The Boy on Top
I remember the vote for joining the 'common market'. It was as you said for free trade and to cut down on red tape. It has become a monster,that we have had no say in. We have been railroaded to where we are today. All I see is a new trough for retired or disgraced politicians to drop their noses into. Neil Kinnock and his wife and 'Mandy",next John Prescott.It is in my mind a sham,and worthless. There should be a referendum as promised.But don'y hold your breath.
You are young, Martin, and don't remember the fine print. It was not a vote for joining the common market, but a referendum on whether, having joined, we should stay in. Ted Heath would never have had a referendum on whether to join, for fear of being turned down.
Many years later, he was asked about the shift in emphasis from a Common Market to a European Federation. He said that it had been inevitable and intended from the start, and that anyone should have realised it. This had, of course, been denied at the time.
The political class has this view that its all inevitable and necessary and what are we all on about. I just don't get that. TB
My Grandma said something once about the Common Market, as it was, she said:
"It's a group of old men who have decided that in order to prevent another european war and bombs falling on their heads, the ordinary person can't be trusted any more. It has to be done for them. It has to be all one nation."
She might've been right.
There is some truth in that, though I'd disagree with not trusting the ordinary person bit. I think that's what the eurocrats think, I don't believe it myself though. TB
The Economist has had some similar critiques: too long, too convoluted. Make it mean something.
Exactly. If you can't encapsulate it in one page, make it mean something to everyone who reads it, it means nothing. TB
A sizeable majority want to leave Europe completely. Europhiles know it but think they know better and we're heathens. Democracy only works if it suits the controllers.
I so so want to riot.
It's the politicians we can never ever ever trust.
Thing is 4D, I think we should stay in. It would be a disaster for the UK to leave the EU. The economy would suffer hugely without those trade protections. THe problem is, how to make it work, simplify it so it does the things it should (trade) and leave out the things it shouldn't (human rights, health and saftey, the shape of bananas, etc, etc, etc.). A little riot is called for I think! TB
Agreed. Problem is that's nirvana. Politicians'll never go near nirvana 'cause they think we won't need 'em anymore.
We don't now but they don't believe it.
So 4D, up for forming a new political party? I'd suggest "Fuck those coniving bastards" as the name with two upraised fingers for our logo. Don't know if we'd get any votes but the party conference would be a blast... TB
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