this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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Europe

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[–] [email protected] 127 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Watching Brexit was one of the most bizarre world events I’ve seen in my life. Truly the slowest, clear-cut train crash in modern times. Literally everybody knew it was dumb, everybody knew what the result was going to be, and nothing really deviated from expectations.

Hell, when they were playing musical chairs with PMs over enacting the changes and kept blowing past all of the β€œabsolute deadlines” I started to wonder if they were just going to pretend the vote never happened and just live their lives as usual. Frankly, they might’ve gotten away with it.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Bizarre indeed, but at the same time highly entertaining. Real life comedy at its best!

[–] [email protected] 51 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Depends if you are watching or in it

[–] [email protected] 23 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Well the people in it had a majority deciding in favor of it in a free election. And afterwards the people that voted against it had four years to adjust to it, for instance by migrating into an EU country.

Also it was perfectly possible to form a political stance to overthrow the non binding referendum but instead people voted Boris Johnson in a "landslide victory" to make sure Brexit gets done.

There were plenty turning points for society as a whole and individual possibility to leave the dumpsterfire behind. The people in the UK are getting exactly what they wanted.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As a person in the UK, I got the exact opposite of what I wanted. I was too young to vote at the time, so I, along with everyone else my age, had no say in our future, whereas my grandad voted for Brexit and died before it actually happened, so he won't have to live with the consequences.

It's also caused me a whole load of problems directly, since I'm a language student and I went to Germany for part of my year abroad. There's so much more bureaucracy, as well as significant fees. So no, the people in the UK are not getting what they wanted at all. Maybe apart from those idiots who went on about "British sovereignty" and rubbish like that.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Germany is struggling with a lot of demographic change and desperately needs young people. If you like it here and feel welcome enough (something unfortunately many Germans dont show towards "brown" people) you could emigrate to Germany.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

I really enjoyed living and studying in Germany, so it's definitely something I'd consider doing!

(On a side note, the "Black" part of my username actually has nothing to do with skin colour, in the same way that Gandalf the Grey didn't have grey skin! It's just about the colour of the robes.)

[–] [email protected] 29 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm baffled by how you lump everyone into such a close vote as 'getting what they wanted', with an undertone suggesting you mean 'getting what they deserved'.

Most people can't just up and leave their country; to do so would mean causing more damage to their lives than just sitting in the shit sandwich they've been served by the useful idiots that made this mess.

Then there's the whole issue with Russian interference that 'probably happened' according to MI5/6, but needed a full investigation which Alexander Boris de Pfelelfllellogram Johnson - likely being in Russian pockets already - obviously quashed.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Can't upvote this enough. I was in London before the vote, there was obviously a ton of people against it. This should have required at least a 2/3 majority.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They should have required the non-binding referendum to actually be non-binding, especially considering how vague the question and answers were and how few people participated.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

2016 was a weird time and you could argue it was the point when western politics veered off in the direction of populism over policy.

As a British citizen (sorry subject), it was a horrifying moment to be woken up by my girlfriend to learn that we had voted to leave by the smallest of margins.

And later that year we watched America elect a bonafide psychopathic narcissist as the president of the United States.

Why the majority elect to be kept under the boot with aggressive fiscal policies which reward the wealthy is beyond me.

Brexit was sold on lies and false promises of the 'benefits' Britain would see when we become 'independent' again.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

For a long time, I was convinced they would actually turn around and stop the whole endeavour, as it was clearly a giant, unforced blunder. But here we are...

[–] [email protected] 74 points 11 months ago (3 children)

By now it would also mean adopting the Euro.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Only if the UK wanted to fully rejoin the EU. Countries can join the European Economic Area without joining the EU, like Norway and Iceland did for example - the downside being they are bound by rules they don't have a right to vote on, even if in practice the EU always consults them.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago

They EFTA countries already stated they don't want the UK in there because it is too large and would basically ruin any influence the smaller nations have.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Wasn't that how the Brits felt about the situation from the start? That they had no say in their own laws. Seems perfect for them.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'd go for that and Schengen just to make future fuckery even more difficult.

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[–] [email protected] 56 points 11 months ago (6 children)

The UK is a joke you can live in.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Yep. Lived there for nearly 30 years. Only gotten worse since I left

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (12 children)

Good luck on that.

The EU would make demands so steep, crawling on broken glass would be mild.

Brexit was a catastrophic diplomatic event, bridled with ridiculous underhanded manouvers from the UK to try and sneak away from demands.

I am not against the UK rejoining the EU but as a common member, with all the demands required to join like any other country.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I think it's misleading to say that EU would make steep demands, because it gives the impression that EU would deliberately try to make UK joining difficult. UK shouldn't get any special treatment (good or bad) and they should get the exact same standard joining procedure all other countries would get. The standard procedure is already going to have their panties twisted, no need to give them a legitimation reason to complain.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Let's keep in mind the UK dove into directions so divergent from the EU, on such trivial matters, just to face those demands - so trivial it will feel as petty - will make the UK negotiators twist their hands in anger.

