Paul the Wolf
Former Score Predictions Comp Organiser (now out)
Who's for devaluation of the Pound?
Exporters... That's about it... A big devaluation will hit normal people pretty hardWho's for devaluation of the Pound?
Exporters... That's about it... A big devaluation will hit normal people pretty hard
Agreed with @Jippy - why are people suddenly so entitled? Ironically it's because of this hyper-compeition from Europe, from the US, from other emerging markets that cause people's wages to be depressed....
The whole artificial management based on, what, some people's idealistic left-wing ideas scare me more IMO!
Sadly there used to be a very strong skills base here for rail infrastructure. That another thing that seems to have diminished whilst we've been in the EU.Something ironic about this - we're currently undergoing much needed rail infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity, but unfortunately there isn't the knowledge and skills base in the UK alone to undertake them. The only way we're able to do it is by recruiting from a country that has such a skills base - which is, you guessed it, Romania.
True... Though it diminishing has nothing to do with the eu...Sadly there used to be a very strong skills base here for rail infrastructure. That another thing that seems to have diminished whilst we've been in the EU.
Check it per capita though and we're in 27th behind Luxembourg, Norway, San Marino, Ireland, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, Finland and France from within the EU and a good 16 places behind your example of Saudi. We're down around the Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and Greece end of the GDP per capita range.
The UK is a sick country that killed off all it's remaining struggling industry and sold the population on a dream of all being middle classed, working in cozy warm offices and living in our privately owned dream homes whilst our kids all gained multiple degrees and all became global president. The infrastructure is underfunded and decaying to the point where it's little better than the likes of India (not surprising as theirs was last maintained under Queen Victoria too) whilst the industries that are needed to maintain and upgrade the infrastructure are in terminal decline with those who are qualified clearing off for better prospects elsewhere and us needing to recruit low cost European labour to make do and mend since our own labour force quite simply do not want to work outside for the rates the clients are willing to pay.
Don't let them kid you that the UK is a global superpower held back by Europe any more, we're a sad shambles who would lose any remaining semblance of global relevance if we were to exit the EU. As for all the migrants coming over here stealing our jobs, you are aware that there's as many Brits abroad in the EU as there are EU migrants in Britain aren't you?
Thanks!As requested by @Paz , a poll has now been added.
sorry to be so pedantic, but could you change to official question:As requested by @Paz , a poll has now been added.
sorry to be so pedantic, but could you change to official question:
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?
Yes
No
understood!Hopefully. For future reference, when requesting a poll, please consider providing the question and answers. Thanks.
understood!
thanks!I abbreviated European Union, hope that's OK.
The figures I quoted were from the IMF GDP per capita PPP tables which correct for cost of living, exchange rates etc so you get a better gauge of standard of living based on GDP. The nominal figures the IMF also publish tend to be skewed by exchange rate shifts and cost of living slightly more hence the UK's stronger figures in 2015 and Saudi disappearing down an oil well.Where on earth are you getting these figures from? According to IMF 2015, UK GDP per capita is around double the likes of Saudi, Greece and Portugal. Granted the pound has gone down the last six months but nowhere near that much. I'm in favour of staying in for what it's worth but the idea the UK is some kind of terminally ill patient kept alive by EU life support is ridiculous. It's still a country of genuine standing, just diminished in relative terms compared to where it used to be (but not compared to its European peers). in fact, in terms of soft power, it's probably number one in Europe, has the only serious military force (besides France), the largest, most influential city, a financial centre bigger than the rest of Europe combined, the de facto international law etc. Yes, certain things are a mess (education, housing, regional imbalances) but other EU countries have their problems too and you seem to focus excessively (exclusively?) on the negatives.
Agree with all that Bury posts but I'd vote to leave eu cos id like to see the uk crumble and cameron gone. the uk is a dump and I am so glad I live abroad. Carry on moaning about a bunch if immigrants while the rest of Europe tries to move on.
Agree with all that Bury posts but I'd vote to leave eu cos id like to see the uk crumble and cameron gone. the uk is a dump and I am so glad I live abroad. Carry on moaning about a bunch if immigrants while the rest of Europe tries to move on.
Where do you live?Agree with all that Bury posts but I'd vote to leave eu cos id like to see the uk crumble and cameron gone. the uk is a dump and I am so glad I live abroad. Carry on moaning about a bunch if immigrants while the rest of Europe tries to move on.
I thought this would be a landslide leave vote. Everytime I come home it seems every single person is annoyed at something EU related.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35624409
Staying in EU 'exposes UK to terror risk', says Iain Duncan Smith
Absolute trash.
I thought this would be a landslide leave vote. Everytime I come home it seems every single person is annoyed at something EU related.
HollandWhere do you live?
When I looked yesterday bookies odds were: Leave 5/2, Remain 1/3. The money is strongly on Remain.
There's a difference between people moaning about the EU, and the majority wanting to leave. Plenty of people who complain will still stay anyway, and the ones you'd generally hear from are the ones who complain...very few people will go on about how happy they are with the EU, for example. Like with Scottish independence. There's a lot of dissatisfaction with the union, but the majority (for now) still want to stay.
They'd been drifting towards leave, more polls were giving leave a small lead and public opinion on the EU can change quickly over a referendum (in both directions). If they'd given him nothing, the chances of leave winning would greatly increase.So annoyed but not sufficiently. Why was Cameron trying to get a deal if the odds are so clear? He surely had near no leverage.
So annoyed but not sufficiently. Why was Cameron trying to get a deal if the odds are so clear? He surely had near no leverage.
Agree with all that Bury posts but I'd vote to leave eu cos id like to see the uk crumble and cameron gone. the uk is a dump and I am so glad I live abroad. Carry on moaning about a bunch if immigrants while the rest of Europe tries to move on.
Also tried to blame the Syrian civil war on the EUhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35624409
Staying in EU 'exposes UK to terror risk', says Iain Duncan Smith
Absolute trash.
Also tried to blame the Syrian civil war on the EU on SKY.
Stan's a Brit, just a very disillusioned one that's very pissed off with the state of the country, suspect there's a touch of sarcasm in the comment about wanting the UK to leave and fall flat on it's arse but also an honest recognition that it may take that for people to insist on the political and personal changes necessary.Our friends in the EU showing their love once again.