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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Fri Jun 24, 2016, 12:17 PM Jun 2016

As a British citizen, I am oscillating between sadness and rage: Brexit is the worst of times [View all]

A band of Britains succeeded in selling the myth that leaving the EU means "taking back control"

TOM HAMILTON


Brexit was the most significant vote in UK politics in my generation and the long-term effects on stability and security across Europe appear immense and deeply, deeply troubling.

Make no mistake, a band of thugs have won the day. Using a shameless, self-interested tabloid press, a feckless group of hypocritical elites (Boris, Farrage, Gove…) harked back to an imaginary British past of crumpets and glory, and succeeded in selling the myth that leaving the EU means “taking back control.”

Today is a victory for the far-right across Europe, for tribalism, divisive politics, irredentism, and an incredible rejection of evidence-based policy. This was not a courageous day. Common-sense did not prevail. This will be remembered as a foolish, over-zealous, icarus moment.

I am no political scientist, but looking at the demographic data of how people voted, it was the lower socio-economic groups in England, outside of major cities, who carried Brexit across the line; those with the lowest expectations for prosperity, the fewest qualifications, low-paying jobs and less opportunity for education. While Farrage celebrates this morning a new dawn for ‘real people’, he does not represent the true interests of the average British family. He found a convenient and susceptible constituency, then deployed the right mix of fear and wahey-I-can-balance-pints-on-my-head.

In reality, many Brexiters voted because they were told the EU was the source of all their ills. Many felt disenfranchised from politics, and that their concerns over immigration had been ignored. The UK has major socio-economic inequality and disparity between London and the rest of the country. The Leave campaign announced that all of these issues, including problems with the NHS and other strained public services, a housing crisis, and income inequality, were attributable to the EU. In fact, leaving the EU is likely to make some of these problems worse. Where will public discontent turn when it becomes clear that leaving hasn’t solved everything?

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http://www.salon.com/2016/06/24/as_a_british_citizen_i_am_oscillating_between_sadness_and_rage_brexit_is_the_worst_of_times/
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^^^This!^^^ Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #1
we have to make sure the US media doesn't let the tRumpians spew their lies here unfettered uponit7771 Jun 2016 #2
too late. spanone Jun 2016 #14
lol SoLeftIAmRight Jun 2016 #49
I suppose these nefarious characters are also influencing Italy, Spain,Netherlands and all countries swhisper1 Jun 2016 #51
AIR WATER FOOD SoLeftIAmRight Jun 2016 #55
All the stuff the UK buys from countries of the EU will now cost much more. tonyt53 Jun 2016 #3
not true not for two years after declaration. It is not declared yet swhisper1 Jun 2016 #52
Thanks for posting TubbersUK Jun 2016 #4
Think way back on when austerity was pushed by the EU and the UK fasttense Jun 2016 #17
I've been in the midst of it for weeks TubbersUK Jun 2016 #38
that was a disaster swhisper1 Jun 2016 #53
Ditto ... it seems that lots of BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #47
I don't understand LW support for this. whatthehey Jun 2016 #5
The way I see it is they're cheering that Banksters/Corporations are finally gonna get theirs! Yes! justiceischeap Jun 2016 #6
Minor quibble, possibly just inference whatthehey Jun 2016 #7
That's what I meant. :) justiceischeap Jun 2016 #8
Because he hates Britain so much he should just bugger off. Boudica the Lyoness Jun 2016 #9
The media spin is interesting. They don't want to admit that part of the reason this passed newthinking Jun 2016 #23
"their concerns over immigration had been ignored" - Is this not true? nt phazed0 Jun 2016 #10
It is true. 840high Jun 2016 #16
Most Trump supporters think "their concerns over immigration had been ignored". pampango Jun 2016 #22
The EU situation is not the same as our situation newthinking Jun 2016 #24
The "distant and unrepresentative" bureaucracy in Washington is what conservatives here always pampango Jun 2016 #29
You get to vote for two houses and a pres and vp. newthinking Jun 2016 #32
But we don't vote for the bureaucrats. Conservatives love to complain about them. pampango Jun 2016 #35
almost a corporation swhisper1 Jun 2016 #54
To try and equate this to the US is ignorant of the situation, respectfully. nt phazed0 Jun 2016 #26
Older conservatives are uncomfortable with immigration all over the world. Immigrants pampango Jun 2016 #31
The situation is a 'bit' more complex than that phazed0 Jun 2016 #33
Voters over 50 voted Leave. Voters under 50 voted Remain. pampango Jun 2016 #36
Good lord, dude phazed0 Jun 2016 #37
Immigration in the UK is less than every Western European country other than Finland and Denmark. pampango Jun 2016 #39
Have you read what the European Left is saying newthinking Jun 2016 #56
The Left imagines a "more democratic EU". So do I. The far-right imagines no EU at all. pampango Jun 2016 #57
People are really caught up in the narrative. newthinking Jun 2016 #34
Jesus, this. nt auntpurl Jun 2016 #11
As I understand it, its just a mandate by the people elmac Jun 2016 #12
Hard to believe... davidthegnome Jun 2016 #13
Next thing you know, they'll want you to build a wall. tclambert Jun 2016 #15
It's not really "just" about immigration. That is a "Narrative". newthinking Jun 2016 #25
It seems that some are already regretting their votes. mr blur Jun 2016 #18
Well, Mandy, too freaking late now! hatrack Jun 2016 #40
Trump is happy. That should say it all. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2016 #19
Thats all I need to know workinclasszero Jun 2016 #27
Dunno, but the "leave" crowd.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2016 #41
Don't take this personally, but... Fritz Walter Jun 2016 #20
The market was down about 3% today. former9thward Jun 2016 #42
3% can be significant Fritz Walter Jun 2016 #43
So you really do think it will never go back up... former9thward Jun 2016 #44
I never say "never" Fritz Walter Jun 2016 #46
The media does not do a good job of explaining why this all is happening newthinking Jun 2016 #21
+1 phazed0 Jun 2016 #28
You state it so simply Hydra Jun 2016 #48
Ha! The correct question right there. katsy Jun 2016 #30
vultures enid602 Jun 2016 #45
Thank you for this, Don.. Cha Jun 2016 #50
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