I've not known anything other than the EU. Having been born after John Major left power, but before the tragic death of Princess Diana, I have only ever really experienced Britain as a major player in the European game, which it always was, particularly with regards to the many conflicts that were prevalent throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries. However, on the 23rd June (the day after I inch a bit closer to becoming a full adult by turning 19), the whole of the country could be seismically changed. For if Britain votes to leave the EU, and attempt to stand on it's own two feet, I feel we could end up making a massive mistake, and Britain could be plunged back into the kind of true uncertainty that dominated the governments of the 50's and 60's. Any future prosperity would be put on a knife edge, simply because of this perceived power shift that could occur, and some jingoistic notion of Britain 'standing tall' again. I certainly believe that it's in everyone's interests (not just everyone in Britain) for us to remain a very solid part of the European Union.
While the Leave campaign have been seemingly bombarding the television screens and minds of the county with vague talk about how Britain could negotiate an understanding with EU member countries, many others have said that it would be pointless. What few outside of the main circles realise is that this isn't an instant process. On the 24th June, we won't just all wake up, and be British citizens, as opposed to European citizens. It will take, at least, two years to negotiate Britain's exit, and some sources are saying it could take up to ten years for Britain to get it's way out of the various trade deals (such as the secret TTIP deal), and that all 'main' members of the EU have the right to interfere with the negotiating process. While people believe that the renegotiation period could just set up new agreements, in all probability most would just cut Britain out of every deal they could. And why shouldn't they? After all, we would have turned our back on one of the greatest, most successful peace ventures ever implemented, they'd have every right to take their business elsewhere. And even if we were able to negotiate a new standing with most of these member countries, that would probably take another ten years. That would be about twenty years of economic uncertainty, which would probably affect our global standing as well. And during this time, what would happen? Job losses, increased mortgage rates and greater and deeper cuts to public services. In two years time (unless I decided to stay at uni, but these issues will probably still affect me), I will be officially an adult (god help me), and these issues will be of concern to me. I don't want my future crippled by some super vague promises that Britain could be able to stand on it's own. Do you really think I want to take a chance on that? It's a gamble we'd almost certainly lose anyway. Another big part of the EU that the UK relies on is the right to share information about criminals with other countries, and for police forces to work together to catch them. This is so important, because so many criminals just flee abroad to avoid prosecution. It's vitally important that this information is able to be shared easily, and it would just become another issue caught up in red tape if we decided to leave.
It isn't just deals that are threatened, but rights as well. The right to free travel, the right to an inability to be exploited at work, the right to a certain level of living and privacy. All of these elements are huge factors, and are possibly a decider to an ordinary member of the public, more so than anything about trade or the value of the pound. The EU grants a whole bunch of rights, such as the hugely important Human Rights Act, that prevents against issues like sexism, racism and homophobia in your daily lives, and make sure that every person in this country has access to things like gas, electricity and clean water as a basic right. The EU are also responsible for setting important limits for how long people can be in work for, and how each person can be treated. They also allow the free movement of people, so, if you have a passport, you can pretty much go anywhere inside the EU, without visas or other bureaucratic bafflegab. You can just go from one to the other. It also means it's much easier to retire to somewhere in the EU, and for students to be able to take gap years and even do part of their course in another county. While some believe that these rights can be replicated, the freedom of travel won't be. And while some will argue that will stop immigration, it probably won't. A huge amount of immigrants come from outside the EU, in fact more come from outside than inside the EU. So, by leaving, we'd just be disadvantaging ourselves. And don't forget, most immigrants either fill skill gaps, or take on menial work that we consider ourselves 'above'. Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone complains about migrants stealing jobs? Do you want our NHS to crumble even more because foreign nurses and doctors are unable to come here? Because they are what is just preventing a full-blown staffing shortage. Remember back in 2013, when the government were 'so concerned' about a massive influx of Romanians and Bulgarians on New Years Day, 2014, and then barely any of them came to Britain? It's just this problem, on a hugely blown up scale. And as for the rights I mentioned earlier, the ordinary person on the street will believe that the government will just bring them back, so what's the harm? Well, news flash, if Brexit happens, you'll lose your human rights, and you right to only work certain hours and everything else that you depend upon for a good work/life balance. Many Brexiters (none on the frontlines of the campaign, although I'm sure they think this) have said that they will take away rights which we currently have if we leave the EU. People say we can't trust the EU, but we can't trust the people who are telling us to leave the EU. They will just rip up right after right after right in order to try and perpetuate their right-wing, elitist state of mind. The EU actually have the power to block some of Cameron's more outlandish policies (like his British Bill Of Rights), but if we leave, this seemingly insignificant bill could affect British democracy for a long time to come.
At the end of the day, it's entirely up to you how you vote. I'm not going to change you mind if your so deeply set on voting to leave the EU, but, if your undecided, I hope this might sway you into thinking that what I'm saying isn't just scaremongering, but hard fact. And most of these points have all come from groups like the Treasury, the IMF and may others who have crunched the numbers far better than I ever could. The Leave camp have huge personalities behind them, and they may strut and posture about with fine words, but they don't have any facts to back them up. If you look at the Remain camp, they're backed up by hard evidence and statistics. Sure, the EU isn't perfect (there's too much invested in this 'health and safety' nonsense, and they are prepared to do a back-door deal regarding TTIP), but you don't change something by walking away. You stick at it, and make it better, anyway you can. I don't care what anyone says: if you care about Britain's future, and want to just study it's history rather than living in it, you'll vote Remain with me on the 23rd June.
