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Likely consequenses of brexit

(830 Posts)
varian Tue 03-Jul-18 20:40:02

If brexit happens, as I fear it probably will, the consequences, both intended and unintended, are likely to damage this country to an unprecedented extent.

As it is the most important political issue of our times, I believe we should continue to discuss it on GN, but we must be prepared for a continuence of the blind unreasoning dogma we have had so far from the little band of brexitextreemists on GN who will just keep their fingers in their ears.

Even so, I think it is important to continue to seek out the truth. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.

jura2 Sun 15-Jul-18 20:14:39

Agreed- but do you really think the USA, under any President, will offer Trade deals on a plate, without imposing their rule book?

At least we have put together the EU Rule book as equal partners with a large say and strong influence- and we are culturally much closer on so many things.

I know the cliché about chlorinated chickens is getting tired, but this is the kind of thing, and much worse, we are talking about. Cattle grown in huge revolving towers on GM soja too, pesticides, insecticides, nerve agents and their residue- no control of CO2 emissions and pollution, getting rid of renewable energy to go back to call, and go to fracking -
is that the world you want?

varian Sun 15-Jul-18 20:10:29

I think the European Union is a foe," Trump says ahead of Putin meeting in Helsinki

www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-interview-cbs-news-european-union-is-a-foe-ahead-of-putin-meeting-in-helsinki-jeff-glor/

Joelsnan Sun 15-Jul-18 20:07:48

Donald Trump is transient, the US is not. A nation is not one man.
(Will be happier when he has transited though, never liked the man)

jura2 Sun 15-Jul-18 20:07:29

Well as Trump himself said, Putin might prove to be easier ... what a choice sad Terrifying.

varian Sun 15-Jul-18 19:59:20

Thew recent visit of Donald Trump must surely have convinced anyone that our future was safe with him to think again.

jura2 Sun 15-Jul-18 19:49:10

Professor Chris Grey

'*The world is now divided into 4: US, EU, China, Russia. UK has to choose its place and there's only one logical choice. There's about three months left to get it right. It's as stark as that.*

varian Sun 15-Jul-18 17:50:28

I am, in a funny way, reassured by TM's threat to the ERG that if they do not support her brexit might not happen. From where we are now surely that would be the best possible outcome?

jura2 Sun 15-Jul-18 14:29:54

The way he smirked at the end of interview- about numbers and Mrs May. He makes my stomach turn.

So what will we be- possible never again strong partners in Europe - and probably vassals of USA and Russia- against China. Take back control ...

Fennel Sun 15-Jul-18 12:50:16

Oh no!
We must keep hoping for the best - whatever that is.
If only we could do something about it.

MawBroon Sun 15-Jul-18 12:40:45

I have just heard Rees-Mogg on the Radio 4 news.
If he is not setting out his stall for a leadership challenge I don’t know any other way to interpret what he was saying.

God help us.

Bridgeit Sun 15-Jul-18 10:31:33

TM seemed to be pretty clued up when answering Andrew Marrs questions this morning , she is obviously thorough & methodical in sorting out & sorting through the miriade of legislation required in order for us to leave the EU, I think she deserves alot more credit than she currently gets. Also it’s refreshing not to have to listen to the chest beating posturing ‘mines bigger than yours’ attitude of some of those males she is surrounded by.

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 17:26:36

'King' missing my specs!

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 17:25:10

Grandad1943
It has been shown with previous generations that societies only tolerate so much and wealth imbalance is becoming a relevant issue. Whether a change of government would rectify this is difficult to imagine, a whole new mindset with regard to global trading and the teaching of business and economics where profit is kung thereby encouraging devious, underhand and often unlawful practices to flourish to the detriment of societies.

Grandad1943 Sat 14-Jul-18 16:59:51

Joelsnan, AI will, without doubt, create more wealth, but that wealth will be to the benefit of the companies who install that technology and reduce wage costs in the processes as commercial economics stand at present.

I have no doubt that real unemployment will rise substantially in the future and a way to redistribute wealth will become apparent and very necessary.

However, judging by traditional wealth distribution attitudes, there will be huge well-financed right-wing opposition to any plans to take anything from the very wealthy commercial and private sector to redistribute to those who have no employment and thus little income.

I can visualise the Daily Mail headlines now, condemning proposed handouts to the feckless unemployed who do not wish to work.

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 16:37:38

Grandad1943
Yes UK workers arnt as bad as portrayed, maybe some dont have the work ethic as some EU workers but whose fault is that? Most are good workers and i can tell you those who work overseas are held in high regard and are far more applied to their work than many workers in other countries.
We csnnot stop AI and automation but also should not fear it maybe we have been working too hard for too long and therefore should use AI to generate the wealth which will allow the workers a better work life balance.

