Brexit finally being recognised as one of the causes of the crises

Alegrias1 and WWM2 Many of us agree with you. Personally I think that &Alegrias1 has her answers the wrong way round. Better educated electorate should be number 1.

Is it possible that the better educated think a little more about other people (apart from their families)?

I agree, WWM2. I do think that people with a lower level of education are more likely to be taken in by promises of sunlit uplands and British exceptionalism. So I think there are 2 answers; first, politicians start taking notice of their responsibilities, and acting on them. That's on all sides of politics, so that the opposition parties start really identifying the failures of government and don't let them off with anything.

Second, a better educated electorate.

Now the very fact that I've written that will bring down all the opprobrium of GN on my head.

But it has implications for the future, that is my worry.

Standard response to this kind of information WWM2

1. Its just a poll and they're all fixed anyway, can't trust them.

2. You're looking down your nose at people you think are stupid.

3. Yah boo sucks you lost.

Issued by youGov.

What I don’t understand is why?

Alegrias1

...coming round here, with your fancy-schmancy proof....

I didn't know that, thanks Petera

There will be alternative facts alongs soon...

...coming round here, with your fancy-schmancy proof....

I didn't know that, thanks Petera

Alegrias1

CoolCoco

I doubt anyone who uses the term "small island" as a cover for an anti foreigner rant has ever looked at an atlas or statistics on refugees.

I think it just sounds believable to those who don't want to think about it too hard - that we're running out of space.

I always like to counter with "We're the sixth biggest economy in the world"

Never seems to work, though...

Indeed, and David Card won the Nobel prize in economics last week for showing - and not just theoretically - amongst other things that that an 'influx' of cheaper foreign labour actually has little or no effect on wages in the economy

Same here.

Curlywhirly

Bill Byson - one of my favourite authors, have had tears rolling down my face at some of his observations - nothing to do with this thread I know, but he's definitely worth a comment!

Definitely! I must dip into his books again.

Bill Byson - one of my favourite authors, have had tears rolling down my face at some of his observations - nothing to do with this thread I know, but he's definitely worth a comment!

Callistemon

MayBee70

Going back over the years I can’t think of anyone from another country that has written about the U.K. in such a kindly and affectionate way. He has become a National treasure.

Yes, he has lovely rose tinted specs!

I thought small island was a reference to the book by Andrea Levy but was attempting to make a joke about Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Perhaps a joke was not appropriate

My fault: I replied after only dipping in and out of the thread and not reading it properly, something I usually try not to do!

If the government turns down the EU's latest offer we could well be into a trade war. That would be an incontestable effect of Brexit...

(Bryson was Chancellor of our University until he resigned when the Vice Chancellor started building on every inch of available space in our historic little city... I don't think he liked that)

MayBee70

Going back over the years I can’t think of anyone from another country that has written about the U.K. in such a kindly and affectionate way. He has become a National treasure.

Yes, he has lovely rose tinted specs!

I thought small island was a reference to the book by Andrea Levy but was attempting to make a joke about Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Perhaps a joke was not appropriate

The funny thing is that the Reverend Malthus was saying much the same thing around the turn of the 18th/19th century. Except that he was worried about the rate of reproduction of 'the poor', rather than non white people. Population of England* was then about 9 million...

(*Might have been GB & Ireland but CBA to look it up)

The map theory only works if the size of the island is taken in isolation with no further thought or research.

I now have a picture of the small island folk looking mistily at the map longing for the days when it was all pink.

CoolCoco

I doubt anyone who uses the term "small island" as a cover for an anti foreigner rant has ever looked at an atlas or statistics on refugees.

I think it just sounds believable to those who don't want to think about it too hard - that we're running out of space.

I always like to counter with "We're the sixth biggest economy in the world"

Never seems to work, though...

Going back over the years I can’t think of anyone from another country that has written about the U.K. in such a kindly and affectionate way. He has become a National treasure.

I doubt anyone who uses the term "small island" as a cover for an anti foreigner rant has ever looked at an atlas or statistics on refugees.

Need more youngsters? Unemployment rate is 4.6% but more than double this in young people. Bearing in mind many young people are either borrowing a small fortune to go to college or part of the gig economy (zero hour contract) I think the UK has long way to go to improve opportunites for the next generation. Brexit enables us to limit the amount of cheap foreign labour businesses can use so they will need to review their training and recruitment policies.

sandwichgeneration

Why are people being rude to Whitewavemark2 ? For example, "have you forgotten to take your medicine?" Some quite unkind people posting. You can put your point of view and Whitewavemark2 can do the same.

?? I didn’t see that post. Tbh I don’t take any notice of personal comments, they are a waste of space and I rarely react to them. No point is there when you think about it?

Scones

I've been thinking more about the 'small island' thing.

People always use this wording when they're about to say something awful and potentially hugely racist.

Why is that? Are they all getting their prejudices from the same material? What is that material?

Or maybe they just look at the atlas and see how small an island we are.

Oh, I think not. Bryson's notes are amusing...

I am forever the optimist
?

I've been thinking more about the 'small island' thing.

People always use this wording when they're about to say something awful and potentially hugely racist.

Why is that? Are they all getting their prejudices from the same material? What is that material?

MaizieD

Dinahmo

TiggyW

We’ll said, HannahLoisLuke.?
I’m not sure about the connection between the EEC and the ‘Winter of Discontent’, but something had to be done about the volumes of people entering this small country. Guess who’s responsible for 30% of recent births, according to the BBC? Have you tried to get a doctor’s appointment recently?!

But we need more youngsters to cope with our aging population and to work in order to pay for our pensions.

I get the feeling that 'more youngsters' would be OK if they weren't the wrong colour...

Ironically, the UK never lost the right to regulate the immigration of people of the "wrong colour".