BREXIT : The Referendum Challenge

BREXIT : TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

EU from the Inside out. Opinion?
Europe in or out? Thoughts of a Brit abroad.
By Simon Amsterdam, Netherlands , 20th Feb 2016.

Is Europe good? Do we really share ideals? What will make life easy? Do we know enough? Is it safe? Is it economically sound? Is it Democracy? Does Europe really care about us? My fellow Brit’s ask the same questions, as do most Europeans. When it boils down to the facts, there is simply not enough of them to form a good enough position on something that is actually one of the most important decisions we will make today. We all have opinions, mostly extremely passionate opinions, but opinion doesn’t come close to any fact, so what are we told? The problem is, not enough of the right stuff.

It was interesting to watch the Scottish referendum as a good example, and although happy with the result, deeply unhappy about the performance, opinion, and lack of good information. Performance was key. This is a theater of opinion, and this pantomime offers no substance and certainly not win any awards. For me and most Brits, English, Welsh, Irish, or Scottish, losing our union is more of an emotional bond. To break us up being so close for so long feels like losing a brother or sister. It’s too close to home and feels like we are voting on the breakup of our family, it even begs the question, should we have even forced ourselves into this position in the first place? Was the outcome already understood? Did we respect each other enough? Were we even told the truth?

When we now think of Europe, do we have that same family tie and emotion? Actually it does for some, but most others it feels more like that annoying distant relative you try to avoid at funerals and weddings, you know the one that talks too much, over opinionated, arrogant, and just too different for us to even connect with? Most Brit’s love the European continent for its varied cultures and ideas, as we see countless Brit’s in Amsterdam on their stag/hen nights, giggling through the red light district in their track suits, buzz cuts, and no coats during winter time. If it’s the city trips, country culture, or the beach holidays, the Brit’s love Europe.

So why then when it comes to politics and sharing of ideals, do the flags come out? Partly fear of the unknown, and that’s a big problem right there. European ideals and the politics of a united Europe are still not fully understood, like most of politics, we are disenfranchised, turned off by bigotry, arrogance, game players, and yet another pantomime of ego and opinion. We are seeing the same inefficiencies in politicians across the UK, and Europe but on a macro level, and it’s not good. Also can we even make a difference, and we think not.

There is a reason why the Netherlands as an example have opted out of the European constitution, because it was not only forced down our throats, too soon after losing our currency, but it simply does not uphold the thousands of year old national and cultural identity and vision of the Dutch people. It was a hash job. Netherlands being a small liberal/social country but a financial powerhouse, boxed into sharing a machine idea with no heart. Simply churned out by a group of self important robots being paid too much by a lunatic few, in a parliament in another territory that we can't influence, and far from reality. This is again an opinion, but let’s face it, this is all we seem to have, and that’s wrong.

Whatever information that is out there, it is leaning to an opinion. Media is not without bias, certain organisations lean to specific parties or strategies, information is staged. Corporate business will have different opinions and experiences of Europe than small operations. Politics has always been a theater, a convenient disguise to the true agendas, performing and distracting us. Like FIFA, the game is set, but the pantomime continues and opinion remains. We can influence to a small degree in our own local territories, but on a wider scale has all the true hall marks of a George Orwell novel. This is only working on the basis of what we can see and the lack of influence we have to alter the performances.

There are truly many great ideals and aspects to Europe, and it has helped many of us grow and develop over the years. I’m absolutely British, but have enjoyed living in Europe for the last twenty years. This doesn’t mean I’ve packed away the flag and started drinking my tea without milk, but I do enjoy the freedom of owning property and working abroad, as well as sipping and integrating with the local cultures, feeling European. I like the option of developing my future between several territories across Europe, including Britain, without restrictions. It’s not a luxury, it’s a real lifestyle. So if we Brit’s vote no to Europe, what will be the ramifications for us Brits abroad? Could I kiss my pension goodbye when I chose to transfer back to Britain? Does it mean that when returning to my home in Amsterdam will I have to apply for special immigration papers. What will happen to my international banking ability and other freedoms? Quite simply put, I don’t know? There is some information out there, but also a lot of fear and conflicting stories.

The lack of knowledge, available real information that effects all our lives either doesn’t exist, or can be found through some online research to the back of various websites. We also have a lack of patience and rely on our media and government to provide unbiased accessible information without opinion. Unfortunately opinion is all we have, and is that enough to understand how this effects all the people and future of Britain? On that basis, like the Scottish referendum, do we know enough to vote in or out?

