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Showing Original Post only (View all)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 hasnt 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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As a British citizen, I am oscillating between sadness and rage: Brexit is the worst of times [View all]
DonViejo
Jun 2016
OP
we have to make sure the US media doesn't let the tRumpians spew their lies here unfettered
uponit7771
Jun 2016
#2
I suppose these nefarious characters are also influencing Italy, Spain,Netherlands and all countries
swhisper1
Jun 2016
#51
The way I see it is they're cheering that Banksters/Corporations are finally gonna get theirs! Yes!
justiceischeap
Jun 2016
#6
The media spin is interesting. They don't want to admit that part of the reason this passed
newthinking
Jun 2016
#23
Most Trump supporters think "their concerns over immigration had been ignored".
pampango
Jun 2016
#22
The "distant and unrepresentative" bureaucracy in Washington is what conservatives here always
pampango
Jun 2016
#29
But we don't vote for the bureaucrats. Conservatives love to complain about them.
pampango
Jun 2016
#35
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
Immigration in the UK is less than every Western European country other than Finland and Denmark.
pampango
Jun 2016
#39
The Left imagines a "more democratic EU". So do I. The far-right imagines no EU at all.
pampango
Jun 2016
#57