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Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Live Reveal - Thursday 12th of June at 1700BST

Brexshit

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  • T
    Tobi
    Haraki san Prodigy
    Joined: 12 Aug 2022

    To put in a word for the EU (as a political system): I lived and worked in 4 European countries, including 3 years in the UK (made possible by it then being in the EU). I now work for the European Environment Agency, a independent EU agency where 300 dedicated colleagues from 36 countries work together for the shared European Environment. Knowing the system from the inside, I would plea that with all justified criticism, the positive aspects are not forgotten! I have yet to meet the caricature of the entitled, undemocratic EU bureaucrat. Withdrawing from environmental cooperation and networks was a HUGE loss for both the UK and EU, and the shared cause of keeping this planet a livable place.

    last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 12:34 L 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 14:24 Reply Quote 5
    • G
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined: 22 Sept 2009

      A few days after the Brexit vote, I had to be in. Berlin. I bumped into a German friend (one of the most intelligent and open-minded people I know) who was having a coffee at a streetside cafe, I was not in a rush, so I joined him for a drink.

      His first retort was "Oh Giles, what have you done?" After I rather pitifully and pathetically blamed it on everyone else but me, he went on to say, "You know, The EU was Germanys' gift to Europe, it was our attempt to bring peace and harmony to all European nations as atonement for some of the awful things we had done to Europe throughout the 20th century, and we feel butt-hurt and devastated that the UK has basically said "you can fuck right off to the olive branch we proffered."...

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 12:59 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • G
        goosehd
        Mod Squad
        Joined: 8 Apr 2016

        One of the things that made a huge impact on me growing up was the fall of the Berlin Wall, the democratization of former Bloc countries, and the EU working together for mutual benefits...I thought if that many countries could find some type of agreement, then the rest of the world could do the same...

        I still have hope...

        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

        last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 13:04 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J
          JunkPants
          Haraki san Student
          @EdH
          Joined: 20 Nov 2022

          Not a UK citizen, but in many ways I sympathise with the principle @EdH presents, and I think I would have been inclined to vote the same. As it happens I also have a law degree (master's), which perhaps has some bearing on it.

          Here in Norway (while not a member of the EU) as a result of the EEA agreement we have to abide by EU legislation to a large extent, while having very little influence over it. Which I personally find to be 'not-even-close-to-democratic-enough-for-me'.

          Back to denim talk now 😌

          last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 13:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • L
            louisbosco
            啓蒙家
            @Tobi
            Joined: 21 Feb 2013

            @Tobi so you're the one to blame for my motorcycles and cars exhaust sounding like crap now... ahahahahaha 😂 😂 😂

            "Loyalty is a two way street. If i'm asking for it from you, then you're getting it from me."

            • Harvey Specter
            last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 14:24 T 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 14:54 Reply Quote 0
            • M
              Matt
              見習いボス
              Joined: 4 Oct 2011

              Admittedly I don’t know much of the nuance surrounding Brexit as it doesn’t come up much in my circles. However I’m sure after a few drinks I’ll be a self proclaimed expert so count me in. I have LOTS to say about our own special brand of US fascism nationalism.

              last edited by Matt 4 May 2024, 14:45 5 Apr 2024, 14:43 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
              • T
                Tobi
                Haraki san Prodigy
                @louisbosco
                Joined: 12 Aug 2022

                @louisbosco nope.. this is coming from Brussels (but underpinned by a lot of research on the health effects of traffic noise). I map forests and such from satellite images to help keep track of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use 🙂

                last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 14:54 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • I
                  IrishHeart
                  Haraki san Expert
                  @EdH
                  Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                  @EdH of all the articles written in favour of leaving the EU, you have given the most compelling and articulate argument that I have read, so thank you for that.
                  I still remain firmly of the belief that the advantages of remaining within the EU massively outweighed the disadvantages.

                  One other area ( close to my own heart) was that I can’t see that any proper consideration was given to how we would trade with the island of Ireland. Anything that was likely to jeopardise the hard fought Good Friday Agreement would be a huge price to pay.

                  last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:01 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • G
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                    Not sure anyone gave any thought to Ireland prior to the vote, it certainly was not articulated if it was.....

