The great EU debate

Judgeneo · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:36

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15354203

This is a great opportunity for Britain to finally get its act in gear about the EU. Both negotiating our terms for greater power, or a vote to leave would be beneficial in my opinion. Where we are now benefits nobody.

What are your opinions?

[TW]Fox · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:38

Nothing scares me more than the idea of a decision as complex as this being in the hands of the British public.

Castiel · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:39

The government would not be bound by the result of the vote...

which means nothing will come from it.

Participant · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:40

"The government would not be bound by the result of the vote"

It won't be.

Beaten by Castiel yet again, curses.

Freakbro · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:41

My opinion is nothing will come of this motion.

Freakbro · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:46

Has this arisen from the e-petitions site or have the back benchers taken it upon themselves to do it?

Participant · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:47

Why do back benchers bother with this sort of crusade? They know Dave isn't going to go for it and it must surely just make him think they're lady parts?

Cosimo · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:48

Another talking shop and no action well isn't that a good thing.

scorza · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:57

Robbie G said:
Why do back benchers bother with this sort of crusade? They know Dave isn't going to go for it and it must surely just make him think they're lady parts?

It reminds the PM that there's a sizeable contingent of Euro-sceptics in his own party, so even if they don't win a referendum, they'll be in the government's mind when future negotiations with the EU are taking place.

They were discussing the possibility of leaving the EU on the radio last night. The consensus seemed to be that it would take two years to actually leave, cost a lot of money while not saving much money or reducing bureaucracy because we'd have to pay money to join EFTA and follow the same rules as we do now, only if we left the EU we'd have no say in what rules we had to follow. I can't see the attraction of leaving the EU.

JBod · 18 Oct 2011 at 15:59

And make good headlines around the world, its not much of a spin to get "UK Debates Leaving European Union" after all.

paddy · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:11

[TW]Fox;20338235 said:
Nothing scares me more than the idea of a decision as complex as this being in the hands of the British public.

+1

I've lost count of the times I've had the following conversation:

Them: Ugh I hate the EU/Europe, we should get out
Me: We must get something good from it, otherwise we'd have left. What do we get from it?
Them: Dunno, don't care, we should just leave.

If I could get hold of a balanced for/against list of arguments then I'll happily make my decision - I fear all such resources will be spun by politicians to buggery

PermaBanned · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:14

[TW]Fox;20338235 said:
Nothing scares me more than the idea of a decision as complex as this being in the hands of the British public.

While i completely agree with you, is such a decision being in the hands of a few politicians really that much better?

platypus · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:21

Leaving the EU would be terrible.

I wish we could do something about obligatory contributions to the ECB, especially during bailouts of Eurozone countries though.

cheets64 · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:29

Leave the EU, been robbed of our identity, too much EU ******* laws and rules emplaced by **** in Brussels.

I don't see how you can force laws on another country when you do not live there, don't know about the cultures of the people.

Lets get back to the good old days, disband the EU, Its bureaucracy gone mad, the Euro is going to fail, let each country pull out and let the rot and debt sort each other out, survival of the fittest, this wouldn't happen in the animal kingdom, you don't get a council of animals helping out the poor ones, they get eaten or die out.

Participant · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:33

If the Euro fails does this mean the automatic disbanding of the EU? I doubt it.

Nate--IRL-- · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:33

Might it be safe to say cheets64 would represent the majority of public opinion? That is the reason there will never be referendum.

Robbie G said:
If the Euro fails does this mean the automatic disbanding of the EU? I doubt it.

I could be wrong but I think it is currently impossible to leave the Euro without leaving the EU too.

Nate

PermaBanned · 18 Oct 2011 at 16:34

cheets64 said:
Leave the EU, been robbed of our identity, too much EU ******* laws and rules emplaced by **** in Brussels.

I don't see how you can force laws on another country when you do not live there, don't know about the cultures of the people.

Lets get back to the good old days, disband the EU, Its bureaucracy gone mad, the Euro is going to fail, let each country pull out and let the rot and debt sort each other out, survival of the fittest, this wouldn't happen in the animal kingdom, you don't get a council of animals helping out the poor ones, they get eaten or die out.

Maybe because animals aren't stupid enough to create a monetary system?

shoes · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:25

[TW]Fox;20338235 said:
Nothing scares me more than the idea of a decision as complex as this being in the hands of the British public.

This. Education over here is not geared to allow the average person to make this kind of decision (which I'm not complaining about, btw). I for one wouldn't like to cast a vote, as I don't truly understand the situation, nor pretend to.

It would take a LOT of reading and debate for anyone to truly understand it IMO.

shoes · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:26

PermaBanned said:
While i completely agree with you, is such a decision being in the hands of a few politicians really that much better?

Touche.

D.P. · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:45

PermaBanned said:
While i completely agree with you, is such a decision being in the hands of a few politicians really that much better?

overall, yes.