Grandad1943 Sat 14-Jul-18 16:18:32

Joelsnan, why do some people always take one or two from a group of persons and then hold them up as an example of all in that group.

In the above, there was a West of England grower stating on a BBC news program a few weeks back, that the local often young persons he employed were excellent workers but he could not recruit enough of them. He also stated that the EU workers were no longer interested in working in Britain and because of the above two factors he had reduced the amount of growing he had undertaken this year.

Surely the key figure in the employment statistics would be the number of people now working in the gig economy which is being reported as one in every five workers.

The above demonstrates I believe that the vast majority of UK people are prepared to take any employment position to maintain themselves and their families when there is nothing else, no matter how bad the terms and conditions

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 15:53:06

Today 13:49 Grandad1943
In response yo your post.
For those who claim remaining in the EU will protect our employment laws, the obscene state of our current employment contractual status highlights what a foolish argument this is. I could write a tome on this subject.
Why on earth have we allowed gig contracts when employees reveive minimal wages, no benefits snd little or no protection. The government get little ir mo revenue ftom tax or NI because of hours worked?
Why do we force most of our low and semi skilled to be ‘administered’ through employment agencies who then require them to register as self employed to avoid paying benefits snd charge the employee a fee for ‘facilitating’ their wage payments?
Why are we allowing the NHS and similar to outsource their employees so they can get out of paying pensions.
Employment tribunals are now so difficult for a wronged employee to access as being nigh on impossible, and these are all erosions of an employees working confitions whilst being in the EU.
Due to the decimation of unions by the Thatcher government and the ‘I’m alright Jack mentality that prevailed afterwards we find ourselves in this state. This is not the EU’s fault but it highlights that the EU is not the eutopian protector of workers that some think.

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 15:12:14

Jura2
Why the sad face when you refer to the same but in a less concise manner. If you check the adjective, you describe it perfectly.
12/07/2018 21:35
Not that I can link to. Remember the documentary on several unemployed men being given jobs in East Anglia picking veg last year? The owner said it clearly several times- as some of the men did not turn up after 1 day or 2, and made mistakes, putting the wrong number of caulis, lettuces in boxes to go to supermarkets - which he said would be returned and wasted. He said if local unemployed will not get out of bed, turn out day after day, in all weathers, and get it wrong - then he could not employ them or go our of business as margins are so so small. He went on to sy if he can't employ cheap and reliable East Europeans, who are not fussy with accomodation

What I was referring to was those you describe above who now may well take up these positions. However your obvious agreement with the content of the post appears to refute this.

Grandad1943 Sat 14-Jul-18 13:49:32

Joelsnan, I believe it was stated a few days back that one in five workers is now employed in the gig economy. These people get no holiday pay, no sick pay, no contract of employment and no employment rights whatsoever.....Nothing.

The current unemployment figures are a farce due to those working in gig economy not being registered in any way within those statistics.

Therefore Joelsnan, do you believe that even more of the unemployed "feckless" should be pushed into the gig economy as AI takes more and more low skilled employment away.

Perhaps on the back of the above type of work Britain will be competitive in its new trade deals with the world after Brexit?

jura2 Sat 14-Jul-18 13:27:08

no wonder some in the Tory party want to bring back Workhouses... THE solution wahoo.

jura2 Sat 14-Jul-18 13:26:36

ah well, the feckless hey...

won't respond to that, sorry sad

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 12:04:48

jura2 The benefits system is no longer as favourable as it was to the feckless so this may not be so much of an ussue. However a number of parents and schools today poorly prepare the children to join the workforce which is problematic.
As mentioned in an earlier post humanity is good at inventing workarounds to develop alternative means of employment.

jura2 Sat 14-Jul-18 11:53:06

Joelsnan-but it won't be filled by our local guys- but those prepared to work for low wages, long hours in hard conditions ... and when this stops- automation will take over.

So then we will have 50-70% of our own population unemployed, and people from countries where things are dire and desperate, will still come and try.

Joelsnan Sat 14-Jul-18 10:37:06

Grandad1943 Cyncally i could say that when Brexit finally occurs and the mass exodus of EU labour occurrs as predicted there will be no issue.
However, since the beginning of humanity we have always innovated and created time and labour saving things be they industrial or household and despite rising populations we have always created alternative ways of working whether they complement the innovation or bring new ideas. My mother thought the telephone amazing and the electric washing machine. I am amazed at IT, and I know that it has created probably as many jobs as it has displaced.
I personally think removing guards on trains a folly on H&S grounds and it being a pure cost saving measure implemented by 'for profit' organisations. (I am not against profit if it is used to enhance the product, the work environment and the worker and not excessively line the pockets of shareholders).

Grandad1943 Sat 14-Jul-18 10:00:53

Joelsnan, already happening very quickly in the transport industry. Just look at the industrial disputes in the rail industry over the replacement of the guards duties, and that is just the beginning..