Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Tamas]

So what, cca. 33 million did not want to Leave, then, is that's what they are saying?

[Syt]

Theresa May travels to the EU summit.

[Maladict]

*daily express*

Good to see Billy Connolly is still hanging in there 

[Valmy]

I do believe that the union will end at some point, possibly quite soon. It has lost its purpose. But that doesn't alter the fact that the newly independent Scotland will have a budget deficit of 8% or so of GDP and will have to endure brutal austerity in its early years.

Also, as Adam Smith remarked, there is a "great deal of ruin in a nation". After brexit the UK will still have its populace and infrastructure and traditions. After a painful recession I expect growth to resume. Unless we do an Argentina of course, but that would require an entire century of political stupidity.

What is the purpose of having two squabbling nations in one tiny island? Wouldn't there be more of a purpose to have one? Especially with devolved powers?

Borders create conflict and are a huge and mostly pointless pain in the ass for everybody. I mean presently shitloads of families and businesses and other institutions are split across that border. Let's make things really suck ass for them? I strongly disagree that there is zero purpose to avoiding a huge shitshow.

[Valmy]

This is ridiculous. One man, one vote, one time eh? How third world. I mean the public may indeed still support Brexit but there is nothing un-Democratic about having multiple votes and debates on things. It is why we do not elect dictators for life but instead have regular elections.

I mean as if direct democracy was not bad enough.

[Tamas]

I do believe that the union will end at some point, possibly quite soon. It has lost its purpose. But that doesn't alter the fact that the newly independent Scotland will have a budget deficit of 8% or so of GDP and will have to endure brutal austerity in its early years.

Also, as Adam Smith remarked, there is a "great deal of ruin in a nation". After brexit the UK will still have its populace and infrastructure and traditions. After a painful recession I expect growth to resume. Unless we do an Argentina of course, but that would require an entire century of political stupidity.

What is the purpose of having two squabbling nations in one tiny island? Wouldn't there be more of a purpose to have one? Especially with devolved powers?

Borders create conflict and are a huge and mostly pointless pain in the ass for everybody. I mean presently shitloads of families and businesses and other institutions are split across that border. Let's make things really suck ass for them? I strongly disagree that there is zero purpose to avoiding a huge shitshow.

I agree but Britains is NOT a tiny island. It's fucking huge actually.

[Valmy]

I agree but Britains is NOT a tiny island. It's fucking huge actually.

You could comfortably fit three of them inside Texas. It would be a bit of a tighter squeeze but you could nearly fit three inside Metropolitan France as well.

[mongers]

I agree but Britains is NOT a tiny island. It's fucking huge actually.

You could comfortably fit three of them inside Texas. It would be a bit of a tighter squeeze but you could nearly fit three inside Metropolitan France as well.

Great Britain is in the top 10 largest islands in the world, so according by your yardstick some of those and all others islands in the world are tiny or smaller still? 

[Valmy]

I agree but Britains is NOT a tiny island. It's fucking huge actually.

You could comfortably fit three of them inside Texas. It would be a bit of a tighter squeeze but you could nearly fit three inside Metropolitan France as well.

Great Britain is in the top 10 largest islands in the world, so according by your yardstick some of those and all others islands in the world are tiny or smaller still? 

Australia is far bigger and I don't see the purpose of splitting it up into two countries either.

I mean look how much shit is caused by having two countries in Ireland. Fuck look how much shit is created by having that stupid international border between the US and Canada. Now I am not saying that sometimes putting up with the political conflict and dislocation of an international border doesn't make some sense. There may be advantages that outweigh all those problems. I do not see what those might be for Scotland and England. And I certainly disagree with the notion that not having one serves no purpose. I mean it is one of the primary reason the EU exists, to try to overcome those problems.

I mean I guess I could point to centuries of conflict between Scotland and England before the Union. And yes there would not be wars and brigandage and all that nonsense going on but there would be conflicts and problems that would impact many people and make their lives worse.

[Valmy]

And despite everybody's best intentions, anybody who thinks a break up of the Union would be this collegial, mature, and well managed process that would not lead to quarreling and acrimony and conflict between England and Scotland is a fool.

[Richard Hakluyt]

It rather depends how much coercion is required. The Baltics are rather ridiculous little countries from the point of view of Russia.............it would be so much better for them to be part of a reborn Soviet Union 

But that is one of the best things aboout the EU; it allows for the aspirations of smaller nations whilst avoiding a lot of the problems you mention. Still useless on defence though.

[Valmy]

It rather depends how much coercion is required. The Baltics are rather ridiculous little countries from the point of view of Russia.............it would be so much better for them to be part of a reborn Soviet Union 

But that is one of the best things aboout the EU; it allows for the aspirations of smaller nations whilst avoiding a lot of the problems you mention. Still useless on defence though.

Indeed. Scotland and England inside the EU would work out fine. But equally why wouldn't they both work out fine in a similar arrangement that could be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

[garbon]

It rather depends how much coercion is required. The Baltics are rather ridiculous little countries from the point of view of Russia.............it would be so much better for them to be part of a reborn Soviet Union 

But that is one of the best things aboout the EU; it allows for the aspirations of smaller nations whilst avoiding a lot of the problems you mention. Still useless on defence though.

Indeed. Scotland and England inside the EU would work out fine. But equally why wouldn't they both work out fine in a similar arrangement that could be called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

One day I aspire to be my own nation.

[The Brain]

People, government, and Parliament all decided that Brexit was a good idea. Why change their minds now? Nothing has changed.

[Tamas]

A solution is materialising: May will kick the can down the road for a year more and the EU will let her, i.e. the "transitional period" will last a year more.