Does a little bit of you...... (It's about that)

sorry!

DH is definitely 'out' Having thought I was also be out, I am once again dithering, to the point that I may not vote at all. Both sides have pros and cons so whatever the result I shall be ok with it in some respects and not others. The unelected fat cats of the EU make me puke, the voting arrangements from Brussels to Strasbourg is such a waste of money as to be criminal and so on; on the other hand I worry about Gibraltar, France's attitude over Calais, our trading position in the world and other issues. Immigration isn't an issue as it won't make very much difference whatever the outcome. I just don't know and I guess that a good proportion of the population feel the same.

Like I've said before, this referendum is a daft idea. We pay politicians to sort this stuff out.

It should be interesting seeing the fall out over next weekend. I hope that we remain and that DC grows a pair and gets his revenge on a few of his cabinet. I know he gave them a free rein so to speak, but some of them have proved to be liars and not people that I would want in my cabinet...but then again....what is the saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer still? One thing for sure, is that whatever way the vote goes, Farage is finished. He must be an absolute fool if he thinks that IDS and Boris and Gove will involve him in anything they do; they have used him and his UKIP vote to their own ends.

I think that over the years I have been disappointed, delighted or horrified by General Election results, but have always retained a bit of academic interest in what happens next. I think that Brexit would be such a dreadful result for the UK on so many levels (as well as for us personally) that I haven't got any space left in my head for detached curiosity. Does that make sense?

I totally agree jingle. As you so rightly say we vote,and pay politicians to sort these things out; if they don't know the answers how in God's name can Joe/Jo soap public?!! People will vote for all sorts of spurious reasons as well as for serious well thought out ones. The future of this country is far to serious to be left to the whim of every nutter, racist, ill informed, undecided, (me) prejudiced person in the community. We really shouldn't be being asked to do this.

Yes Jinglbellsfrocks, I do sometimes fantasise about the political fallout from it all and how it will make for more explosive politics to take our mind off the tedium of it all.

I don't think it's jokey or irresponsible at all. Approximately half, or at any rate a large minority of voters will be disappointed with the result anyway so the scenario is actually quite realistic. It'll be interesting either way.

I do know what you mean jingls
At least if it all goes wrong you can be smug about it and say 'Well, I told you so'

And how many politicians are secretly for Brexit but wouldn't say so in public? It would be interesting to see how they sort it out.

I agree that we should never have had this referendum. It should be up to our elected representatives to decide something so important, not Joe Public. And if Cameron truly believes leaving the EU would be a disaster for the country, how irresponsible he is to have made it a possibility.

I totally agree. I just feel I can't vote on something so important and irrevocable without proper impartial information. So many pundits on both sides seem to have their own agenda, but what's the truth?! The EU has treated Greece atrociously, letting them in in the first place was achieved by lies and subdifusion, and they've (the population, I'm sure politicians have done very well!) suffered, and are suffering badly for it. I don't think anyone in the EU gives a toss for the ordinary citizen in any country, just the wider picture, if you flourish that's fine, if you wither, that's just too bad, dustbin for you without a backward glance! Would leaving be any better? would it be kinder? who knows!

I sincerely hope we stay in. With so many businesses, financial experts and every country in the world apart from Russia, to my knowledge, wanting us in, it seems the only logical way to vote. Yes it is about being safe in terms of work for our young people and security, and there is a lot wrong with the eu, but an out vote will create massive problems and there will still be immigration issues to deal with. You can't turn the clocks back and the past always looks better as we mostly see it through rose tinted glasses. Forwards with Europe by our side seems the best option to me.

I do feel a lot of people will be standing in the ballot box pen in hand and saying 'eeny meeny'. I do agree the decision should be taken by those who know what they are doing, but then on the other hand

mamie we spent the weekend with a friend who has a senior job in finance (he's at boffin level in terms of knowledge and expertise) and he said that a "leave" outcome would be absolutely devastating for our economy for years to come. "Complete insanity to vote leave" he said, "people have no idea of the financial chaos that awaits should that be the result, such as hasn't been seen for a long, long time in this country".

I agree Cameron and others now wish they had never opened that proverbial can of worms.

About making important decisions, or rather expect our elected representative to do it for us- I wonder how you would feel if you lived in a direct democracy, like Switzerland- where the people are asked to make more or less all decisions, at local, County and National level- often on several very complicated and extremely varied issues on one day and several times a year. And where anyone can get a petition going to force a vote on any issue or change any laws. It's exhausting doing all the research- and many vote without really doing so, on the advice of their party or political posters and propaganda- often as bad as what we've seen during this campaign- and with many many more parties involved than in the UK. But this is a question for another thread perhaps. In the UK, this happens so VERY VERY rarely- once in a lifetime perhaps.

Niggy, did you watch the lecture from one of the most senior EU Law Professors in the UK, from Liverpool University, posted on another related thread. Really really worth a listen and perhaps as impartial as you can get- despite him saying he will vote 'remain' (for the reasons explained and his decades of study of EU Law and constitution).

I think I prefer to elect my representatives then hope they will get on with the job in the best way possible.

If I don't like what they have done I have another chance to vote for someone else in a few years' time.

This referendum should never have been put to the people.

Absolutely GK. Apart from all the other reasons why would people want themselves, their family and their country to be poorer? What good would that do?

Well I didn't vote for this Government, this Prime Minister or my constituency MP so I'm not represented anywhere. And yes, we can vote for someone else in a few years time; but we won't be able to rejoin the EU in a few years time if we realise we've put a cross in the wrong box on Thursday.That's why it's vitally important that everyone who votes does so for the right reasons.

And inevitably this has turned into yet another 'reasons to vote Remain' thread...

Jalima,the more I think about it this is the exactly how I feel. Our lovely Dutch friends surprised me last summer by telling us that they now didn't bother to vote in any of their elections! They are intelligent folk and when I asked to why, they shrugged and said it was pointless as Holland is now run by Brussels and it didn't matter anymore who won, so voting was a completely useless exercise. Is this what will happen to the UK in the years to come? I certainly don't hark back to the days before our entry into the common market, no two pe. ople were more enthusiastic joiners no question about that What I think I would like to go back to is what we originally signed up for.

but we won't be able to rejoin the EU in a few years time if we realise we've put a cross in the wrong box on Thursday.
but you will be able to feel very smug if it all goes belly-up
Then again, if it doesn't .....

back to light relief everyone

That's what happens in any discussions, Ana, they go off the point and ramble all over the place. But taking it back to the original premise, it will be really interesting to see how the Tories shift afterwards no matter what the outcome. Their infighting has been so vicious but I wonder if those of them who are the old Eton/Oxford set just see this as an extension of their debating societies and once it's all over they'll all be pals again.

See what you mean Jalima. But jingl did put a question to us- and some have answered sincerely. Sorry if we are too worried at the moment to want to joke about it- because it's not funny for some of us- truly.

I won't feel 'smug' if the country votes to leave and things go badly wrong; if it happens I want to be mistaken. You don't seem to understand is that all I want is what's best for the country as a whole. Can I state categorically that if we leave and everything does go well I'll be more than happy.