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:04 I 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 15:05 Reply Quote 0
                    • I
                      IrishHeart
                      Haraki san Expert
                      @Giles
                      Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                      @Giles agreed, but the potential fall out could have been enormous.

                      last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:05 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T
                        Tago Mago
                        Mod Squad
                        Joined: 16 Jan 2021

                        From the outside it did appear a very anglocentric conversation with little to no regard for the other 3 nations

                        last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:06 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • G
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                          Erm, is that not the way :-)?

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:08 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • T
                            Tago Mago
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined: 16 Jan 2021

                            These ungrateful halfwits should thank the lucky stars that they are led by the Englanders...

                            last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:10 E 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 15:45 Reply Quote 0
                            • G
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                              Absofuckiglutely....

                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                              last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:12 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • G
                                gazza61
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined: 12 Feb 2023

                                and also when scotland had there vote on independence they were persuaded to stay in the uk or they would be left out of the eu which they very much wanted to remain in.

                                last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:14 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • P
                                  popvulture
                                  見習いボス
                                  Joined: 2 Oct 2018

                                  WTB
                                  IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                                  Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                                  last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:18 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                  • T
                                    Tago Mago
                                    Mod Squad
                                    Joined: 16 Jan 2021

                                    last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:19 G 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 15:22 Reply Quote 3
                                    • G
                                      gazza61
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      @Tago Mago
                                      Joined: 12 Feb 2023

                                      @Tago-Mago love the video

                                      last edited by 5 Apr 2024, 15:22 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • E
                                        EdH
                                        Iron Heart Deity
                                        @Tago Mago
                                        Joined: 2 Jan 2022

                                        @Tago-Mago From memory, Wales also was overall Leave (52.5%) and in line with the national vote. NI was marginally in favour of Remain (55.8%). Scotland was the outlier recording something like 62% in favour of Remain.

                                        @gazza61 Well, 62% of them wanted to stay in. 38% wanted to leave. That's more "very much wanted" than the rest of the UK, I suppose, but not by 'very much'. 😉

                                        I've never understood the SNP's position on this... they want to leave the UK, in favour of a super-national organisation where the Scots would be even smaller fish in a much larger school (comparatively). Polling I've seen of SNP voters suggests that, in 2016, they were more inclined to vote Leave than non-SNP voters (funny that nationalists wouldn't be in favour of globalisation/super-national bodies...).

                                        My, admittedly cynical, read on it is that Sturgeon and her Party jumped on the fact that, as a country, Scotland had the largest Remain majority (if you ignore Gibraltar) to bolster their argument for leaving the UK purely to attract Remain voters, while those that would want a fully independent Scotland realised that leaving the UK and joining the EU would be separate votes and arguments.

                                        Ultimately I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say that this is something the Scots should have the right to decide for themselves, but I don't think you can just re-run referenda ad-infinitem until you get the result you want. For one thing you'd have no comeback to the person who comes along afterwards and says "best of three"?

                                        (Also, as an aside and at the risk of going off topic, the SNP's rhetoric doesn't play well South of the wall either. Multiple of my English family members have asked "when do we get a vote on whether we want to kick out Scotland?" around the dinner table whenever Scottish Independence has been in the news cycle again. But I suppose that that suits the SNP's purposes just as well.)

                                        Edit: realised I could just go and look up the actual voting proportions on Wikipedia, so I've put accurate voting data in the above.

                                        Take the dive...

                                        last edited by EdH 4 May 2024, 15:50 5 Apr 2024, 15:45 T 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 15:58 Reply Quote 1
                                        • T
                                          Tago Mago
                                          Mod Squad
                                          @EdH
                                          Joined: 16 Jan 2021

                                          @EdH I'm aware that Brexit wasn't a case of "the English" dragging the rest of the UK out of the EU kicking and screaming against their will. I was merely pointing out, maybe not as articulately as is required for such a complicated and multi-faceted topic, that coverage of Brexit from my perspective focused heavily on England and failed to adequately address a number of issues that affected all other parts of the UK as well, or in some cases exclusively affected them, e.g. Northern Ireland as mentioned above. But that might be an indictment of the quality of reporting or my selective perception in the lead-up to the referendum

                                          last edited by Tago Mago 4 May 2024, 15:59 5 Apr 2024, 15:58 E 1 Reply Last reply 5 Apr 2024, 16:05 Reply Quote 1
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