Brexit

Imperial measurements? Jesus strawberry floating christ I worry about the state this country is going to be in 5 years time.

More than half of leave voters want the death penalty? strawberry float me.

DML wrote:More than half of leave voters want the death penalty? strawberry float me.

according to that small poll yeah. But polls are worthless.

Does that polling honestly surprise anyone?

DML wrote:More than half of leave voters want the death penalty? strawberry float me.

Yeah but 20% of those people thought that the death penalty was taking back benefits for people hard of hearing.

People actually voted for pre-decimal currency?

DML wrote:More than half of leave voters want the death penalty? strawberry float me.

From what I remember the death penalty has almost always had an approval rating of near or over 50%.

It's often held up as the classic example of why you don't let the public vote on everything or determine policy

Hyperion wrote:

Moggy wrote:

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:I must say I do think that the EU may well implode in the future. It did become too big. I would have been happy with an EU containing the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg. Maybe Sweden and Austria. Not Spain or Italy. For the record this isn't about EU immigration, just economics. I don't have an issue a lot of the Eastern European immigration. I believe they've certainly helped our economic growth majority appear to be here to work and start a new life. But I believe their economies do not fit in with the more economically developed countries. Spain is on massively borrowed time and struggling massively, it needs to get out of the EU as well. Economically currently I don't think we needed too.

I do see your point there, even if I disagree with it. The EU should be working to improve the lives in the poorer European countries (and I think they do), not leaving them out.

Look at the difference to Ireland since it joined the EU. It went from one of the poorest places in Europe, to having a reasonable economy – so reasonable in fact that Photek might be buying a 4K TV from Northern Ireland.

Yes, Ireland has benefitted massively from being in the EU, the problems that Spain, Italy and a lot of eastern European countries are facing/will face is a result of the Euro and the ECB, a central bank and monetary policy for countries with wildly differing strengths of economies will not work well for those with weaker economies

Ireland joined the EU in the 70s and for 20 years, growth was mediocre.

Low corporation tax rates, minor financial regulation, substantial foreign direct investment, decades of investment in education and an English speaking workforce with historical and social ties to North America are more unique factors than EU membership which seems a more powerful explanation to me.

Spain, Italy, Portugal and most of Europe didn't seem to undergo anything like a Celtic Tiger level of growth. Many of these countries are net beneficiaries of EU funds but don't have the growth to match. Ireland's situation is more unique and not so easily replicated. Their growth in the last few years is in spite of the €uro not because of it with a sufficiently flexible economy able to deal with being in an ill fitted currency. Southern Europe isn't able to deal with a fundamentally flawed currency.

Why bring up the currency? We aren't in the Euro!

DML wrote:Why bring up the currency? We aren't in the Euro!

I was discussing Ireland. They are part of the €uro. The quoted post I was replying to mentions the €uro. It wasn't a discussion about the UK leaving the EU. What's the big deal?

Grumpy David wrote:

DML wrote:Why bring up the currency? We aren't in the Euro!

I was discussing Ireland. They are part of the €uro. The quoted post I was replying to mentions the €uro. It wasn't a discussion about the UK leaving the EU. What's the big deal?

The discussion was all relative to the general discussion of how the EU functions and the benefits of membership.

So Theresa May just admitted that freedom of movement may continue after Brexit because systems wouldn't be up to snuff during the transition period.

They got an uphill struggle with all this. I feel sorry for the poor strawberry floats in the civil service who have to get all this sorted.

Edit - also, responding to YouTube brexit comments is my new entertainment.

Squinty wrote:So Theresa May just admitted that freedom of movement may continue after Brexit because systems wouldn't be up to snuff during the transition period.

