news Britain has left the EU, your thoughts?

[Guest]

I googled the EU an number of times yesterday, in order to find links for yanks on other websites constantly asking 'What is the EU?'.

 

I don't think that is an explanation.

 

The article specifically states it's the UK googling that, not "yanks".

Edited June 25, 2016 by Guest

[darkwingmare 1,324]

I just hope they'll do good on their own. You go, UK, so your thang.. Good luck.

[Member Berry 1,217]

The Daily Star?

 

Seriously?

 

That whole paper is just a weird joke.

 

Also, this quote from that article, "Pro prankster Brad Holmes and his girlfriend Jen have become internet famous after filming themselves attempting to out-prank each other."  So... probably not someone to take seriously.

I just noticed that when I was reading the daily star That's good to know then. I seen it on Facebook last night and thought it was real. The stupidity of people doesn't surprise me anymore

Edited June 25, 2016 by Kayleigh

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

I don't think that is an explanation.

 

If I did, it stands to reason that it's statistically unlikely that I'm the only one who did.  It won't account for all of the searches, but a fair few of them I'd imagine.

[Guest]

If I did, it stands to reason that it's statistically unlikely that I'm the only one who did.  It won't account for all of the searches, but a fair few of them I'd imagine.

That's not really making anything more likely. Read the article. It specifically states that the UK were googling "What is the EU?", not America not googling "Americans asking what is the EU?" or anything like that. Also you can not say with any accuracy how much a "fair few" were searching based solely on your own search history. You're not estimating, or even creating educated guesses, you're literally just guessing based upon literally nothing.

 

Google Trends themselves specifically stated ""What is the EU?" is the second top UK question on the EU since #EURefResults were officially announced"

 

Furthermore it specifically is listed above that as "Top questions on the European Union in the UK since Brexit result officially announced"

 

Sorry, but America had nothing to do with this. It literally is just a lot of people in the UK literally had no idea what they were even voting for.

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

 

 

Read the article. It specifically states that the UK were googling "What is the EU?", not America not googling "Americans asking what is the EU?"

 

I live in the UK, I searched for links to send to Americans who were asking what the EU is, ergo, all of my searches originated in the UK, not in the US.

 

My point is that I am probably not the only British person who was doing that.  Like I said, it wouldn't account for all of those searches, but maybe a few of them.  Add into the mix the amount of arguing that has been happening online, and indeed offline, and the amount of people looking for sources to back up arguments that they are making, it's not surprising at all that the search results for everything EU related boomed yesterday.

[Guest]

I live in the UK, I searched for links to send to Americans who were asking what the EU is, ergo, all of my searches originated in the UK, not in the US.

 

 

 

My point is that I am probably not the only British person who was doing that.

 

Oh come on, that is highly unlikely that even a small percentage of those searches are the scenario. You're grabbing at straws.

 

 

 

Like I said, it wouldn't account for all of those searches, but maybe a few of them.

 

Except you can't really ascertain with any level of certainty that it's even 5% of them.

 

 

 

Add into the mix the amount of arguing that has been happening online, and indeed offline, and the amount of people looking for sources to back up arguments that they are making, it's not surprising at all that the search results for everything EU related boomed yesterday.

 

Grasping.

 

Like it's easy to admit that there is a huge possibility that a lot of people voted without realizing what they were voting for based upon propaganda, considering even the prime minister feels they made a mistake and stepped down, the numbers being punched out to support the leave are now coming forward as inaccurate, Nigel Farage is even claiming his 350 million pounds figure he is no longer claiming and that he never said such a pledge even though he did.

 

Face it, there is a distinct possibility that the UK voted without knowing what they were voting for. No shame in admitting it, happens all the time here in America.

 

Far more honorable than trying to somehow claim it's the result of ignorant Americans and trying to bullcrap an explanation to get out of admitting it and instead pin it on Americans being ignorant.

Edited June 25, 2016 by Guest

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

Face it, there is a distinct possibility that the UK voted without knowing what they were voting for. No shame in admitting it, happens all the time here in America.

 

There will be a few people that are uninformed, there always is.  But given the absolute media saturation on the TV, on the radio, in the papers, there is nobody in this country that has absolutely no idea what the EU is.  Some may have a less than ideal understanding of it, but nobody is completely unaware, or at least, very few people.

