Brexit

Lulz.

Barnier's closing statement was basically: 'Please try to remember, this was your decision, not ours. When the gooseberry fool hits the fan don't get angry at us.'

Yeah, that's not going to happen, sorry man. The Brexiteers are going to firmly blame you for the economic sabotage they have unleashed on their own country. At least be grateful that in two years you can just ignore their bleating.

I'm actually in the weird position where I trust the EU negotiators to get deal that is best for the UK more than the UK negotiators. After all, our own government has spent the last couple of years ruthlessly trying to harm our national interest and by contrast the EU has spent most of that time trying to persuade them not to do so.

What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

Be incredibly surprised

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

As you are a Remain supporter, what will you do?

You'd have to define what success is for me to be able to answer.

Economic growth?
Free movement?
Friendly relations with Europe?
Strong employment regulations?
Strong consumer laws?
Human rights legislation?

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

Trade in my car for a unicorn.

Straight answer; I would be overjoyed. Do you think I like living a malaise that has presided over the UK for most of my adult life? I strawberry floating hate it and want it to end. Unfortunately Brexit is as about as likely to remedy it as a trepanning is likely to cure a headache.

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

I'd start thinking what else a rise in hate crime can be traded for to be honest.

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

If it were truly "roaring" then I guess we'd have nothing to complain about. But for me the EU, as well as an economic and political bloc, is a sociocultural identity. I prefer European ideals to British ones. So as well as its economic fortunes, the UK's culture would have to change for the better before I'm ready to hail Brexit as a success. The rise in hate crime and xenophobia - not to mention looming plans to tear up human rights - makes this seem unlikely presently, just as the early economic indicators make a boom seem improbable.

twitter.com/BBCNormanS/status/876850121262157829

Burn

I think it's pretty clear that the EU leaders consider Brexit itself to be punishment enough. There is not any need to add insult to the injury the UK has already dealt itself.

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

Don't worry, it won't be!

I'm kind of hoping there is a large and very noticeable downturn in the next eighteen months or so. If things get bad enough there might be overwhelming support for another referendum. However, I doubt that that will happen and most likely the real effects will only be felt after we leave. My worry is that it will be a slow burn process so that a decade or two down the line we wake up one day and find we have slipped behind almost every other country on the continent without many people having even realised the true extent of the lost ground and wasted potential.

Karl wrote:The rise in hate crime and xenophobia...

Isn't that an issue right across Europe?

Karl wrote:

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

If it were truly "roaring" then I guess we'd have nothing to complain about. But for me the EU, as well as an economic and political bloc, is a sociocultural identity. I prefer European ideals to British ones. So as well as its economic fortunes, the UK's culture would have to change for the better before I'm ready to hail Brexit as a success. The rise in hate crime and xenophobia - not to mention looming plans to tear up human rights - makes this seem unlikely presently, just as the early economic indicators make a boom seem improbable.

Which ideals are these, out of interest? I'm guessing they're less insular maybe?

Blue Eyes wrote:

Karl wrote:

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

If it were truly "roaring" then I guess we'd have nothing to complain about. But for me the EU, as well as an economic and political bloc, is a sociocultural identity. I prefer European ideals to British ones. So as well as its economic fortunes, the UK's culture would have to change for the better before I'm ready to hail Brexit as a success. The rise in hate crime and xenophobia - not to mention looming plans to tear up human rights - makes this seem unlikely presently, just as the early economic indicators make a boom seem improbable.

Which ideals are these, out of interest? I'm guessing they're less insular maybe?

There's a huge amount of variance between European nations, and of course there are tools in every country. (Eastern Europe in particular still has a little bit of cultural catching up to do, particularly on issues like gay marriage.) But what I see generally in Europe - expressed via the EU legislature but also 'on average' if you squint at the nations' governments - is a much greater commitment to progressive ideals than here. That means things like freedom of movement and a commitment to fundamental rights and individual liberties, but it also means things like science funding and affordable education.

Blue Eyes wrote:

Karl wrote:

Denster wrote:What will you all do if it's a roaring success?

If it were truly "roaring" then I guess we'd have nothing to complain about. But for me the EU, as well as an economic and political bloc, is a sociocultural identity. I prefer European ideals to British ones. So as well as its economic fortunes, the UK's culture would have to change for the better before I'm ready to hail Brexit as a success. The rise in hate crime and xenophobia - not to mention looming plans to tear up human rights - makes this seem unlikely presently, just as the early economic indicators make a boom seem improbable.

Which ideals are these, out of interest? I'm guessing they're less insular maybe?

He likes croissants, topless sunbathing and using less deodorant?

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:He likes croissants, topless sunbathing and using less deodorant?

Two outta three ain't bad.




Hate croissants though.

I don't think it's possible to dislike croissants.

Does anyone eat a croissant on its own? Not butter, jam, chocolate spread etc? I've seen a few people do it but it never does anything for me, I need to add something to them to make them edible.