Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
You'd have thought lessons would have been learned, after the dismal failure of the U.S.S.R.
When disparate people and countries were ruled from Moscow, and which eventually broke down because people like to be governed by their own governments, in their own countries.
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That is just history repeating itself too, think of the many Empires which were built and then destroyed in the past. Among them our own glorious British Empire which fizzled out into The Commonwealth back in the 1920's. We currently have 14 dependent territories overseas (mostly tiny islands eg The Falklands) and a total of 54 nations make up the Commonwealth -it's non-political but promotes trade links, culture etc. Something to fall back on if a split from Europe ever did occur...
Just to be provocative, I've been reading this thread with interest and it seems a majority want a referendum and believe it would vote the UK out of Europe. On the other hand, however, we Britts seem to think we have a right to move wherever we want in Europe/The World without limitation. Many retire to the cheaper "sunny" states (my own parents included) and many have holiday homes there. We think we have a right to do so and yet we don't think others in the club (the EU) should have the same un-limited rights to free movement in the opposite direction. Is this not a bit of a paradox? What would happen to the Ex-pats and those who have interests in Europe if a split came about?
The immigration policy in the UK has been too lax for decades and this has brought about the current situation - the country needs skilled workers but has done little to keep home-grown talent from draining away abroad. A cap on immigration has been put into place but that's a bit like closing the gate after the cows have escaped...The benefit system needs tightening up, undoubtedly, and a system of entry similar to the Canadian or Australian model would be an improvement.
To leave Europe now would be a hard nettle to grasp, the economic system in Europe and The World is currently described as a bowl of Spaghetti -you have to be good with a fork to work your way out of it!