Edited June 25, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

It literally is just a lot of people in the UK literally had no idea what they were even voting for.

 

... that is the view I hold. Not of everyone, but possibly of quite a few people in Cornwall.

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

... that is the view I hold. Not of everyone, but possibly of quite a few people in Cornwall.

 

That headline is hugely misleading.  They are not asking to keep EU funding, they are asking for the UK government to provide funding equal to what they will lose by leaving the EU.

[Guest]

There will be a few people that are uninformed, there always is.  But given the absolute media saturation on the TV, on the radio, in the papers, there is nobody in this country that has absolutely no idea what the EU is.  Some may have a less than ideal understanding of it, but nobody is completely unaware, or at least, very few people.

The results more suggest that people didn't quite know or understand it until a few days ago. Which is the problem. It's suggesting that many people voted first, asked questions later.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

That headline is hugely misleading.  They are not asking to keep EU funding, they are asking for the UK government to provide funding equal to what they will lose by leaving the EU.

 

I was being a bit facetious with that bit. Yes, they want the government to step in in the same way, as do farmers and universities and so many others, but if the funding mattered that much then I don't understand why they voted to leave. I also suspect a lot of people will be disappointed when they don't get their old funding. 

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

The results more suggest that people didn't quite know or understand it until a few days ago. Which is the problem. It's suggesting that many people voted first, asked questions later.

 

It's pretty much axiomatic that a few people will have done that.  I've seen comments from people who thought that the EU Commission was an elected body, not realising that the Commission, and indeed the Council, are separate from the Parliament.

 

I'm certainly not going to try and suggest that everyone knows how the EU works, there is a lot of confusion about it, which is hardly surprising given the convoluted, bureaucratic mess that it is.  However, I am sure that the vast majority know what the EU is, even if they don't understand what it is.

[Guest]

It's pretty much axiomatic that a few people will have done that.  I've seen comments from people who thought that the EU Commission was an elected body, not realising that the Commission, and indeed the Council, are separate from the Parliament.

 

I'm certainly not going to try and suggest that everyone knows how the EU works, there is a lot of confusion about it, which is hardly surprising given the convoluted, bureaucratic mess that it is.  However, I am sure that the vast majority know what the EU is, even if they don't understand what it is.

 

If they don't understand it or how it works then voting on leaving or staying with it is insanely ignorant and bad for the country as a whole. It's voting blind, may as well have thrown a dart to decide.

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

If they don't understand it or how it works then voting on leaving or staying with it is insanely ignorant and bad for the country as a whole. It's voting blind, may as well have thrown a dart to decide.

 

Alas this is how democracy works.  If we hold exams to determine who is fit to vote then the system becomes something else entirely.  democracy may not be the best option but an overt oligarchy would be a huge step backwards for society.

[Member Berry 1,217]

Exactly. Democracy has its flaws but it's a hell of a lot better to have it than not. There's no point in having a second referendum, the results will probably be the same. The people signing this petition are the people who voted remain.

 

What if the results were the other way around? We probably wouldn't entertain a second referendum. 

[Lunar Echo 10,335]

England has made a mistake, its national pride has got the better of them. The English have only dwarfed themselves be leaving the EU, and Britain is going to be more divided now than it has ever been. I won't be surprised if Scotland and Northern Ireland decide to claim full independence from England after this latest clown show act. Scotland and Northern Ireland were happy being a part of the EU now they're just being dragged into the mosh pit like Austria was when Germany needed more bodies to fuel its mass invasion of Europe.

[El Duderino 879]

I'm American, but but my family immigrated from Scotland so I somewhat care about what goes on over there. I think it was a terrible decision to leave the EU.

Cameron is resigning, it is predicted to hurt Britain's economy, and there are talks of Scotland pushing for another independence vote (which polls show Scots overwhelmingly in favor of independence if Britain leaves the EU). It's just a mess.

 

That being said, Britain isn't automatically out of the EU. They have to negotiate an agreement for them to leave. That could take a long time.

Edited June 25, 2016 by El Duderino

[Shanks 10,816]

I won't be surprised if Scotland and Northern Ireland decide to claim full independence from England after this latest clown show act.

