After Brexit - am I stupid or what?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by ARMANDII, Jan 31, 2020.

  1. WeeTam

    WeeTam Total Gardener

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    Anyone that doesnt agree with the champagne socialists on the far left are immediately attacked.

    The usual approach is to label detractors as being "far right" "facists" "racists" "climate deniers" etc etc etc.

    And thats one of the reasons the Labour party was abandoned by true Labour voters.

    A shame because a ruling party needs to be kept under pressure from a strong opposition party.

    If the Labour party had been stronger maybe Boris wouldnt have been able to blow c. £120 Bi££ion on a train. .?
     
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    • Sheal

      Sheal Total Gardener

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      Nah, what I think you really mean is the greenhouse @ARMANDII. :biggrin:
       
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        I have a feeling that if Labour had their house in order, things would be different in Scotland too @WeeTam - - I've long said that John Smith was the best Prime Minister we never had, and Labour are the only real alternative to the SNP for folks in Scotland to vote for, as the vast majority won't vote Tory.
         
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        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          Wish people would look past the colour and vote for policies!

          UK coming out with their negotiation strategy today; to be honest I thought they already has there has been so much coverage of it already. EU saying we can't have a Canada style agreement based on proximity baffles me somewhat.
           
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Pawoland :ideaIPB:
             
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              I agree, Loofah, it doesn't make sense, but it's just another excuse for digging another ditch and building another barrier which is the usual method that the EU has used over the last 4 years.
               
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              • clanless

                clanless Total Gardener

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                Looks like BoJo (aka Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson) - I like the 'de Pfeffel' bit - is holding his ground. Outline of deal sorted by June or we walk out the door. I'd be making my way to the door now - but we'll see how silly the EU are going to be.

                Stand firm Boris - this is why you were elected.
                 
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                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                  I imagine Barnier will be scoffing wildly at the cameras and playing up somewhat at the news! He seems to forget that just because they're the biggest trading bloc, they're not the only trading bloc...

                  The EU, if they (and the UK to be fair) stop mucking about with pointless spats and mud slinging, could have a great trading relationship with the UK. I think the negotiation teams will know if a deal is possible well before June
                   
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                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    Agreed, Loofah. But if you breakdown the actual financial makeup of the EU they're even weaker because the East European countries are not massive exporters or importers, nor are they great financial contributers to the EU. If we look at the Mediterranean members they are not in, to be charitable, great financial state.
                    The biggest financial contributors to the EU, not counting the UK, are Germany (on the brink of recession), France, Italy, and Spain. They all contribute above 5%, but Italy is in near state of recession, financially broke and actually getting a big portion of their contribution returned in discounts, and huge grants so Italy's contribution is a case of "smoke and mirrors" and, in truth, is probably less than half of that officially stated by the EU and, if you take into account that the EU's own financial audits have not ever signed off for over 20 years, then you have a reality check. Netherlands contribute 5% and Belgium just over 4%, and Spain is only just starting to recover from the 2008 crash.
                    So, yes, the EU is a large trading bloc, but it's finances are probably better cooked than a overdone Turkey.:dunno::cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                     
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                    • Loofah

                      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                      The eastern members of the EU are there purely for defence purposes, so the EU can place equipment at early warning points. As you say, they contribute next to nothing and don't really trade so there really isn't much point otherwise. They benefit massively from the arrangement.

                      I thought Italy had been in recession for years!

                      Barnier is in a twist today over the UK's lack of commitment to the political declaration :roflol: He should have known from the title it was all lies hahaha
                       
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                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                        I was under the impression that the EU allowed the eastern countries to join because of all the cheap labour they would provide.
                        That's how it seems any way.
                         
                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        I think the lessons of over one hundred years of Military history, Loofah, has shown us that, in conventional warfare, the Eastern European Countries would be swamped immediately by a Tsunami of Russian forces, as would France and Germany as there are no real large defensive forces in Europe but now more Administrative elements. So the Ruskies would be on the European coast before NATO think about calling a crisis meeting.


                        I'm pretty sure that was an element, pete, but I think it was also to swell the membership numbers so that they could say "look at us, we're huge with 28 (then) countries as members" despite the fact that the addition added little, if any, to their military strength and none to their financial and trading strength.
                         
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                        • clanless

                          clanless Total Gardener

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                          With the first round on trade talks complete - it looks like we'll be walking away in June - well done Barney.
                           
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                          • Loofah

                            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                            I haven't seen the news but let me guess - it's all our fault? We are, after all, delusional as well as unreasonable...
                             
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                            • pete

                              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                              Anyone know how Brexit is going?
                              Just wondering if they are going to sneak in some underhand deal while everyone is distracted with the latest crisis.
                              Good time to hide bad news etc.

                              They could even use it as an excuse to come up with another extension.
                               
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