Europe - In or Out?

[rollingthunderx2]

Donnachadh McCarthy
Follow · 22 February near London ·

“What did the EU ever do for us?

In the week when the UK's five extremist right-wing media billionaires won their battle to waste our time, money and political capital on a EU referendum, I thought it a good time to post the great letter by Simon Sweeney in the Guardian, which he kindly allowed me to reproduce in my book, "The Prostitute State - How Britain's Democracy has Been Bought":

"What did the EU ever do for us?
Not much, apart from: providing 57% of our trade;
structural funding to areas hit by industrial decline;
clean beaches and rivers;
cleaner air;
lead free petrol;
restrictions on landfill dumping;
a recycling culture;
cheaper mobile charges;
cheaper air travel;
improved consumer protection and food labelling;
a ban on growth hormones and other harmful food additives;
better product safety;
single market competition bringing quality improvements and better industrial performance;
break up of monopolies;
Europe-wide patent and copyright protection;
no paperwork or customs for exports throughout the single market;
price transparency and removal of commission on currency exchanges across the eurozone;
freedom to travel, live and work across Europe;
funded opportunities for young people to undertake study or work placements abroad;
access to European health services;
labour protection and enhanced social welfare;
smoke-free workplaces;
equal pay legislation;
holiday entitlement;
the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime;
strongest wildlife protection in the world;
improved animal welfare in food production;
EU-funded research and industrial collaboration;
EU representation in international forums;
bloc EEA negotiation at the WTO;
EU diplomatic efforts to uphold the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;
European arrest warrant;
cross border policing to combat human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling; counter terrorism intelligence;
European civil and military co-operation in post-conflict zones in Europe and Africa;
support for democracy and human rights across Europe and beyond;
investment across Europe contributing to better living standards and educational, social and cultural capital.
All of this is nothing compared with its greatest achievements: the EU has for 60 years been the foundation of peace between European neighbours after centuries of bloodshed.
It furthermore assisted the extraordinary political, social and economic transformation of 13 former dictatorships, now EU members, since 1980.
Now the union faces major challenges brought on by neoliberal economic globalisation, and worsened by its own systemic weaknesses. It is taking measures to overcome these. We in the UK should reflect on whether our net contribution of £7bn out of total government expenditure of £695bn is good value. We must play a full part in enabling the union to be a force for good in a multi-polar global future.

Simon Sweeney,

Lecturer in international political economy, University of York"

[VTRDark]

If we pull out of the EU we are going to lose all our employment safeguards

Tell that to the folk on zero hour contracts

[redpig]

It is now well established that all outers are illiterate national socialist thugs.
You are allowed to decide for yourself only if your decision is the one sanctioned by so called democratic free thinkers,
you know the type who endorse freedom of speech as long as they approve the content.
Sorry my mistake the Nazis did that too didn't they? I'm so confused.
Like i said, fear is the key.

[Demonic69]

Funny how the Stay campaign have to resort to fear and insults.
Want out, you're clearly illiterate and a racist and unable to decide for yourself...
Tell me I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we're a democracy (unlike the EU). What do you think will happen when the Government (the one the champagne-socialist middle-class luvvies have been voting for blindly for decades) tries to take away all of those rights? Are all the stay campaigners going to just refuse to vote, to strike, to march? Are you really that pathetic? Or is it just easier to keep voting for your favourite colour and hoping the EU will solve all or your problems, for a price?

[Mav617]

Funny how the Stay campaign have to resort to fear and insults.
Want out, you're clearly illiterate and a racist and unable to decide for yourself...
Tell me I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we're a democracy (unlike the EU). What do you think will happen when the Government (the one the champagne-socialist middle-class luvvies have been voting for blindly for decades) tries to take away all of those rights? Are all the stay campaigners going to just refuse to vote, to strike, to march? Are you really that pathetic? Or is it just easier to keep voting for your favourite colour and hoping the EU will solve all or your problems, for a price?

Good call mate. If you're undecided then vote LEAVE - and shake their ivory towers just a little.

[VTRDark]

Looks like they have starting fixing things already with their computers conveniently going down so half million of youngsters have not had the chance to register to vote. I wonder how many leave Europe votes they have lost there. Now that's what I call democracy What a joke. Lets see if they extend the deadline or not. I'm waiting for the next bit of manipulation now. It's all pantomime. Were getting as bad as the States.

[Stratman]

Funny how the Stay campaign have to resort to fear and insults.
.... (the one the champagne-socialist middle-class luvvies have been voting for blindly for decades)

Aren't you resorting to insults there yourself?

[Demonic69]

What's good for the goose ;-)

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[tony.mon]

Looks like they have starting fixing things already with their computers conveniently going down so half million of youngsters have not had the chance to register to vote. I wonder how many leave Europe votes they have lost there. Now that's what I call democracy What a joke. Lets see if they extend the deadline or not. I'm waiting for the next bit of manipulation now. It's all pantomime. Were getting as bad as the States.

We will NEVER be as bad as the states.

I'm veering towards the leave side; I just want to see if things will be as bad as the stay team predict. If by any chance it is; I might go and live in Europe....It's only an hour away from where I currently live.


I like to disturb the status quo.

[StormingHonda]

I really am unsure, I just don't think either way any of us are going to notice, bit like the Scottish referendum, loads of fear mongering from both side, accusations of xenophobia from quite frankly disgusting people and facts that don't add up or make sense.

I might just stay at home and see where the cards fall.

[AMCQ46]

I really am unsure, I just don't think either way any of us are going to notice, bit like the Scottish referendum, loads of fear mongering from both side, accusations of xenophobia from quite frankly disgusting people and facts that don't add up or make sense.

I might just stay at home and see where the cards fall.

good summary, that's what I feel

[Mav617]

Good enough for me: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-e ... m-36505735

[lumpyv]

im voting in on the strength of an argument I heard on the radio this week ...

labour are not putting up a very electable show at the minute so it looks like we are stuck with the tories for the foreseeable future.

if we do a brexit the prime minister will most likely clear off (I think he,s had enough anyway, if I had his money I would not be doing the hours he does) leaving us with a much more hard line right wing lot running the country . to my mind this would lead to more and more legislation undermining workers rights . personally this is likely to affect me more than most other things to do with trade. also if we do leave I am confident the cost of living would shoot up because that is the nature of things .

[redpig]

The cost of living always shoots up for it is a sad fact that the world is full of very selfish greedy b8stard.
Voting out will force us in to a depression will it?
I work in the steel industry and we have been in a depression now for a very long time.
Leaving will drive down the value of real estate will it?
Well fook me that must be a bad thing cos I wouldn't want to try and buy a house in the current overinflated market would you?
Christ on a crutch why can't we all have a civilised informed debate about it, these b8stard in charge of us are interested in nothing but winning.
It's too important an issue for squabbles between the self serving bell end brigade.
I despair of the whole business, we have a choice between bad and worse which is all we deserve for allowing our so called leaders to get away whatever they like.
I don't remember a referendum on joining in the first place.
I say fook em all.

[VTRDark]

I don't remember a referendum on joining in the first place.

Indeed we where supposed to have got that back in the IIRC Blair days..or was it Brown, but they hung out so long we missed the deadline and they joined anyway. Dirty business the world of politics. We would be better off having TV stars in charge. I'd love to see someone like Russell Brand running the country. What I would say is that it's best not to listen to any MPs or the media and vote on what your see and witness for yourselves in the real world.