Which is kind of the point. Everything so far is about removal, of things being taken away. Some big, some small, but the direction of travel is what you have, you will no longer have.
So, where is the counter argument? What does Brexit bring? How does Brexit make life that little bit easier, that little bit better?
I’m not talking about grand visions, but the small things, tell me what Brexit adds.
The floor is open. Over to you.
The small narrative over the big vision is why I could not support remain.
I don't think there is one specific tangible thing that leaving the EU will enhance in UK life, but it gives the chance for a grand vision to be achieved. Now, there are two grand visions associated with leave, one is the ERG/Classical Liberal/Libertarian vision of unfettered neo liberalism, free market expansionist, corporatist domination, the other is a Socialist vision of regulated markets, statist capital controls and reduction of inequality. They both share some distinct similarities in that immigration control and national sovereignty are to the fore, but for differing reasons. If you are Pro EU, you resign yourself to a watered down version of what the UK ERG/Classical Liberals/Libertarians desire in that neo - liberalist ideology will still be prevalent, albeit not as extreme as the afore mentioned. It rules out any real possibility of leftist policies being enacted. The EU is a comfort blanket for liberals, but it is an inherently right wing project that locks out the left from political decision making and in that sense it is anti democratic. Yes the EU has thrown some sops to the working classes such as the working time directive but is main focus is on the enhancement on corporate control of the economy. In January 2015, the radical left party Syriza was elected, with its leader Alexis Tsipras declaring “Greece is leaving behind destructive austerity.” Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, responded that “To suggest that everything is going to change because there's a new government in Athens is to mistake dreams for reality… There can be no democratic choice against the European treaties.”
The economic warfare unleashed on Greece by the Troika witnessed living standards slashed, services privatised and workers' rights dismantled as part of what the Jubilee Debt Campaign has called “The Never-Ending Austerity Story”. That is the EU that exists, it is neo-liberal to its core and it is anti democrat as Juncker declares.
Meanwhile, the refugee crisis laid bare the callousness of Europe's rulers as thousands drowned fleeing war and instability. The EU deployed gunships despite criticism from aid groups such as the Red Cross and then made the deal of shame that saw the forced relocation of migrants from Greece to Turkey. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein argued that “resources currently deployed for ineffective border control systems could instead be invested in maximizing the benefit of regular migration channels" The EU is in effect becoming a closed state that ignores obligations to the UN.
The Labour PLP was complicit in this by supporting the EU and its neo-liberal agenda, Corbyn had an avowed anti EU position for decades but was forced by the likes of Keith into the disastrous second referendum position/sitting on the fence position, which has all but destroyed leftist politics in this country such is the overarching might of the neo liberal EU position.
Now you can argue, BREXIT what does it do for me, it stops me living in a hut in the Austrian Alps, or a beach hut on Corsica, it stops your kids going to University in Unterhacing and yes the scary people on the RW of UK politics may make a killing out of BREXIT and that should be avoided of course, but it is a small price to pay if it means Leftism can be resurrected and the UK finally sees the RW clowns for what they are and votes in a proper Socialist government that puts people before profit and co-operatives before corporations.
I must admit it took me a long time to come to this position, because the EU did temper some of the ravages of Thatcherism and i also didn't really understand the complexity of the arguments. I have listened to hours of James O'Brien who is pro EU so i could work out what the counter arguments where and why they were important. I am still nowhere near educated enough to know what i really need to know, but i know enough to see that leaving without a deal despite its dangers and it being desired by the crackpot RW is the way we have to go and it is the only way i can foresee for the UK to have the Socialist state i really want.
