What Is Other Ab Members Opinion?

[EDDIE51]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/could-uk-stay-european-union-13296320
I am not commenting, just want others views.

[Kromovaracun]

It's funny, isn't it, how anecdotal evidence always seems to support the view of whoever is talking exactly?

Perhaps we should rely on it less when we make judgement about the world around us. Who'd have thought.

[EDDIE51]

This is from the EU so I agree it can not be 'independent' but it makes the points I took onboard when I voted 'Remain'
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/eu-position-in-world-trade/index_en.htm
naomi, as a 'block' the EU is the largest trading entity / economy in the World far outstripping the USA. Look at the graph in my link.
Outside we a relative minnows!

[naomi24]

Eddie, How do you think nations outside the EU manage to survive and thrive?

[mikey4444]

Perhaps the full consequence of leaving the EU, which is now becoming obvious, is having the effect of making people think again ?

The great difficulty with the vote in June last year, was that nothing was clear at all. Nobody could explain what the consequences of staying or leaving actually meant.....just scare stories from both sides. We were voting blind in many ways. I am sure that those that voted to leave, didn't vote for Britain to be in a worst place for having done so.

[vulcan42]

EDDIE51, of course the EU is going to say that, do you honestly expect them to say anything different?

[Kromovaracun]

//How do you think nations outside the EU manage to survive and thrive?//

Overwhelmingly through membership of other trading blocs.

http://mrshearingbusinessstudies.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/3/0/10303678/trading-blocs_orig.jpg

[naomi24]

Krom, but for this country the EU has long since ceased to be merely a trading bloc - and that's the problem.

[EDDIE51]

I fully realise the EU is going to say that , I said as much in my answer.
naomi, Yes I agree 100% that nations outside the EU manage to thrive, but my long held and profound opinion is that we are better off as an important and influential part of the largest 'Nation' on Earth .
Getting out is as I see it, like one of the US States deciding to leave the Union and go it alone!

[naomi24]

Eddie, //Yes I agree 100% that nations outside the EU manage to thrive//

Good. Therefore you'll also agree that there is no reason we can't do likewise.

[Kathyan]

Eddie I still say that we don't have any influence in the EU whatsoever!

[Kromovaracun]

We can have that argument if you want to, but it is a little separate from the point I was trying to make, which is that most countries who prosper outside the EU do so under comparable economic structures. Most (all, even?) of these areas are governed by free trade rules very similar to those that we are currently living under here - i.e. priority given to neighbours, which works very well for them, but gives the UK a decided disadvantage when it comes to negotiating the mountain of trade deals which we will now need to renegotiate upon leaving.

[vulcan42]

And if that state not only thrived but prospered would you still say it's wrong?

[Baldric]

/// we are better off as an important and influential part of the largest 'Nation' on Earth///

Rubbish, the only reason we are important to the EU is our money!

[naomi24]

Krom, but the argument is not restricted to trade. That’s the point. The Remainers, in order to bolster their argument, can continue to pretend it is - but it isn't. It's far more than that.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't believe anything relevent to one's decision was unclear at the time.

Folk voted knowing that change means a short period of disruption, and if that resulted an temporarily being worse off then it was a small price to pay.

Strange how remainers know loads of folk who tell them they voted leave but wouldn't now, whereas leavers don't find anyone who'd change their vote to remain. But I guess there must be a small number of indecisive folk who get worried by the scare stories put around and lose their nerve at doing the right thing. Or maybe say they would for a bit of peace.

[Kromovaracun]

//Krom, but the argument is not restricted to trade. That’s the point. The Remainers, in order to bolster their argument, can continue to pretend it is - but it isn't. It's far more than that.//

Yeah, I know. I'm not claiming it is. It's just you were asking how countries outside the EU prosper, and that's the answer. They do it through structures that are remarkably similar to the economic functions of the EU (which is still the main part of its work). We can have the discussion about political union if you want (in my opinion not 100% a problem), but it is a different discussion to "why do other countries not in the EU prosper?", which is what you asked.

It's really difficult to have a discussion if you're going to keep shifting the goal posts.

[naomi24]

Krom, I know how countries outside the EU survive and thrive - which is why the argument that we need the EU to do that is a fatuous one. In fact it’s really the only one we ever hear from the scare-mongering Remainers who consistently appear to ignore all that goes with it. I’m not shifting the goalposts – simply attempting to inject a little reality.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm certain that being in a trading block helps. But the economy is not the only consideration for a nation. If opting to join one, then getting into a trading block that concentrates on trade, not control, is vital.

[Garaman]

//I don't believe anything relevant to one's decision was unclear at the time. //

That must be a candidate for most stupid statement of the year.

[EDDIE51]

I think it is worth reposting this link to the opinion polls since the referendum.
http://whatukthinks.org/eu/questions/should-the-united-kingdom-remain-a-member-of-the-european-union-or-leave-the-european-union-asked-after-the-referendum/
EVERY poll since after the referendum has shown a majority for 'Remain' and in the last 2 polls that majority has increased significantly!