And to crown it all, just the demand to drop the pound would be nurderous to the british pride.

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (24 children)

We should really stop doing polls. People will answer depending on how something sounds on the surfcae with exactly no clue about details.

The same people in UK that want to rejoin the EU single market will also vote against most consequences of joining the single market.

Just like for example a majority of Europeans when asked wants to stop daylight saving time changes for permanent 'summer time' (because summer is a more positive connotation when that 1 hour shift from standard time is bad by any objective metric and actually bad for our health).

Just like a majority of Germans right now loudly agrees to more investments, to then turn around and answer in another poll how spending any money (even more when it's financed by debt) should be avoided.

People are idiots and polls have lost most their meaning as I can get any answer I want just by who I ask and how I phrase the question.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Agreed. Most American polls are still done by phone, so it only counts people who answer unknown calls, and then answer a series of questions about their beliefs. Which just gets more unbelievable every day.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I never understood the arguments people use surrounding daylight savings. The health risks, accident risks, any risks surround the actual switch, not really the what time is used. If the clocks were set forward for "summer time" then 3 months later Daylight savings was abolished and no one changes their clocks anymore (as you said, permanent summer time) there would be no ill effects from it cause everyone was already used to the time change.

I want to get rid of daylight savings. I don't care whether it's standard time that use used or daylight savings time that is used as long as the switchover stops happening.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 11 months ago (4 children)

The absolute lack of sympathy in here for those of us that voted remain is disgusting.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago (8 children)

The way a referendum works is that the side with more votes gets to do the thing, in this case brexit. How you voted does not matter as the majority of your countries population (who voted) voted to leave. You don't get to "I voted for Kodos" this 7 years later.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That referendum was 7 years ago and it passed with a 2% majority, under conditions where the Leave campaign was caught lying out of their teeth.

A lot of people who voted on it have died since then and a whole cohort of people aged 18-25 didn't get a chance to vote.

Democracy required them to go through with it, but democracy also means they are allowed to change their mind and apply for EU, EER or EFTA membership.

I, for one, will welcome them back at the soonest opportunity.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Ok I'm British, I live in a country that gave me permanent residency before this shit show. The remainers mismanaged the campaign by resorting to the arguments of "lol you're so stupid" and "omg so racist". They also completely and overwhelmingly underestimated the power of propaganda to influence public opinion. And didn't realise that a generation of blaming the EU for Westminster's shitty decision making might have consequences. The remainers are just as culpable as the people who voted to leave.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

Yeah, I remember the people being interviewed on the street saying they where remainers and also they where not planing to vote. It was a silly time.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

You don't understand, we are sympathetic but the lead up to brexit did have a part in tanking the economy... Aside from inflation, Covid, etc... You guys need to get your shit together before we can move on. It will take time and make no mistake, You will never again regain the priviliged position you had before. It absolutely sucks for the remainers but thats how it is.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure the EU would (re)welcome the UK as a member, but it will almost certainly not be on the same terms they had before Brexit. I do hope it happens, but I'm also a pessimist.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

As an EU Citizen - they are welcome back, but without the cherry picking.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

But majority of EU citizens do not.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Are you sure? I don't mind. Together we have a stronger economy. If they want to be subject of all EU market policy without having a voice in the decision process that's their choice.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

In a few decades maybe. Or in a non-voting manner similar to norway, but with how they sabotaged the eu from the inside while they were in it and the very conservative politics over there I don't think the UK rejoining as a full member would be beneficial to the EU at this point.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Don't want these bitches back, they hurt our union like a cancer.

The back they want is the special treatment they got before, wich is a absolute no go.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Would love the UK back. Besides wanting it to be easier to travel there, I think it is also the best way to show how beneficial the EU is. If they already want back in after such a short period of time it sends a strong message to the many anti-EU people across the continent.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Snip, snap! Snip, snap! Snip, snap!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago

Do you have any idea the toll three vasectomies has on a person?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago (2 children)

No shit! As a Brit living in another country I would like Britain to never have left. BUT, now that Britain has left, I'd like to punish those who allowed Brexit to happen by preventing them from rejoining. You've made your nasty scat bed, now fucking lie in it.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago (3 children)

While I would love to have the UK rejoin it won’t happen in at least the next 5-8 years, probably not even 20 years. The problem isn’t just whether the EU would accept the UK it’s that the Brexit period was so politically toxic the two main parties won’t touch it.

The people can say they want it all they like but unless a governing party is willing to risk tearing itself apart over it then it won’t go anywhere.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (8 children)

No, please no, stop UK from joining europe.

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