The Brexit Hangover
The disenfranchised have punched globalisation in the face. #Brexit #ThinkSpeak
Everything started slowly this morning. I was woken-up by my wife's alarm; she had to get up early for her transfer to the airport to get the first flight out to Dusseldorf. She came home last night from Germany, where she is currently working, to vote in the EU Referendum. The first thing she said to me was 'can you believe it the Leave have done it'. Why am I surprised? The Sun newspaper usually calls elections correctly and the came out for the Leave side more than a week ago, as did The Times on the weekend. It looks as if Rupert Murdoch's power, and sway, over the British people remains undiminished.
I then went for a Brain Health run and it was beautiful outside; the sun was shining and everything smelt clean and fresh from being washed from the heavy rains we had in London yesterday. Running without music is the perfect time to reflect on things. I have to interpret the vote to leave the EU as a victory for democracy and punch in the face for globalisation. Globalisation has led to a race to the bottom for those in the unskilled, or semi-skilled, sector of the economy and a race of the top to those who are highly skilled. As a result inequality has soared. The areas of the country, and sectors of society, who have become disenfranchised by globalisation made the difference in this referendum; they turned out in force to vote with a large proportion voting to leave. They didn't vote to leave the EU, they voted because they are angry. They angry with the political elite. Cameron has said that we need to respect the vote and move forward.
Brexit, and the resulting changes, will provide us with an opportunity to make society a fairer place. Instead of importing cheap labour and maximising profits British companies, and the state, which includes the NHS, is now going to have to invest heavily in education and training and pay better wages. The impact of Brexit on the EU will also be profound. I suspect many countries will now want to have their own referendums. Democracy is broken in Europe and this needs to be fixed. The Greeks held an election on Grexit, they voted for an anti-austerity government and instead got EU technocrats ignored the result and forced them into even more austerity and debt. I wonder how the average Greek will feel when they hear about Brexit? The upsurge in popularity of far-right and far-left parties in most European countries is indicative of how far the EU has lost touch with its people. I suspect many EU politicians will pondering the future of the EU this morning. Any chance of them changing the rules and doing a deal with the UK? As for me I going to slow down and take a little longer to get to work today. I don't know why but I feel less rushed this morning. May be I need to slow down the treadmill a bit or preferably get off it and take a walk outside.
Everything started slowly this morning. I was woken-up by my wife's alarm; she had to get up early for her transfer to the airport to get the first flight out to Dusseldorf. She came home last night from Germany, where she is currently working, to vote in the EU Referendum. The first thing she said to me was 'can you believe it the Leave have done it'. Why am I surprised? The Sun newspaper usually calls elections correctly and the came out for the Leave side more than a week ago, as did The Times on the weekend. It looks as if Rupert Murdoch's power, and sway, over the British people remains undiminished.
I then went for a Brain Health run and it was beautiful outside; the sun was shining and everything smelt clean and fresh from being washed from the heavy rains we had in London yesterday. Running without music is the perfect time to reflect on things. I have to interpret the vote to leave the EU as a victory for democracy and punch in the face for globalisation. Globalisation has led to a race to the bottom for those in the unskilled, or semi-skilled, sector of the economy and a race of the top to those who are highly skilled. As a result inequality has soared. The areas of the country, and sectors of society, who have become disenfranchised by globalisation made the difference in this referendum; they turned out in force to vote with a large proportion voting to leave. They didn't vote to leave the EU, they voted because they are angry. They angry with the political elite. Cameron has said that we need to respect the vote and move forward.
Brexit, and the resulting changes, will provide us with an opportunity to make society a fairer place. Instead of importing cheap labour and maximising profits British companies, and the state, which includes the NHS, is now going to have to invest heavily in education and training and pay better wages. The impact of Brexit on the EU will also be profound. I suspect many countries will now want to have their own referendums. Democracy is broken in Europe and this needs to be fixed. The Greeks held an election on Grexit, they voted for an anti-austerity government and instead got EU technocrats ignored the result and forced them into even more austerity and debt. I wonder how the average Greek will feel when they hear about Brexit? The upsurge in popularity of far-right and far-left parties in most European countries is indicative of how far the EU has lost touch with its people. I suspect many EU politicians will pondering the future of the EU this morning. Any chance of them changing the rules and doing a deal with the UK? As for me I going to slow down and take a little longer to get to work today. I don't know why but I feel less rushed this morning. May be I need to slow down the treadmill a bit or preferably get off it and take a walk outside.
I am getting more depressed as the day goes by. How did we get to this situation? Scotland want out, Northern Ireland want out. What we will be left with is Little England.
ReplyDeleteProfG -- I felt the same way when Bush was re-elected in 2004. But then people in the US dismissed his policies and elected their first black President, who was very much against the war, not once, but twice. It will all smooth out in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI hope you right! I am daydreaming that the wise leaders of the European countries will realise the EU needs to change and to prevent an epidemic of Brexit-type referendums they call the UK back to the negotiating tables and fix new conditions. Unlike a general election a referendum is not legally binding, but advisory. The Tory party can start renegotiating if they want; let's hope they have enough insight to do so and things haven't gone too far.
DeleteWhat about the fat cats in the Shires?
ReplyDelete