How will you vote in the EU referendum? (Thread 2)

elegran's interpretation is correct, dj. I was commenting on a statement you made about a sentence in the government's EU leaflet. I think what you said is wrong. I explained why I think what you said is wrong: the statement in the government leaflet is not a lie; it's state the official government position on EU membership. Some Tory MPs disagree with the government's official line but that doesn't make the official line a lie.

I hope that has clarified what I said and that you now understand that I said absolutely nothing about the kind of government I would like to be in power. Anything you assume about that is pure assumption and most likely wrong given the prejudices your posts often show.

state

Is the leaflet on line? I doubt we will get one here despite being registered to vote.

This of course is a problem Ana. A casual comment can result in being pounced on. What could be interesting debates with input from all points of view tend to polorise into conversations between two or three like minded people, which is disappointing. I'm perfectly prepared to admit that I'm mistaken or have misunderstood an article, but not when it draws the inevitable howls of derision. I'd rather leave GN that be subjected to that. Me and quite a few others I expect! No, no one reported you dj!

Even if they had, nellie, I don't think 'bullying' per se is against GN guidelines unless it's accompanied by abusive or threatening language. It's a rather vague term, as we've seen from tv ads about domestic abuse.

Good get-out clause though, isn't it, 'report me if...'?

But it is always possible that people will report future hectoring.

Well up I pop I have thought about changing my name to chrissyknowsnothing as this has been pointed out and I probably don't but I read somewhere you can't change names; plus that one's too long.

What I do know is that tax contributions have funded a leaflet that hasn't changed my original decision one bit, in fact it's confirmed it.
How many of us grumble about the government when the budget's coming up or they don't do what they say they're going to when they want to be voted in?
Who completely trusts the government?
Yet, the government 'believes' we should stay in.....?! Why should I vote in what the government believes is right when I don't trust the government? There are no guarantees either way. Yes EU regulations blah blah blah. But think about whether some of these changes would have been put into force anyway. The world has progressed. Is that all because of the EU? Who knows if regulations would have improved if we hadn't have gone in in the first place?

It mentions uncertainty and risk....that goes for both in or out. Losing our full access to the EU's single market would make exporting to Europe harder? How do they know? 44% of UK exports go to the EU....so they must need or want it then? Regardless of whether we're in the EU. Tough new restrictions on access to welfare system for EU migrants?! I'm sorry but they shouldn't be getting welfare anyway! I'm all for helping vulnerable people but some of them aren't genuine. Men lying about their age saying they're children of school age? I don't want them in school with my grandkids. We should have a points system like Australia. We cant jump in a boat and go and get free housing and benefits where ever we want, when people who work here have to pay to breathe! Lying and forcing ourselves on a country that is an Island, already overcrowded. Now please forgive me if I have got this all wrong and I would never want to offend anyone but that's my view and I'm sticking to it.

Chris you don't need to trust the government or anyone else in your decision. You simply have to ensure that you are as informed as possible.

So you have about 2 months to do that, because as you keep telling us you know nothing.

I suggest you start with a good course on Future Learn about the EU. It is being run by the OU who are facilitating academics from Barcelona university. This will give you a much better idea and allow you to discuss your thoughts with other students. It is free and you can sign up today. Good studying! I am taking part and I can recommend it.

Thanks whitewave. I'll look into that.
As for knowing nothing I promise not to repeat myself anymore, if I can help it. It wasn't actually me who started that one though

Yes just type Future Learn and that will get you to the site. You will be fully informed after the course and able to make a sensible decision without the need to rely on leaflets or second hand information or myth

whitewave you are a star!! Thanks for the suggestion, it looks really good. I'm hoping I can catch up the 2 weeks that have already started. I work full time and look after my granddaughter while my daughter's at work so its not going to be easy but l cant wait to get started. There's other courses on there that I'm interested in too but first things first. Thanks again, its really helpful.

www.futurelearn.com

You need to register, but you can sign up with Facebook, if you use it. Registration takes a couple of minutes.

I'm doing that course too.

Thanks daphnedill, I've just registered and if I didn't have work in the morning I'd be starting it now.

fullfact.org/europe/governments-eu-referendum-leaflet-what-we-know-so-far/

About the government leaflet. Full Fact checking the government statements.

Thanks durhamjen. That looks like it's got more info than that little leaflet.

The EU is forcing the large companies like Google etc to publish its tax returns.

This is happening because the the countries of the EU together have so much more clout than a single country. The economy of the union means a lot to these companies and they show respect when the EU demands answers as opposed to the insulting 3% tax the paid here.

Let's not forget that Jean Claude Junker, the head of the EU was President of luxumburg when eBay set up their European head office in in his country.

Hoorah for the civil servants who are stepping in with the truth where various department ministers are claiming daft things post referendum.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/04/12/the-eu-is-not-demanding-country-by-country-reporting-today-so-dont-believe-it-when-it-says-it-is/

IMF warns of severe risk to UKstability and economy if vote goes to Brexit. There isn't a country in the world who thinks we should leave,.

Well why would they? Either they want our financial input or it's nothing to do with them but they don't want change (and particularly not if we do!).

Not sure of your point really ana Why would any country in the world not want change and particularly if we do? It could be that they understand the IMFs concerns and realise that with the worlds economy so fragile at the moment our exit would simply add to this fragility. It is as the IMF maintains a severe risk.

IMF are quite often wrong though.

So is it your considered opinion that there is no severe risk to the UKs stability and economy?

No, it's not and whatever happens I think we are more at risk from global forces, either in or out of the EU. Somehow I feel that the whole global economy is in for a rocky ride.

I do wonder that, if Britain exited (and I am veering towards voting to stay, but have not had my important leaflet yet) the whole edifice might start to topple like a house of cards.
I am very glad we did not adopt the Euro.