Some Questions on Brexit

Whichever way you voted in the 2016 referendum, there is some essential reading here.

In the interests of not further inflaming the situation and creating more division than there is already, I have tried not to post my true feelings in any cogent form on social media, but I’m afraid that I have come to the end of my patience, because so many facts are not being reported by the mainstream media, in all its forms. I am also tired of the bias and lack of balance particularly at the BBC. I am also particularly concerned about the lack of coverage on the fact that the Leave Campaign broke electoral law and its leaders told barefaced lies. And why the silence on Cambridge Analytica, data harvesting and the influence this will have had via social media on the 'persuadables' e.g. those sections of the electorate, who normally don't bother voting or are what is otherwise described as 'swing-voters', and who rely more on reading headlines and listening to soundbites, rather than digging a bit deeper for what is the truth (or otherwise) that lies behind those headline statements.

It is evident that certain things are not discussed. Only things which have a touch of sensation - or preferably a whole boatload of sensation and drama, but also, worryingly, what appears to be more than a touch of government propaganda, not to mention external (international) interference in UK political affairs. Where has common sense gone? Where has the search for the middle ground gone, the ability to compromise; the willingness to listen; the will to regain faith amongst the vast swathes of the UK’s population, who can read beyond the headlines and listen for what lies behind the soundbites; the will to open up dialectic debate and enquiry. 

dialectic | ˌdʌɪəˈlɛktɪk | Philosophy

noun (also dialectics) [mass noun, usually treated as singular]

1 the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.

2 enquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions.

• the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc.

The ancient Greeks used the term dialectic to refer to various methods of reasoning and discussion in order to discover the truth. More recently, Kant applied the term to the criticism of the contradictions which arise from supposing knowledge of objects beyond the limits of experience, e.g. the soul. Hegel applied the term to the process of thought by which apparent contradictions (which he termed thesis and antithesis) are seen to be part of a higher truth (synthesis). Socrates was closely associated with this mode of debate.

We have heard from those, who support the leave campaign, repeated common cries of  …

“parliament is a disgrace: 

“a second referendum would mean the end of democracy” 

“it is to end uncontrolled immigration” 

“Immigrants are taking our jobs”

“the EU is a federalist state”

“we want to take back control”

In answer, I would offer the following:

“Leaving Europe weakens the UK immeasurably”

So, in the interests of trying to present some cogent facts, I offer the following …

1. As for cries of ‘parliament is a disgrace’ it is a fundamental tenet of Britain’s representative democracy, that we have 650 members, who represent the electorate, and who act as a check on rash government actions. It is called parliamentary democracy.
2. The EU is the largest trading bloc in the World and can hold its own even against the USA, who failed to negotiate what was going to be a toxic free trade agreement in the TTIP (deceptively referred to as the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), which would have trampled all over the EU’s hard won regulations on the environment, health, food and employment. Whereas, outside the EU, the UK is a small fish, who will have a much weakened negotiating position with what is effectively the huge, ruthless and very greedy American/Global corporate establishment … and don’t allow yourself to be fooled by talk of the ‘special relationship’. US corporates are only interest in things, in which they can make a financial ‘killing’.
3. United we stand, divided we fall … never truer than now. the European project was a peace project, first and foremost. If you’re trading products and services with someone, you are less likely to get into a conflict with them.
4. Becoming almost totally dependant on the USA for our economic ‘wellbeing’, heads this Great British Ship toward becoming the Fifty-First State of the USA and a sacrificial lamb to the aggressive foreign policies … that is both military and economic aggression. As already mentioned, the EU threw out the USA's TTIP trade deal four years ago and the US corporate establishment is smarting from that failure. So they would love to pick us off and are no doubt walking the corridors of power right now looking to do everything they can to encourage Brexit and do a toxic trade deal that will do to safety regulations on environment, food and agriculture, employment and above all, our own healthcare system, that TTiP threatened to do. They would dearly love to buy out our treasured NHS and turn it into their own, which may I remind you is the most expensive, most ineffective and most inhumane healthcare system in the developed world, driven solely by profit not compassion. The signs are already evident of this in the ramping up of advertising by US corporate healthcare concerns.
5. There are countless personal stories of a whole generation and more, who have grown up with and become integrated in European life, to the benefit of their education in learning how to live with and respect the cultures of our neighbours. There will be countless cases of despair for many on both sides of the English Chanel, who will suffer from the separation that could result. 
6. Net migration into the UK, during the tenure of this Conservative government since 2010, from outside the EU significantly exceeds what it is from inside the EU in the ratio 4 to 1. That is 80% UK of immigration is from non-EU countries.
7. UK net contribution to the EU is about 0.4% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and accounts for less than 1.3% of public expenditure.
8. Economic benefits of EU membership are over ten times the contribution and add about 4% to UK GDP.
9. EU membership adds over £80 billion a year or £1,500 million per week - UK GDP is now £2.2 trillion. 
10. In 2017-18 the UK’s contribution (to the EU) was £12.9 billion before grants and funding the UK received back. After these receipts, UK net contribution was £7.8 billion (£150 million per week - less than half the inflated figure of £350 million on the side of the 2016 Brexit bus!)
11. Brexit is already causing UK economic growth to fall by about 2% or more a year - losing GDP of about £800m a week.
12. Government expects the UK’s financial settlement with the EU to be between £30 and £40 billion, with payments running to 2064. However, the NAO (National Audit Office) has warned that it could be higher. 

Points 1 to 5 in the above are mine; 6 to 12 are taken directly from the Summary facts of the Brexit Factbase 3rd Sept 2019, with due deference and fully due acknowledgement to its author, Richard Barfield. I thoroughly recommend this useful and comprehensive web site to you. It covers many corners of the Brexit minefield in a very comprehensive way, including the EU and Sovereignty, contributions and benefits, trade and investment, immigration, impact assessments on the economy, industry sectors and regions, and policy areas. It also covers the history of negotiations, next steps and, importantly the impact of a no deal. 

https://brexitfactbase.com 

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I’d like to conclude with an invitation to anyone who voted Brexit. I would genuinely like to hear your rational reasons for voting to leave. This is because I feel starved of rational explanations, besides those one liners we heard repeatedly during and since the referendum in 2016, which themselves are devoid of substance.

I should also add that any ‘trolling’, aggressive or antisocial comments, or statements designed to incite the same in others, I will delete summarily. I truly want to hear reasoned argument. Also defensive attacks on the 'Remain' campaign are not acceptable 'reasons' for voting Brexit, but I welcome reasoned, rational and referenced arguments for leaving the EU.

In the meantime, let there be peace.