steve-l
Titanium
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Location
- Geilenkirchen, Germany
As an outsider living in Europe, I have watched this referendum issue run its course from birth to the vote next week. I would like to offer some observations. UK's membership in the EU has been in existence for many years now and whatever benefits of this membership is, has had many years to surface. At face value, it is easy to see the obvious trade benefits that should exist, but for whatever reason, they have not. A visit to any shop or store on the continent in any country will validate this. There is a huge absence of goods made in the UK. Virtually none of the major UK brands of consumer goods exist on the continent. This is an observation anyone could make, but living here, I see everyday. The folks gaining most from the EU membership is the London financial industry and the Government bureaucracy. On the other hand, this membership costs in excess of 10 billion pounds in contribution and control of the laws and rules that govern the country. Now that the poles and general consensus appears to favor the exit vote (46% vs 39%), the current Government has gone into panic, their arguments against an exit quote all kinds of bull shit statistics that are clearly false. The Government is in fear mongering mode. Fortunately, the general population is seeing through this. I find this whole thing fascinating.