Brexit - good or bad for the UK?

[Jon]

The UK seems to be split down the middle: half wanted to split from the EU, half wanted to stay in. For me, I liked the idea of being able to live anywhere in the EU, which is a huge plus in my mind. Such great countries out there. But at the same time I didn't like the excessive rules coming from Brussels.

Wonder what the opinion is of those who are from countries outside of the EU. Good or bad for Britain?

 

[Nauticalgent]

As an American, any thing that is a move away from centralized control and encourages sovereignty is a good thing - although the idea is decaying with each new generation.

 

[Jon]

Is this the view of most Americans? I know everybody has their own opinion, but I am wondering if it is the defacto standard of thought in the USA.

 

[Nauticalgent]

Sadly, (IMHO) no. Most have no idea what it truely means and could not care less. The few that have taken a little time to read an article or two about BREXIT thinks the UK, as an affluent member of the EU, are being selfish and does not want to help other less fortunate members of the EU up to and including the immigrant situation.

There are some who are like-minded as I, but we are few and far between.

 

[Jon]

I never think about the UK as being "selfish". I just view all countries as entities that operate in their own interests. It's just the way it is.

 

[Nauticalgent]

Absolutely concur. I take it then that you personally think BREXIT is a step in the wrong direction?

 

[Jon]

I actually think there is a lot of virtue signalling going on when people say they promote a particular benevolent cause. They feel they have the moral high ground, but when push comes to shove, they dig their heads in the trough just like everyone else.

When it comes to Brexit, I was in fact a "remainer". One the one hand, I hated the excessive bureaucracy, with a whole gamut of rules, regulations and decisions made in Brussels by unelected bureaucrats. For example, they have strict rules on the shape of a banana, for heaven's sake! But the thing I didn't want to miss out on was the ability to live anywhere I liked in Europe. It expanded my potential options. It reminds me of my home town. The selection of eateries is pitiful. I end up going to the same Costa coffee shop each day because there is nowhere else to go in my hometown that does a decent coffee. We don't even have an Italian restaurant either, despite a population of nearly 20,000 starving people.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Actually, NG and I might disagree on how USA folks feel about Brexit. The ones who voted for Donald Trump would surely think that dumping a bunch of socialist hangers-on is a great idea. I see the EU as being at a crossroads that will either kill it or lead to a great future. The thing that would kill it is to allow socialist countries to expect full support for their incredibly expensive programs. The thing that would lead to a great future would be to find a way to give SOME support to the poor countries but demand that they restructure the way they do things. Because Greece was a recent example of the failure of socialism: The moment when you run out of someone else's money to spend.