And this would be a bad thing why exactly? Many in Northern Ireland have wanted to re unite with Ireland for a long time and many in Scotland have wanted their independence for even longer and if they want it than why not let them have it? Nations and people have a right to determine their own destiny, if Scotland gained independence they would likely hold another referendum to stay in the EU which is a decision I wouldn't agree with but would be one they should have the right to make as they have their own history and culture independent of England. 

 

 

it is predicted to hurt Britain's economy,

A combination of uncertainty and the big corporations that control the EU trying to hold the British economy hostage to get them to come back are what is causing that. Sargon of Akkad makes a better argument than anyone I have heard as to why the short term consequences are worth it to avoid the longer term consequences of staying.

 

 

 

That being said, Britain isn't automatically out of the EU. They have to negotiate an agreement for them to leave. That could take a long time.

The EU clearly won't let them leave, but with them falling apart and this creating a potential domino effect of various countries leaving they may not be able to stop it from happening. This is great news as it is clearly setting precedent in favor of national sovereignty over corruption and oligarchy, one that I as an America am watching carefully as though America as there are various threats to the sovereignty of my own nation with its membership in the United Nations and the corrupt politicians and corporations refusing to enforce immigration law and secure the border being two of the most significant threats.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

The economy has already taken a blow. Let's just hope and pray this doesn't start a second Great Depression.

[Photon Jet 5,492]

The EU clearly won't let them leave, but with them falling apart and this creating a potential domino effect of various countries leaving they may not be able to stop it from happening. This is great news as it is clearly setting precedent in favor of national sovereignty over corruption and oligarchy, one that I as an America am watching carefully as though America as there are various threats to the sovereignty of my own nation with its membership in the United Nations and the corrupt politicians and corporations refusing to enforce immigration law and secure the border being two of the most significant threats.

The articles did mention the EU wants Britain out as soon as possible, didn't they?

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

if Scotland gained independence they would likely hold another referendum to stay in the EU which is a decision I wouldn't agree with but would be one they should have the right to make as they have their own history and culture independent of England.

 

If Scotland was to vote for independence, they wouldn't be able to stay in the EU, because Scotland isn't in the EU, they would have to apply to join the EU from scratch as a new country.  That was already determined during the last Scottish independence referendum.  Given the current state of the EU however, with many countries coming under increasing pressure to hold referendums, to even think about joining the EU right now would be madness, there might not be much of an EU left in five years time.  On top of that, there has been discussion in the EU institutions about having a moratorium on new members until the current crisis has been resolved and stability restored.

 

The EU clearly won't let them leave, but with them falling apart and this creating a potential domino effect of various countries leaving they may not be able to stop it from happening.

 

The EU does not get to decide on whether or not the UK leaves, that is purely a sovereign matter for the country in question.  And they are in fact pushing to get the UK to leave as soon as possible to minimise the uncertainty caused by this interim period.

Edited June 25, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

And this would be a bad thing why exactly? Many in Northern Ireland have wanted to re unite with Ireland for a long time and many in Scotland have wanted their independence for even longer and if they want it than why not let them have it?

 

Because we are stronger together? I would like my country to remain whole, and thus far both Scotland and Northern Ireland have both have a majority in favour of staying in the UK. That may no longer be the case, and if that is due to the Leave vote then I will be rather disappointed.

 

 

 

The EU clearly won't let them leave

 

Quite the contrary - now that the UK has voted to leave, the EU is impatient for it to leave and wants them to leave as soon as possible. The UK is delaying until there is a new PM.

 

 

 

in favor of national sovereignty

 

There was a very good article in the Economist about how the pooling of sovereignty is necessary to achieve international agreements that a country cannot do by itself.  

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

No-one is happy in the EU.

 

48% in favour. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that there aren't those of us that do - I would take it as is rather than leave it. Of course we respect democracy, but it was a close-run thing and many are in favour of the EU. 

[Malinter 3,064]

48% in favour. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that there aren't those of us that do - I would take it as is rather than leave it. Of course we respect democracy, but it was a close-run thing and many are in favour of the EU. 

 

Nope, that 48% was asked if they wanted to "remain in the EU". If you asked them "Are you happy to be in the EU" i can bet you anything it sure as hell will not be 48%

Edited June 25, 2016 by Malinter