I read lots of different things in lots of different places, even Brietbart. Leaving aside your assumptions that my opinions are based solely on what I might or might not read in the Guardian, the influence on politics by very wealthy, mainly far right wing individuals is of concern. What are their intentions or vision of the future ? Divide and rule ? The idea of a return to British sovereignty is an enticing one, but what does that actually mean to ordinary people in the UK ? Gone are the days when we could invade other countries, exploit their wealth, import their people as cheap labour and decide their destinies to our advantage unhindered.
I’ve spoken to farmers who are now finding it difficult to find workers and are worried about what will happen when EU subsidies end, other people who trade with the EU on a regular basis and are worried too. I used to transport goods around Europe, compared to these days it was a pain, customs forms, circulation permits etc. etc., sometimes days waiting for clearance, costly. I first travelled in mainland Europe in the early 60s, memories of the war were still fairly fresh for many and infrastructures were still recovering and developing. Having a common market has made a big difference over the years, both socially and economically. To regard the EU as some sort of undemocratic monolith, is to perhaps miss the point and to equate terrorist attacks with membership, is misguided, many attacks have been carried out by 2nd or 3rd generations of people who arrived from previous parts of empire.
The thought that the USA or China will be there for us if needed could be a bit optimistic and any trade deals struck will most likely be predominantly to their advantage.
Nah, I was just being facetious by making a conclusion based on the same train of logic as your assumption on leave voters. Once again, you are making assumptions about leave voters that they represent the far right, yet it was clear in the assessments after the vote and in the run up to it that opinion was divided across parties. Many areas that voted leave are in fact strongly left wing.
Subsidies have lead to an overproduction of unnecessary foodstuffs at the expense of others and supports uncompetitive practices and stifles innovation by removing incentive to change (witness much of French agriculture and industry). It is a false and misleading way to support an economy, and ultimately unsustainable. It also significantly damages countries that aren't invited to the party (African Farmers, Caribbean sugar cane growers, British fishermen). The information I read last week was that joining the common market actually had a negligible effect o the UK economy, but as always, that may well depend on which bit of research you read!! However, if you look at The IMF list of fastest growing economies, the only EU countries featuring in the top 30 are Gibraltar and Romania. The most exciting and stimulating economies lie outside the EU. As with business, to grow your own wealth, you have to invest in growth, and that means investing in economies on a world scale, the new and emerging economies that in the next 50 years could well dwarf the EU.
If you look at net trade within the EU, we are a net importer to the tune of over 100billion euros, the largest in Europe by a significant margin, so yu have to ask yourself, does the rest of the EU really want to give up over 100billion of +ve net exports to the UK? well, if they do, they're cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Conversely, we are a net exporter of goods to the rest of the world. Around 30% of our imports from the EU come from France and Germany, do those to countries really want to give up nearly 100 billion euros in trade? and we are a net importer from both those countries, so they have more to lose than we do.
Our exports to the states amount to around 40% of the value of our exports to the whole of the EU and represents a significant positive trade balance so the US is a very important market to us, being our biggest +ve trading partner
It is evident then that in terms of trade, there is much to be gained for exploiting our existing trade with world economies and an area that could be developed once we are free of the restrictive practices of the EU. World trade is more important to us than many of the other EU countries who have a strong interest in maintaining the parochialism of the EU, we don't. Thats not to say trading with the EU is unimportant, it is very important, but it's also important to the EU, notably France and Germany and that is something that needs to be utilised by those negotiating our position in Europe.
If viewing the EU as an undemocratic monolith is missing the point, then I'm not sure what the point is, because to me that is exactly the point. I'm not that bothered about immigration (although I do belive there should be tighter controls) or British independence and 'sovereignty, what I am interested in is being ruled by an undemocratic, unaccountable body where the majority of decision are passed behind closed doors under the influence of those very people you choose to blame for brexit, the rich and large corporations. Those decisions are then passed without consideration of any objection or or contrary argument. I want to live in a democracy, not an EU dictatorship where policy is unscrutinised and decided on the basis of who has the fattest wallet.
Of course, while all this is jolly interesting, it's not that relevant to the OP, which was a bullshit alarmist article without foundation or thought by a bullshit alarmist rag!! I can drive virtually anywhere in the world on my UK driving license, that won't change with leaving the EU.
but TBH I can't be arsed. It's irrelevant to the OP and the arguments for and against were done to death a long time ago. There's is exactly zero value in arguing the toss about it now because we are where we are and it's time to move on and make the best of the situation we have, you can't turn the clock back. Live in the past if you like, be bitter, be resentful, the sensible money is looking to the future.
