravy train’.

I think we should finance greater security and intelligence work to track down and arrest criminals and terrorists.

I want freedom of movement but we have to deal with the consequences.

I believe that as the present inequalities in Europe even out there will be less migration. We should focus on the inequalities. We should also look at ways of preventing such large numbers of migrants. I would like to see us working with our European colleagues to solve this (unemployment benefit etc).

Crime, terrorism, pollution, environmental destruction, wild-life protection, human rights and social conditions know no boundaries. They can only be dealt with internationally.

I want a move to global legislation and government with universal laws on environment and human rights.

I have no doubt that we are stronger and safer in and that the present problems can be dealt with through cooperation.