While the Leave campaign have been seemingly bombarding the television screens and minds of the county with vague talk about how Britain could negotiate an understanding with EU member countries, many others have said that it would be pointless. What few outside of the main circles realise is that this isn't an instant process. On the 24th June, we won't just all wake up, and be British citizens, as opposed to European citizens. It will take, at least, two years to negotiate Britain's exit, and some sources are saying it could take up to ten years for Britain to get it's way out of the various trade deals (such as the secret TTIP deal), and that all 'main' members of the EU have the right to interfere with the negotiating process. While people believe that the renegotiation period could just set up new agreements, in all probability most would just cut Britain out of every deal they could. And why shouldn't they? After all, we would have turned our back on one of the greatest, most successful peace ventures ever implemented, they'd have every right to take their business elsewhere. And even if we were able to negotiate a new standing with most of these member countries, that would probably take another ten years. That would be about twenty years of economic uncertainty, which would probably affect our global standing as well. And during this time, what would happen? Job losses, increased mortgage rates and greater and deeper cuts to public services. In two years time (unless I decided to stay at uni, but these issues will probably still affect me), I will be officially an adult (god help me), and these issues will be of concern to me. I don't want my future crippled by some super vague promises that Britain could be able to stand on it's own. Do you really think I want to take a chance on that? It's a gamble we'd almost certainly lose anyway. Another big part of the EU that the UK relies on is the right to share information about criminals with other countries, and for police forces to work together to catch them. This is so important, because so many criminals just flee abroad to avoid prosecution. It's vitally important that this information is able to be shared easily, and it would just become another issue caught up in red tape if we decided to leave.
It isn't just deals that are threatened, but rights as well. The right to free travel, the right to an inability to be exploited at work, the right to a certain level of living and privacy. All of these elements are huge factors, and are possibly a decider to an ordinary member of the public, more so than anything about trade or the value of the pound. The EU grants a whole bunch of rights, such as the hugely important Human Rights Act, that prevents against issues like sexism, racism and homophobia in your daily lives, and make sure that every person in this country has access to things like gas, electricity and clean water as a basic right. The EU are also responsible for setting important limits for how long people can be in work for, and how each person can be treated. They also allow the free movement of people, so, if you have a passport, you can pretty much go anywhere inside the EU, without visas or other bureaucratic bafflegab. You can just go from one to the other. It also means it's much easier to retire to somewhere in the EU, and for students to be able to take gap years and even do part of their course in another county. While some believe that these rights can be replicated, the freedom of travel won't be. And while some will argue that will stop immigration, it probably won't. A huge amount of immigrants come from outside the EU, in fact more come from outside than inside the EU. So, by leaving, we'd just be disadvantaging ourselves. And don't forget, most immigrants either fill skill gaps, or take on menial work that we consider ourselves 'above'. Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone complains about migrants stealing jobs? Do you want our NHS to crumble even more because foreign nurses and doctors are unable to come here? Because they are what is just preventing a full-blown staffing shortage. Remember back in 2013, when the government were 'so concerned' about a massive influx of Romanians and Bulgarians on New Years Day, 2014, and then barely any of them came to Britain? It's just this problem, on a hugely blown up scale. And as for the rights I mentioned earlier, the ordinary person on the street will believe that the government will just bring them back, so what's the harm? Well, news flash, if Brexit happens, you'll lose your human rights, and you right to only work certain hours and everything else that you depend upon for a good work/life balance. Many Brexiters (none on the frontlines of the campaign, although I'm sure they think this) have said that they will take away rights which we currently have if we leave the EU. People say we can't trust the EU, but we can't trust the people who are telling us to leave the EU. They will just rip up right after right after right in order to try and perpetuate their right-wing, elitist state of mind. The EU actually have the power to block some of Cameron's more outlandish policies (like his British Bill Of Rights), but if we leave, this seemingly insignificant bill could affect British democracy for a long time to come.
At the end of the day, it's entirely up to you how you vote. I'm not going to change you mind if your so deeply set on voting to leave the EU, but, if your undecided, I hope this might sway you into thinking that what I'm saying isn't just scaremongering, but hard fact. And most of these points have all come from groups like the Treasury, the IMF and may others who have crunched the numbers far better than I ever could. The Leave camp have huge personalities behind them, and they may strut and posture about with fine words, but they don't have any facts to back them up. If you look at the Remain camp, they're backed up by hard evidence and statistics. Sure, the EU isn't perfect (there's too much invested in this 'health and safety' nonsense, and they are prepared to do a back-door deal regarding TTIP), but you don't change something by walking away. You stick at it, and make it better, anyway you can. I don't care what anyone says: if you care about Britain's future, and want to just study it's history rather than living in it, you'll vote Remain with me on the 23rd June.
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