Two fingers to the world: is that your message, Brexiteers?

The European Union is an extraordinary creation in which countries that believe in pluralism, democracy, welfare economics and the rule of law gain extra leverage in the pursuit of their national interests by sharing sovereignty. So what is Brexit’s message to the world: two fingers? Or maybe as Ferdinand Mount, the former head of Thatcher’s policy unit, says, we’ll catch the Brexiteers belting out that Millwall chant, “No one likes us, we don’t care.” Like the football team, they’ll sing it all the way to the third division.

Source: Two fingers to the world: is that your message, Brexiteers? | Chris Patten | Opinion | The Guardian

Divided we fall 

Over the years this newspaper has found much to criticise in the EU. It is an imperfect, at times maddening club. But it is far better than the alternative. We believe that leaving would be a terrible error. It would weaken Europe and it would impoverish and diminish Britain. Our vote goes to Remain.

Source: Divided we fall | The Economist

Hannan Ten Bombshells? Or Not!

The Daily Mail continues to publish lies and misrepresentations about the UK’s membership of the EU. A misguided Brexiter friend of mine posted a link to this article on Facebook. I took a closer look.

1. Banning hair-dryers

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Europe: Project Hope 

What matters to Europeans?  The rule of law.  Freedom of expression. Property rights.  Democracy.  The opportunity to build profitable enterprises.  Freedom of the Press.  The right to live with security and dignity.  A safe, clean environment.  Humane treatment of animals.  Scientific progress.  Freedom of belief.  Freedom

Source: Europe: Project Hope — Hector Macdonald

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why give up our voice, influence and opt for an uncertain future? I shall vote IN on 23rd June

Grahame Pigney's avatarSay Yes 2 Europe - Remain in the EU

By Geoffrey White a member of one of the “SY2E – Remain in the EU” groups.

I grew up in a time of post-war austerity. My country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was broke and virtually in ruins. Germans were still “the enemy” in children’s games. Bomb sites and abandoned air-raid shelters were our playgrounds. Nine years after the war ended butter, meat and sugar were still rationed. One couldn’t buy sweets without coupons issued by the government.

Portugal and Spain were fascist dictatorships. In Spain unauthorised gatherings of more than 3 people were illegal. A military junta later seized power in Greece.

Half of Europe was sealed off behind the Iron Curtain. I remember lying in bed at night, in my parents home, and hearing the roar of American warplanes flying overhead on their Cold War missions. We were told that, if the Russians unleashed…

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Brexit and the NIESR

I have been conducting a Facebook debate with some chums about Brexit. Two (who shall remain nameless), in particular, are fiercely pro-Brexit where I am firmly on the side of #Remain. One of these Brexistas made reference to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) referring to material by Angus Armstrong to support some point he was trying to make.

For those unfamiliar with the NIESR, this is from their website:

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research is Britain’s longest established independent research institute, founded in 1938. The vision of our founders was to carry out research to improve understanding of the economic and social forces that affect people’s lives, and the ways in which policy can bring about change.

I have spent the day trawling through some of the material on the NIESR website. There’s a load of stuff, but I tried to focus on recent, Brexit-related material. What follows is selected quotes (bold text is my emphasis) from the material. I admit to bias, but I have tried to use quotes that accurately reflect the meaning of the source.

I am posting this on ODDROPS because WordPress is easier to use than Facebook for this kind of article. [Read more…]

The Great EU Debate: Boris Johnson vs Boris Johnson

A little bit of fun at BoJo’s expense…

Tom Pride's avatarPride's Purge

Boris Johnson debate

Here it is – the great EU referendum debate featuring two of the finest debaters on opposite sides of the EU argument:

Boris Johnson vs Boris Johnson

Question Number 1.
How necessary or important is it that this referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU takes place? Over to you first, Mr Boris Johnson …

Boris Johnson debate 1

 Nov 2012

What do you have to say to that, Mr Johnson?

Boris Johnson debate 2

April 2015

Strong words from Boris for his opponent Boris Johnson. Now for question Number 2.
What would happen if Britain left the EU. Mr Johnson?

Boris Johnson debate 3

March 2016

And what do you think Mr Johnson?

Boris Johnson debate 4

May 2013

So a huge disagreement between Boris and his opponent Boris. Question Number 3.
Some people claim it would be too difficult in practical terms for Britain to leave the EU. Mr Johnson, do you agree?

Boris Johnson debate 6

Feb 2016

Mr Johnson? Do you agree with Mr Johnson?

Boris Johnson debate 5

March 2016

Question Number 4…

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Let’s Be Honest: 10 Questions Every Christian Needs To Answer

Skepticism is healthy. Any philosophy worth believing is worth questioning. These are 10 questions I have for believers to get them to see if their faith is valid and worth keeping. Chances are, you have some questions of your own that you would like those of a religious mindset to ponder as well.

Source: Let’s Be Honest: 10 Questions Every Christian Needs To Answer • The Thinker

Brexit

Thoughtful piece…

Glasses Screenbean

danalexanderbowring's avatarthethingsthatithink

One of the problems with democracy, is that the average voter knows relatively little about the complex and nuanced realities of the economy and the wider world.  The precarious balancing act of fiscal policy, domestic spending, diplomacy, taxation, trade and more, is like trying to blow a ball of jelly up a hill using trained ferrets with hairdryers strapped to their backs.

Fanciful concepts like closing borders, halving tax rates or disbanding government departments, can sound attractive when considered in isolation, but when understood from a wider position you realise that everything is linked and has a knock on effect.  If every decision in this country went to a referendum, we would be bankrupt in a few years and before long degenerate into a failed, lawless state.  Ok, so that is a slight exaggeration.

There exists a safety net.  All of the main parties are relatively sensible, although they can  wildly…

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Baby otter reunited with family

This is just one big aaah…

 

whyevolutionistrue's avatarWhy Evolution Is True

Of course we’ll close the day with a heartwarmer—a video sent by reader Su.  It tells the tale of a baby otter who became separated from its group. After some rearing—it took twenty people to effect the whole operation—it was brought back to good nick and released into the care of its previous group.

This all took place in Singapore, a place I hope to visit this fall.

If after seeing this you don’t have some restoration of your faith in humanity, you’re made of stone.

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