Oh I hope so. The reaction from leavers would be delicious.

twitter.com/hendopolis/status/847202515343093762

twitter.com/hendopolis/status/847199604613558272

And some top political bants in Wales...

twitter.com/walespolitics/status/847107600122613760

I really don't like that thinly-veiled intelligence sharing threat. If we stopped sharing intelligence with EU nations and then they stop sharing intelligence with us, it not only puts the lives of our EU neighbours and allies at risk but our own people too. Pretty disgusting really.

Edit: Updated the topic title BTW, as we've moved on a bit since the EU referendum now.

Garth wrote:I really don't like that thinly-veiled intelligence sharing threat. If we stopped sharing intelligence with EU nations and then they stop sharing intelligence with us, it not only puts the lives of our EU neighbours and allies at risk but our own people too. Pretty disgusting really.

Edit: Updated the topic title BTW, as we've moved on a bit since the EU referendum now.

I dunno they've threatened to stave us by stopping us buying their food, or something like that I'm sure the daily mail will advise us.

The EU helped Ireland but Grumpy is right, we pumped a lot of Money into our educational system and with the help of low corporation tax that benefits a small nation like ours we've dragged ourselves up to become a technological hub for Europe, some of the stats about this tiny country are insane:

Best country in the world to do business (Forbes)

#1 in adaptable work force in the world

Youngest workforce in the EU

8 of the top 10 technology, internet and communication companies in the world have EU headquarters in Ireland

9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies the same.

We were also the first country in the EU to exit economic assistance after the crash (we lost a lot of jobs) but we have all but fully recovered now. The single market is a huge help, especially as we export 90% of our produce, agriculture is huge here.

Having 70m Americans claim to be Irish is also a big thing, it really gives us an edge when they look to set up in the EU. They get tax breaks sure but again, in our smaller economy overall it's a massive benefit. I get a train to work and see Twitter, LinkedIn, Google and Facebook offices just going through Dublin.

I remember when I was young though, every major road, rail and infrastructure project was funded by the EU, we've simply used that crutch towards an economy that few countries our size can touch, Dublin will never be as successful as London ot many U.K. Cities but for a country of less than 5million the EU has helped us on the way.

Photek wrote:The EU helped Ireland but Grumpy is right, we pumped a lot of Money into our educational system and with the help of low corporation tax that benefits a small nation like ours we've dragged ourselves up to become a technological hub for Europe, some of the stats about this tiny country are insane:

Best country in the world to do business (Forbes)

#1 in adaptable work force in the world

Youngest workforce in the EU

8 of the top 10 technology, internet and communication companies in the world have EU headquarters in Ireland

9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies the same.

We were also the first country in the EU to exit economic assistance after the crash (we lost a lot of jobs) but we have all but fully recovered now. The single market is a huge help, especially as we export 90% of our produce, agriculture is huge here.

Having 70m Americans claim to be Irish is also a big thing, it really gives us an edge when they look to set up in the EU. They get tax breaks sure but again, in our smaller economy overall it's a massive benefit. I get a train to work and see Twitter, LinkedIn, Google and Facebook offices just going through Dublin.

I remember when I was young though, every major road, rail and infrastructure project was funded by the EU, we've simply used that crutch towards an economy that few countries our size can touch, Dublin will never be as successful as London ot many U.K. Cities but for a country of less than 5million the EU has helped us on the way.

Americans are stupid. They think having a great granddad from Ireland makes them Irish.

Grumpy David wrote:

twitter.com/JoeTwyman/status/847017907800412160

DAT list. Imperial system. Smoking in pubs and restaurants.

That list is so backwards it's like a joke. Pre-decimal currency?!

The only thing even remotely good thing is incandescent light bulbs as although they use more electricity, they don't use mercury which is in CFL bulbs.

RIP In Peace Britain.

I just have this image in my mind of the UK basically looking like the time of Charles Dickens in a few years. Everyone's back to just being paupers and chimney sweeps, and getting paid 5 pounds, and 3/8ths of a shilling or whatever it is per day.

The first thing we should do is reverse the decreasing size of chocolate bars and get them back to being how they should be.