Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that he will step down after the historic vote yesterday for the UK voted to leave the European Union. It is a blow for President Barack Obama who put everything on the line to push the British to stay in the EU, including seriously overplaying his hand (and role) in issuing dire warnings to the British people as did other world leaders. The warnings backfired and only reaffirmed the feeling that there is now a world order that will not tolerate traditional democratic controls over national policies and practices.
Boris Johnson is likely to be the next prime minister and heralded the ability of of Britain to now pass its own laws, set its own taxes and control its own borders.
I could see both sides of this argument. I have long been uncomfortable with the shifting of governance powers to international organizations like the EU which are not subject to the same democratic pressures as a national government. The proponents scored huge points by pointing out that few people could even name the top officials in the EU.
I thought that President Obama was overbearing in his intervention in the debate, warnings that seemed to only harden the resolve of the independence movement. I can see the economic benefits of being part of the EU, though it would seem clear that close trade would necessarily have to continue. The Brits wanted control over their own laws and I am highly sympathetic to that desire. EU countries are subject to edicts that seem to come from no where on everything from cheese preparation to taxes. People felt that they no longer had a direct say on who was writing their laws and who was really leading their country. Neither Cameron nor Obama seemed to get the movement. They also continued to miss (as do the Democrats in this country) the strong sentiments over immigration.
What do you think?
@brooklin bridge
Thanks for offering that clarification. I thought it was a done deal if he signed. So there is yet hope! I just wish more Americans knew about the ramifications of the TPP – it seems that the European electorate is way more informed given the protests that have taken place.
HRC = TPP
Bernie/Jill Stein = no TPP
Trump = maybe no TPP
Seems a no brainer that a vote for Hil is a vote for the TPP
ModernMiner
1, June 24, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Kalifornia, please be next.’ Nah, TEXIT is next.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/britain-s-brexit-how-baby-boomers-defeated-millennials-historic-vote-n598481 The young are not happy with the way the old folks like me voted.
SWM – the young are not happy with the old spending their inheritance.
@Autum,
Congress gave Obama fast track, but they did not vote on the TPP itself or any of it’s evil siblings. This is what is being frantically planned for the lame duck congress. Obama’s last chance to secure a significant part of his personal fortune. Neither Obama nor Hillary nor Trump nor even Bernie can sign off until the bill(s) have passed. Of course with Sanders, there would be no signing.
Fast track means that Congress can only vote up or down on these trade bills – no discussion is allowed (which would be immediate death to any such bill) and no filibuster. It does not mean Obama can enact the TPP or any other trade bill any time he wants.
I wonder what country will be the first to vote to get out of the UN.
RE: the TPP/TTIP/TISA – a corporate coup d’tat as Chris Hedges calls it — or if you’d prefer “NATFA on steroids” per Lori Wallach.
In my opinion the only reason that Obama hasn’t signed off on it – after all he got Fast Track authority from our Congress critters –is due to Donald Trump. He mentions the TPP almost every time he speaks. As does Bernie, but Trump gets way more MSM coverage. We know that $hillary will sign off right away if she gets in. So, while I am a BernieorBuster (Jill Stein?) I have to give Trump some credit for staving Obama off.
Check out these short videos from Will & Mike of “Let the Madness Begin”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNn-lo1afEU
and
Kalifornia, please be next.
Steve, I haven’t interacted with you before so are you being sarcastic? Please clarify so I may give you a consistent reply. Thanks RPC
Roscoe: Your comment at 9:30AM, namely, “Globalism is just the next cigarette, credit card, interest only mortgage, name any interventionist war type scheme to exploit the contributors and reward the administrators and investors. Why participate in any of it?” tickled a funny bone, making me think of Robert Crumb and something Mr. Natural would say.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Natural_(comics)
Certainly no offense was intended. You’re the one with the clear mind here.
A two year exit period is a legal requirement for a member to leave the EU.
The resolution to leave is non binding meaning the British Parliament does not have to enact legislation for an exit. Note that Cameron stipulated he will remain for 90 days (usually a resignation effective immediately) – leaving considerable suspicion that additional attempts to negotiate compromises followed by additional referendums (until the public gets it right in their minds) may be in the works.
The arguments for and against are so complex there are conservatives and liberals on both sides of the issue. Those who voted leave as a means of self protection from the ravages of externally imposed austerity are subject to all sorts of trickery and obfuscation going forward.
Even if the ultimate or long term consequences are beneficial, and that IS a distinct possibility, getting there is going to be financially very hard – and, as always, hardest on those who can least afford it.
The TTIP is likely dead. Thank God!
The EU could have been a phenomenal success had it been designed for democratic process and nation state flexibility, particularly some economic flexibility, and not simply for the wealth and power of elite corporate entities, but THIS EU stinks to high heaven.
