Should we stay in the EU

[nanrobbo]

It is a joke calling it a union ..more a dictatorship.

[southcoast]

I think Ted Heath knew full well when he took us in that the project was political union,he was a traitor,the EU was always about political union because after 2 world wars they are terrified it might happen again so they want everyone inter connected.

And their is no way its going to fold if we and greece leave,too many have too much to lose and in merkels case loss of face and influence.

[I1L2T3]

It is a joke calling it a union ..more a dictatorship.

 

Fair to say the commission looks like it is in the driving seat.

 

Nothing wrong with unelected bureaucrats - they are needed to organize the running of a government but when they develop a particular vision and political philosophy of their own (something which no civil service-type body should ever do) then things have gone very badly wrong. That is what we have it Europe. It's beyond me how anybody could support the way it has developed.

[andyofborg]

Democracy was Britains and thus freed Western Europe's (and our prognecies) USP...we're rapidly losing that and we need to regain it both for ourselves and to distinguish ourselves once again in the world as leaders, not lowest common demoninator followers.

 

democracy was originally Greece's and Britain has only had something we'd recognize as democracy for only around 90 years

[Mecky]

Has anyone bulleted the benefits for staying in or leaving the EU?

[stereolab]

Has anyone bulleted the benefits for staying in or leaving the EU?

 

These two articles offset the short term benefits of leaving with the reality - that is - total economic disaster within a few years.

 

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567940-british-exit-european-union-looks-increasingly-possible-it-would-be-reckless

 

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21567914-how-britain-could-fall-out-european-union-and-what-it-would-mean-making-break

 

 

And what if Britain left? It could grab a few benefits quickly. The nation would save about £8 billion ($13 billion) a year in net budget contributions. Freed of the common agricultural policy, its food could become cheaper. If it pulled out of the single market, it could do away with annoying labour directives. The City would not have to worry so much about a financial-transaction tax and creeping European finance rules.

 

Yet these gains would be greatly outweighed by the costs of a British exit, which would dent trade with a market that accounts for half of Britain’s exports. The carmakers that use Britain as their European operations base would gradually drift away, along with large parts of the financial-services industry. Britain would have to renegotiate dozens of bilateral trade deals from a much weaker position than it enjoyed as a member of the EU. It would cut a greatly diminished figure on the world stage. It would have bought some sovereignty, but at an extraordinary cost to Britain—and its partners.

[retep]

The fact some countries seem desperate we should stay should be an indication we should get out, what is the benefit they are screwing from us.

[maxmaximus]

The fact some countries seem desperate we should stay should be an indication we should get out, what is the benefit they are screwing from us.

 

It does appear the some are desperate for us to stay in, I also find it a strange that other countries manage without being in the EU, yet some people think we will become a third world country if we leave.

[green]

These two articles offset the short term benefits of leaving with the reality - that is - total economic disaster within a few years.

 

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567940-british-exit-european-union-looks-increasingly-possible-it-would-be-reckless

 

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21567914-how-britain-could-fall-out-european-union-and-what-it-would-mean-making-break

 

 

And what if Britain left? It could grab a few benefits quickly. The nation would save about £8 billion ($13 billion) a year in net budget contributions. Freed of the common agricultural policy, its food could become cheaper. If it pulled out of the single market, it could do away with annoying labour directives. The City would not have to worry so much about a financial-transaction tax and creeping European finance rules.

 

Yet these gains would be greatly outweighed by the costs of a British exit, which would dent trade with a market that accounts for half of Britain’s exports. The carmakers that use Britain as their European operations base would gradually drift away, along with large parts of the financial-services industry. Britain would have to renegotiate dozens of bilateral trade deals from a much weaker position than it enjoyed as a member of the EU. It would cut a greatly diminished figure on the world stage. It would have bought some sovereignty, but at an extraordinary cost to Britain—and its partners.

 

The Economist also BEGGED our Govt to go into the Euro currency and used a lot of black mail at the time when we didnt.

 

I dread to think what would have happened if we were using the Euro now.

[Dromedary]

It does appear the some are desperate for us to stay in,

 

Maybe its for financial reasons.

 

Germany and France are the 2 main money lending countries and have a great deal to lose if the Euro goes TU hence their struggle to bail out failing countries economies. They have lent vast sums of money to EU members to encourage them to trade with them in order for the lenders to make more profit. Because of their greed they have lent too much and now want the other member to pay for their mistakes and bail them out.

 

Encouraging all and sundry to join the EU is not so much about the unity of the union as the basics like trade and profit come first.

 

The UK offshore banking industry is also worth around £3T and important to the EU rich as that where their money is kept, so its important for them to keep that buoyant. The UK is now a major financial offshore banker and as such is very important to the EU.

 

Interestingly, most of the companies that have recently gone bust around the world because of corruption in the industry also traded from UK offshore banks.