Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr K
Ok, to redress the balance  :-
The problem for out is they have to persuade people how much better things would be outside the EU; even if they do, it's asking people to take a chance/risk. So far it's mainly been how terrible the EU is, not much positive about the alternative.
People know what life inside the EU is like, far from perfect, but relatively stable. Leaving is a gamble and, when it comes to it, people don't like gambles and uncertainty, particularly if it affects jobs and their own prosperity. The outers do tend to me more vocal and certain which might give an skewed view on the state of play. Those that are going to vote to remain are the apathetic silent majority, who probably haven't actually decided they are going to vote that way yet. Past elections and referendums have shown that this group end up voting for 'no change' as the safe option.
The only way i can see an 'out' vote is if there's a low turn out with the apathetic majority not bothering./ or people don't vote on the issue but on the popularity of the Govt. Given that all the main political parties/business/unions will be campaigning for 'in'; and the dangers of 'out' for the next 3 months, I can't see anything else but a remain vote. |
OK. Fair enough it's a risk. However let's clear up a few things here. Only 5% of business actually trade with the EU. That 5% could easily trade on the world stage. For example how about turning the tables and dumping our steel cheaper on the EU?
Next, as pointed out in an earlier post, Britain is set to pay £375 million a week to the EU by 2020. How many Doctors, Nurses or Hospitals will that employ and build. How much could that money improve the Road and Rail Network?
Next. As you are aware the Government want to abolish the Tampon Tax and the proposed Solar Panel Tax. They can't. It has to be done by the EU Parliament. Why not take back the right to do these things for ourselves?
Finally. What a pessimistic outlook you have there. I've given 3 damn good reasons for voting out.
---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien
I think there is a question people will ask of what in their day-to-day life would be made better by leaving the EU and is that worth the risk/uncertainty?
There are a lot of questions about what happens next if we leave. What kind of trade deals would we get? Would the service industry be affected? How long will we be in the state of not knowing, 2 years?
If you're asking someone to disrupt the status-quo in a system in which they're relatively alright then I think you need a less abstract reward than 'sovereignty'.
---------- Post added at 14:08 ---------- Previous post was at 13:59 ----------
If your argument is that changing the status-quo will make matters worse then that's going to be a fearful argument but it doesn't mean it's invalid. The same was said in the Scottish Referendum, it was all 'Project Fear', but it turns out that some of that scaremongering became true.
Brexit doesn't have the moral high ground here anyway. You've linked stories about witches coming to the UK and ISIS terrorists flooding in from a newly admitted Turkey.
I didn't see everyone on here condemning the Tory election campaign for whipping up fears of a Labour-SNP alliance against Scotland or Miliband 'stabbing the country in the back' either. Not sure where this sudden offence at using fear/uncertainty to win an election comes from but it's been otherwise absent until now. |
To Answer Damien's first point the first thing that will be noticeable is we won't have to go to the EU to change things that are better for the UK. The next thing is we will probably see more money ploughed into the NHS.
Negotiations will begin immediately with the EU on Trade. The EU can't survive without the UK and will be very accommodating regarding trade deals.
Now I don't believe it can get any worse than the status quo. What won't happen if we stay is reform. The EU will be hoping we stay so they don't have to reform. This will stop the others who are murmuring about having their own referenda. If the EU give us reforms then others will hold referenda and threaten to leave.
With the Election tactics in mind, they will use the very same tactics to try to force a Remain vote. Yes, the worrying thing is that people are afraid of change.