I’ve been reading what many ordinary people are saying and they certainly do see it as taking back their democracy from powerful, unaccountable oligarchs. The oligarchs have been shouting that anyone who voted for the Brexit is racist and ignorant. It is this point I would like to address.
Wealthy, powerful people are racists. They don’t call themselves that and their adoring fawners never mention it either, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t. Making war on black and brown people across the globe, destroying natural resources in the lands of “inferiors”, ruining people of color in one’s own nation is Racist.
What the powerful have going for them isn’t some moral superiority, its ownership of communication which allows them to avoid being called on the carpet for their own racist actions. Yet, truth telling about the powerful is precisely what is desperately needed.
The oligarchs are also classist. So when you hear the oligarchy accusing the troglodytes of serious moral flaws I would keep in mind that our moral “betters” are strip mining the entire earth, wreaking it and putting great numbers of people into deep poverty. Job Well Done-here, here!
I’m certain the empire will strike back. Corporations and their political minions are not going down without a fight. However, we can deprive them of one of their most powerful weapons, propaganda, by turning the lens of race and class onto their actions.
ewwww, Lonnie was throwing out a gotcha questions about Atwater. Lonnie nobody cares about this stuff like they don’t care (or have been reminded) of all the hangings of Italians in New Orleans. Let’s deal with the present. As for Brexit – good for the Brits. It 72% of the USA electorate actually bothered to cast an educated vote, like they seemed to have done in the UK, then we would all be better off.
As someone above said, it will take at least 2 years to iron out all the wrinkles for the separation. However, now that Britain has successfully done it, there are at least 4 other countries who want a referendum. This should make the EU very nervous.
Patriot: I’ve always enjoyed Ken O’Keefe’s message, and I personally believe a lot of it is true (though some of it is off the end of the speculation chart even for me). He’s got to control the almost seizure-like rage, however, if he wants that message to resonate with people his physical appearance is scaring – most of the suburban bourgeoisie. His heart is in the right place, so good on him.
The average Brit did not benefit from the E U nor do we. They understand this and were frustrated that they had no clear voice in government as well. I thought it was really bad when our own President tried to interfere with the decision making of their country. It looked like the rich and powerful gaining up on the average person. It is beginning to feel that way here with all the foreign monies pouring into our election campaigns. If they can find a way forward, I applaud them. I think it is going to be a difficult task but it is possible.
When people protest the arrival of Saudi Princes, I start thinking that their protests have any basis in anything but anti sematism.
That is not to say that I support settlements.I think they are a huge mistake but the rest is horse feathers!
Darren
“One of my chief complaints of the EU is precisely what our host mentions; that unelected and detached bureaucrats and politicians dictate edicts with little input from the local individuals who are the ones most affected.”
Sounds familiar. Here in the US unelected corporations, detached, with only the global bottom line, with no interest in the American worker, dictate edicts……
There is really no difference and Britain leaving will do nothing to change where the decisions are made. The only difference will be that the British corporations will act directly independently of the trading bloc)s), but still for the corporate bottom line and indirectly for and to the same ends. Britain will have advantages and disadvantages but in the end the economies of the countries will normalize as the same corporate heads that were there will still be there, in the same clubs, head offices, eating the same food.
This whole Brexit thing was nothing more than a Dr. Feelgood/Trumpian experience. It has been going on for centuries. Great Britain will make its own failures as well as success. In 1967 when I was bumming around Europe, we visited Gibraltar. The British were well on their way to screwing themselves by not replacing the guaranteed resources and markets of their Empire/Commonwealth and thereby not adapting to the new economies of the time. The British auto industry all but disappeared. We passed an old decrepit Mini-Cooper all rusting and falling apart. It was painted with Union Jacks on every surface and on the back door was written, ‘It may be rubbish, but it’s British rubbish.’ The more things change the more things stay the same. At the time Spain/Franco was pressuring the residents of Gibraltar to leave and join Spain.
Globalism is just the next cigarette, credit card, interest only mortgage, name any interventionist war type scheme to exploit the contributors and reward the administrators and investors.
Why participate in any of it?
Roscoe: What’s it all mean, Mr. Natural? 🙂
This revolution, like most revolutions historically, is being led by the middle class. The Chinese revolution was probably the largest one led by peasants.
Ken O’Keefe exposing David Cameron as a Zionist prostitute
https://youtu.be/HTACbOVPaXA
Funny, Cameron was telling Trump we don’t want you here, the British told Cameron we don’t want YOU here😂
I’ll be the black sheep here. With the resulting recession in Britain, which will greatly affect our own economy, this tag team will continue its war economy the gutting of the middle-class, and the slaughter abroad, and we’ll shut our collective eyes to the diaspora.
If there’s one thing that has held this country together and given it security, it’s federalism. It’s no different there.