Passed-over_Loggie said:
It did occur to me that, if my assumption on the referendum wording is correct, it would be a good idea for the Media that isn't psychopathically pro a European superstate to pre programme the Population. Whilst conceding that there have been benefits from joining the Common Market that have transferred to EU membership, they could make known the disadvantages. The sort of things your average chavoid could identify with because they are the ones that call the shots at the ballot box.
Without wishing to hi-jack the Thread, what would we place in the pro and con columns? To me, the pros would be;
freedom of movement
freedom from trade tarrifs
freedom from duel taxation (paying tax at Customs on goods already tax paid)
aligned trading standards
aligned employment standards
secure and fair government in those Countries accustomed to being run by other Countries at regular intervals
The cons I would suggest are;
freedom of movement to a point beyond control
abolition of Duty free allowances
aligned trading standards to the point of stupidity
aligned employment standards to the point of stupidity
interference with single State national government
attempted interference with single State foreign policy
the creation of a porous Border
I think that could be sufficient to nip in the bud a form of opinion manipulation (OK, that's politics) that would pay lip service to an Election Manifesto "promise" and probably permanently quell any dissenting voices. If the manipulators thought that a vote to remain in Europe might become a close run thing, though, they would very soon back away from it.
OK I'll bite
Freedom of movement, if it is controlled then it is not free. Equally many in this country have and still do take advantage of this, so are you saying we should be free but others not.
Duty free allowances, I must admit I didn't really miss them when they went and in many countries had found the supemarkets were cheaper than the airport/ferry duty frees any way, so not that much of a loss then.
Alignened trading and employment standards are one of the key points of a 'common market'
Of course it is only interferance when you don't like the idea, but at the end of the day shared sovereignty can be seen in one way as lost sovereignnty, or gained sovereingty depending on whether you are a half full or half empty person.
As for interferance with foreign policy, perhaps you have missed the concept of together we are strong but alone we are weak. It is for example noticable the the septics do take note of the EU on trade matters because we can as a group have an impact on their business.
Porous border, pot kettle black, our immigration people don't really know who is in or out, our border is every bit a porous as any one elses, and that has b*gger all to do with the EU, that is down to the incompetance of our own government