Has the backstop back-fired on Ireland? | 69 comments (69 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Peace and stability (4.00 / 2)

Because the pacified Irish border is an innocent bystander in the current clusterfuck, and it it is unconscionable that it should become roadkill in the UK's psychodrama.

The UK populace, and its political class, need to learn that decisions have consequences. That they might be unintended consequences doesn't get them off the hook. If they want to be able to strike new trade agreements -- a stupid idea, but that's their decision, it would seem - they need to do it in a manner that keeps the border open.

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue
- Queen Elizabeth II}

by eurogreen on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 at 01:26:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Peace and stability (4.00 / 2)

Most of the populace no longer wants Brexit, so it's not fair to blame the majority of the British people for the beliefs and actions of a noisy fascist minority.

The anti-Brexit march last year turned out 700,000 people. When Leave try to organise a march or a rally, they're lucky to get hundreds.

The reality is that Brexit is a creation of the UK's insane ruling class and their compliant media, who have been known to manufacture the illusion of consensus against popular sentiment.

While there's some hardcore support, it's neither very active nor very widespread, and not really any larger than equivalent racist movements elsewhere.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 at 02:56:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Peace and stability (4.00 / 5)

Most of the populace no longer wants Brexit, so it's not fair to blame the majority of the British people for the beliefs and actions of a noisy fascist minority.

Doesn't look obvious to me: many polls show a majority for Remain, but not by such a wide margin: 12 percentage points at best. We're not talking a 2/3 - 1/3 majority (and for some polls, the gap narrowed recently to 5%). I remember that the polls were predicting a clear Remain majority for the 2016 referendum.

If anything, the British society is still very divided by the issue: it is more than a fascist minority.
Would the present Remain majority survive a second referendum? This would turn into a heated controversy about the establishment respecting the results referendums in the first place...

by Bernard (bernard) on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 at 09:02:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "most of the populace" (none / 0)

hyperbole
"massacres" of < 10 persons,
"landslides" of < 5% margin,
"systemic" [INSERT DEROGATORY]

repetition
of experts' conclusory remarks about statistical description of [INSERT DEROGATORY] in lieu of interpersonal communications

trivial evaluation
comparison of hyperbole and repetitive facts to self-criticism (stereotype)

Some people may be relying on the wrong "tools" to identify and achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Jan 20th, 2019 at 11:32:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Peace and stability (none / 1)

Depending on what we mean by the word 'most'.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Jan 21st, 2019 at 08:00:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Peace and stability (4.00 / 5)

'most': More than half the people who talk to a typical London-based journalist.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Mon Jan 21st, 2019 at 08:22:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Has the backstop back-fired on Ireland? | 69 comments (69 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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