Sometimes nationalism is a more powerful motivator than economics. When all of your needs are satisfied, tribalism is a powerful instinct to try to overcome.
Side comment, and wholly irrelevant: As a person with absolutely NO connection to Europe whatsoever, I am hopeful that Brexit will end up benefiting England. I have never liked the statism that the EU has embraced. The push to create what is essentially a federalist state based in Brussels always rubbed me the wrong way. And as an American I have been deeply hostile towards the protectionism and rampant regulations pushed by people like Margarethe Vestager. I'm hoping that my own government will step forward and offer to have Britain join a new NAFTA (not my idea) for which the first letters stand for North Atlantic instead of North American.
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the long run. The British are smart, capable, hard-working people so I wish them the best.
I hope you are right but it's hard not to be pessimistic. As a Brit living overseas but hoping to possibly return within the next couple of years with my foreign partner, this has set all kinds of alarm bells ringing. I already know none-British citizens who have been living there and who have experienced problems re-entering the UK in the past few months.
Yeah, I think the threats are overblown. The Brits are tolerant people. You may have to deal with red tape, but I wouldn't fret.
The way things have turned recently, with a bigoted buffoon in the seat of power and the country and its Brexit plans (or lack thereof) a pathetic mess, my concerns are only continuing to grow...
John Cleese also voted for Brexit In The Netherlands people already organized an event where people will stand on the Dutch coasts waving the Brits farewell when they leave. I do hope for them that they will accept the agreement because a hard Brexit doesn't the best option but with a Trump's cousin Boris in power you never know I am sceptical.
Reply by tmdb65271336
on April 8, 2017 at 9:28 AM
Sometimes nationalism is a more powerful motivator than economics. When all of your needs are satisfied, tribalism is a powerful instinct to try to overcome.
Side comment, and wholly irrelevant: As a person with absolutely NO connection to Europe whatsoever, I am hopeful that Brexit will end up benefiting England. I have never liked the statism that the EU has embraced. The push to create what is essentially a federalist state based in Brussels always rubbed me the wrong way. And as an American I have been deeply hostile towards the protectionism and rampant regulations pushed by people like Margarethe Vestager. I'm hoping that my own government will step forward and offer to have Britain join a new NAFTA (not my idea) for which the first letters stand for North Atlantic instead of North American.
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the long run. The British are smart, capable, hard-working people so I wish them the best.
Reply by rudely_murray
on April 9, 2017 at 7:32 AM
I hope you are right but it's hard not to be pessimistic. As a Brit living overseas but hoping to possibly return within the next couple of years with my foreign partner, this has set all kinds of alarm bells ringing. I already know none-British citizens who have been living there and who have experienced problems re-entering the UK in the past few months.
Reply by tmdb13060682
on April 9, 2017 at 8:14 AM
Yeah, I think the threats are overblown. The Brits are tolerant people. You may have to deal with red tape, but I wouldn't fret.
Reply by rudely_murray
on August 1, 2019 at 10:19 AM
The way things have turned recently, with a bigoted buffoon in the seat of power and the country and its Brexit plans (or lack thereof) a pathetic mess, my concerns are only continuing to grow...
Reply by Forty-1212
on August 11, 2019 at 10:37 AM
Right, whoever said, "With age comes wisdom" never met M Caine.
M Caine, meet Adage sayer. You might learn something after it's too late.
Reply by Nexus71
on August 28, 2019 at 1:29 AM
John Cleese also voted for Brexit In The Netherlands people already organized an event where people will stand on the Dutch coasts waving the Brits farewell when they leave. I do hope for them that they will accept the agreement because a hard Brexit doesn't the best option but with a Trump's cousin Boris in power you never know I am sceptical.
Reply by DanDare
on September 7, 2019 at 5:54 AM
Well at least Sir Michael Caine is not an elitist nor has he any form for running off to the USA to avoid paying British taxes.
Oops.