During the debates on TV between the in and out campaigners, should continue to be moderated, however we should change the format to that of the excellent gameshow "Pointless". We need that polite host to question the teams, but we really need a Richard. Richard is the fact man, the brain that verifies answers and if in the political arena, challenge the pointless politicians on the so called conflicting facts and expose the true wrong answers, and insist the politicians dive deeper into their statistics and expose lies and fear triggers. All we want are the facts made easy.

I would obviously lean more towards a pro European stance, having an international lifestyle and experience in rocking corporate business and international trade, but there is also a lot wrong with Europe as I see it. Their politics doesn’t work. Their parliament doesn’t function. Their opinions govern and when threats are used through politics to force a nation to comply with an ideal backed by only a few, this is dictatorship! They have proven themselves to have no ability to handle crisis with two great examples being the migration and the financial crisis. This is not just the opinion of the Brits, but opinions shared by the majority of real people across Europe. Furthermore the deal with Turkey and the fast tracking of this fascist state into the EU by funding them, a flimsy immigration policy, outsourcing control, free access to it citizens into and across Europe when this state is proven to have links with ISIS, awful policy on the Kurdish peoples, and completely authoritarian aggression towards peoples freedoms, sexuality, and ability to challenge governments and leaders without going to jail. This is not compatible with our ideals or culture. This is a no! This is desperate and Europe has proven that it's incapable of working fast, efficiently, and with the basis of the European peoples ideals. We are clearly moving towards an agenda against the will of the European people.

The idea of Europe was a utopian dream, but the reality is far away. When we voted in Europe forty years ago, still in the post world war depression, it was presented in the theater only as a trade pact, allowing free trade between European nations, using economics and business to close the divides and generate a stronger economic Europe that may one day radiate outwards as a group of nations working together for the betterment of humanity. So why this sudden move to develop one currency, one united states of Europe, and governed by a privileged few that don’t seem to like us all very much? This also sounds rather familiar.

Not only is it a dysfunctional family, but unsustainable to boot. As a financial and business professional, I have the experience to understand the inner workings or mechanics of industry, currency, and trade. When you clearly have departments working against each other, a confused workforce, and privileges awarded to the superiors you are paying for, something is not right. Beyond this there are workers in other departments who are employed for fewer hours then you, have more social security, better pension packages and can retire sooner, but also share in your salary, it’s not going to work. There is a real economic danger in Europe, you either have to be totally in for it to work, or totally out. This is the shameful reality of Europe, and not how we should be functioning.

So there are real pro’s and con’s to Europe, but can it change the negatives. There seems to be an iron will to drag Europe against the natural flow. Something I have noted during the current campaign for in and out, this is only an arena of fear and not fact. But what shocks me and many of my fellows the most is the aggressive tone the in campaign have taken. This is a group of heads of state whom are using threats to secure their vote. If there is one thing I know about team UK, is if you start to lay down threats, no matter how valid your argument, they will automatically step to the opposite side. It is in our culture and nature, no matter how hard it will become, we don’t accept threats.

All the patriotic emotions, Dunkirk spirit and lose opinions aside for a moment, I would like to give you my point right now. Europe was a great ideal, but in reality it doesn’t work, because it is too disconnected by pulling against the flow. The parliament does not represent the true feeling or respect for identity and cultures across the continent. Few of us understand it and most of us feel powerless to influence this chaotic iron machine. It lost its way and in its current state as a harmonious collective of different nations and peoples, working together to improve ourselves and enforce our cultures to progress.

If Britain was to leave the EU, it would be a real wake up call that it is not an irritating trouble maker, but a real institution with a defined culture and influence. A message to the EU that real people are not happy with the reality of the direction it is taking, the disconnect with decision making, and hopefully have the ability to then implement change to the cooperative to tune in to what the real Europeans want, evolve the power landscapes further and really reinforce our true ideals, and not be powerless to sell them to fascist regimes.

I would have voted to stay in Europe, because I also believe we can all join forces to influence from within, but Europe needs a fast shock to the system, otherwise it will not listen in its current state, and this is democracy at it's best.

Finally, there is one major fundamental element to this whole campaign of UK in or out, that I believe is the most important to consider. Parking fear, opinion, and emotion, let’s look at the one thing we all need to make this important decision on UKEXIT as if we are standing in the Dragon’s Den, making a clear case for a business decision to prospective investors (that’s us). Pure facts, and real information. Clear vision, mission, and values. Until the fear, aggression, opinions, and threats stop, I see no true value, your figures do not hold up to scrutiny, you don’t know what your doing, poor track record on big issues, uncooperative with your departments, and if there is no real bottom line we can all agree on, I’M OUT!