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Nihil

(13,508 posts)
7. Not an option for me but, until this week, I hadn't even considered that the Leavers might win.
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:53 AM
Jun 2016

I too am starting to get concerned about the apparent "groundswell" of support
for national stupidity that could only too easily be reflected in the polling booth.

I work in an international company whose registered head office is in London
(although the CEO is now based in New York). I am surrounded by Europeans
(EU & Nordic) as well as a fair scattering from further afield (including Russia,
Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Caribbean Islanders, Antipodeans, Central Africans).
Our whole business works because we deal fairly with *all* countries so we could
be unbelievably badly hit if the "Leave" idiots actually win: the company would
survive but the London office (including the IT department where I work) would not
only lose people directly (due to the fascists clamping down on work visa rules)
but quite likely have to relocate out of the UK in order to maintain the business
relationships with a number of other countries. That's a serious job risk for someone
who isn't old enough to retire yet but is viewed as "well past it" when job hunting.

My children are still starting their own lives (finishing education, working first jobs).
They find the unwanted excess of job seekers from Eastern Europe, China & Africa
to be a real issue but not one that blinds them to the benefits of the EU - just something
that needs to be resolved by politicians who aren't themselves profiting from the
increased numbers of immigrants.

My siblings are getting old (brother + one brother-in-law both being cancer survivors
with a risk of recurrence). I am now the only one of us who is still working in
full-time employment (and as anything other than a carer). They rely on their
pensions supporting them for the rest of their lives.

My parents-in-law are in their eighties and have been the cause of several
emergency dashes & upheavals over the last few years (only going to get worse).
They rely on the NHS, on their pensions and yes, on their only UK-based child (and
her family) being able to drive to them whenever something goes wrong.

From my perspective, there is nothing wrong with the EU that a little political will
couldn't resolve (not that spines are ever in surplus with politicians) whilst the
amount of good that it provides is immeasurable.

I hadn't anticipated that there might be sufficient numbers of low-information
voters (and/or desperate gamblers out to make a profit at any cost) that the
vote could become close or that there could even be enough people who would
believe the inconsistent & disconnected bollocks being disseminated by the "Leave"
campaign.

The realisation that I may have over-estimated the intelligence of my fellow Britons
is as worrying as it is surprising. This could mean a stressful few weeks ahead until
the issue is resolved (one way or the other).

Like I said, leaving the UK simply isn't an option for me but I can't honestly fault
anyone else for investigating the possibility.

It'd make it a worse place, but I wouldn't go that far muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #1
It's how I felt in America when Bush won his second term. auntpurl Jun 2016 #2
... Ironing Man Jun 2016 #3
Yeah, nothing is going to happen even if Leave wins for something like 3 years auntpurl Jun 2016 #4
So the UK's MEPs would just go on being MEPs? Ken Burch Jun 2016 #15
Yeah, they'll carry on until there's a formal exit muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #16
We've talked about Scotland too as we live in Northumberland, only one stop away. non sociopath skin Jun 2016 #6
I left in 1987. Ghost Dog Jun 2016 #5
Not an option for me but, until this week, I hadn't even considered that the Leavers might win. Nihil Jun 2016 #7
We've got a similar issue with elderly family auntpurl Jun 2016 #8
I sympathise. Nihil Jun 2016 #9
Good point. auntpurl Jun 2016 #10
Fucking Murdoch's Sun... Ghost Dog Jun 2016 #11
Not in any imminent future... LeftishBrit Jun 2016 #12
I don't think anyone has any real idea of what's going to happen if we Leave auntpurl Jun 2016 #13
FWIW, the bookies' odds still show 'leave' as most likely muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #14
The unfortunate reality is if England votes Leave geardaddy Jun 2016 #17
Not to mention screwing over Scotland, Northern Ireland, and most of England! LeftishBrit Jun 2016 #18
Yes, indeed! geardaddy Jun 2016 #19
Welsh polls are very similar to whole-of-Britain ones muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #20
Agreed. geardaddy Jun 2016 #21
Depends where the manufacturing goes T_i_B Jun 2016 #22
A friend of mine is wondering about moving north of the border muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #23
I think they will need a fair bit of infrastructure T_i_B Jun 2016 #24
Well, all I can say to both of you is Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #25
My liver is going to improve because of this! T_i_B Jun 2016 #28
That is what concerns me auntpurl, and the potential for xenophobia to spread still_one Jun 2016 #26
Some people always say such things in advance of an unfortunate anticipated result of an election. Just reading posts Jun 2016 #27
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