Live data from Hacker News

UK votes to leave EU

bbc.co.uk

741–750 of 1001 posts

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#741

A bit of a naive question as I am fascinated by what is happening. I admit I don't completely understand so my question is if the UK is made up of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland why aren't they represented at the European cup currently being held/played in France as the United Kingdom? Why are they playing as separate countries yet voting together to leave the EU? I don't get it.

Because despite all the pointers to "definitions" to the contrary, the United Kingdom is but a single country, with a single passport, a single UN seat, one olympic team, one set of defense forces, and with a single central government only which can enter into formal agreements with foreign powers. Any dissolution of power to "regions" like Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is at the discretion of the central gove…

Not entirely accurate. The UK is technically a political union between England and Scotland, with both having separate legal system, currencies and a few other things.

It is in many ways more one country than two countries but to say Scotland is just a region is extremely inaccurate.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#742
post #378

I'm a Finn, and always thought that UK could be an interesting place to live some day. This decision completely destroys that possibility because moving to a non-EU country is not a realistic option -- I wouldn't go out of my way to look for bureaucratic headaches. Since the UK doesn't want people like me, I guess it will increasingly become another place I never think about. This was a major win for isolationism, bu…

I wouldn't assume the UK "doesn't want" people like you there. I think they just want better say over who comes into their country. It's very possible, and perhaps even likely, that they will look to implement a similar solution as the US has -- visas for skilled workers, to the extent they have a need for foreign labor, and there might even be direct relationships with high-tech hubs like Scandinavia. But yes, there…

>I wouldn't assume the UK "doesn't want" people like you there. I think they just want better say over who comes into their country.

Problem is if you want to say buy a house or something permanent like that then its comforting to know you're not at the mercy of same visa regulation. Thats is no gone & I'm also re-evaluating my plans to move to the UK. Sure I'll get a visa easily anyway but still the uncertainty unsettles me.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#743
post #681

On the contrary, historical perspective is essential in understanding the issues that the EU is going through currently. If the German leadership took a good look in the mirror, it would see that it is subjecting Greece to a replica of the Treaty of Versaille and, as a result, should expect similar consequences. The PR outfall of that debacle is probably what pushed the Brits to vote for exit.

Greece is a great country, but seems to be at this point a welfare state. Whether there had been Brexit or not, it had fallen on hard times. From what I understand, many of its people supported Brexit, because they feel that they have been let down by the EU, although they are not in a good position to leave the EU themselves.

I wish the best for Greece; I think they will be able to overcome their current situation and be better for it in the end. It used to be a place that people longed to vacation in and saw as a gem of Europe. It is still the same country, regardless of their financial situation. Put up tens of thousands of travel posters that say, "Greece, Beauty on a Budget" around Europe, and you could solve that problem in a decade or less, perhaps.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#744
Well hey, so much for interest rates rising anytime soon. Probably good for tech funding, but bad for many other things.

But that's the only kind of shamelessly self-interested sort of kind of silver lining I can think of. This is pretty bad IMHO.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#746
post #731
post #681

On the contrary, historical perspective is essential in understanding the issues that the EU is going through currently. If the German leadership took a good look in the mirror, it would see that it is subjecting Greece to a replica of the Treaty of Versaille and, as a result, should expect similar consequences. The PR outfall of that debacle is probably what pushed the Brits to vote for exit.

Their is a lot wrong with what you say. Clearly you are not up with current historical studies on the 'Treaty of Versaille'. The treaty was actually not particularly hard or in any way impossible to mean by Germany. If Germany had better leadership they could easily have moved passed it and be the most wealthy nation again. What they are doing to Greece is actually much worse then Versaille. It has to do with the iss…

If Germany had better leadership they could easily have moved passed it and be the most wealthy nation again.

Germany actually was on the road to economic recovery when the Great Depression hit.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#747
post #740

Although I do understand a lot of comments about how sad and bad it is for Europe and for growth of this European identity, I am also of the idea that if a country doesn't want to stay, well, don't. I am alright, it means that Europe will have more decision-making power. It was a pain in the ass every once in a while to assist to UK's requests and threatens. We can focus now on how to make a better Europe. And things…

> I am also of the idea that if a country doesn't want to stay

Vastly complicated by the fact that Scotland and Northern Ireland don't want to leave, and will in fact face calls for independence referendums as a result. They get significant funding from the EU in these disadvantaged areas, and I find it hard to believe that the London government will step into the breach and up the funding in the face of a potential recession, and a London-focus over regional focus from Westminster. I can foresee the end of the UK.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#748
post #681

On the contrary, historical perspective is essential in understanding the issues that the EU is going through currently. If the German leadership took a good look in the mirror, it would see that it is subjecting Greece to a replica of the Treaty of Versaille and, as a result, should expect similar consequences. The PR outfall of that debacle is probably what pushed the Brits to vote for exit.

The greeks can choose to leave the eurozone (I am an greek an in favor of that myself). This shouldnt affect our position in the EU, it benefits us greatly and has guaranteed a relative stability for a long time.

The UK is our #1 source of tourism (that contributes 2.7% of our GDP) - it's sad that brexit is making it harder for them to visit.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#749

> What culture do Germans, Greeks, Latvians, Bulgarians, Fins, and Spaniards share? The one that used to be called the Roman Empire, then Christendom, and is now called Western Civilisation. It is also arguably the greatest achievement of the human species.

> It is also arguably the greatest achievement of the human species. This belief, and a horrid past (and present) of exploiting, plundering, murdering, etc all over the world, from the Crusades and colonial times to the Holocaust and onwards, is what makes it one of the most bloody and backwards "achievements of the human species". Some exhibits from the "greatest achievement of the human species": https://en.wikiped…

> one of the most bloody and backwards "achievements of the human species"

You know very well he is celebrating where this has taken Europe and not the brutal aspects of its history, which, if you're honest, you'll agree are present in all cultures, especially when they rise materially and technologically above neighboring ones. If you stand by your statement, would you prefer to have western civilization go back to pre-roman times? Was it less bloody and more civilized than present-day Europe? C'mon.

Re: UK votes to leave EU

#750
post #14

The way Scotland voted "Remain" is pretty stark: http://imgur.com/gallery/JjbEPZZ/new I can see an Independence Referendum 2.0 being pushed through...

Can London too?

Independence for London!

Roll on London Independence Party!

Edit: Calls for London declaration of independence on change.org

https://www.change.org/p/sadiq-khan-declare-london-independe...

Post reply on HN