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.