When Did U2 Become a Political Party?

ClovenHoof

They are actively lobbying to the UK to remain in the EU now.

http://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/0622/797363-with-or-without-eu-u2-urges-uk-to-vote-remain/


Can't being in a band be enough? Are their lives as multi-millionaire rock stars not enough for them?

Just write songs, play gigs and then piss off back to your mansions. Thanks.

me_irl

...you forgot tax evasion.

Mr. CooL ICE

They became a political party?

LightsStillOn

Having an opinion on a major event happening ≠ becoming a political party.

Not sure how you made that jump. If that's the case I guess David Beckham has come out as a politician too

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36584685

DEFTLEFTHAND

Can you imagine if we were having a referendum and David Cameron and Coldplay were over here trying to influence the vote.

I hope Britain stay but non brits should keep their noses out of the campaign.

LightsStillOn

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Can you imagine if we were having a referendum and David Cameron and Coldplay were over here trying to influence the vote.

I hope Britain stay but non brits should keep their noses out of the campaign.

There's a lot of non Brits that are eligible to vote in it though? But I know what you mean, people living over there.

But on the otherside of things, when something has the potential to have a knock on effect to us I don't see anything wrong with chipping in with opinions.

VinLieger

Theres a load of celebs coming out with their opinions, its how the UK does elections, sure look at geldof and his stupid boat, Jeremy Clarkson came out remain as well which was surprising, Beckham has also come out with a call to remain, the weirdest one has to be all the Premiership football clubs making official statements asking their supporters to vote remain

LiamoSail

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I hope Britain stay but non brits should keep their noses out of the campaign.

By the same token, should non-Turks keep their noses out of any decision to allow Turkey into Europe?

I want them to remain too, but it's an issue that affects not just those living in the UK, but plenty who do business in and with the UK too.

wes

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I hope Britain stay but non brits should keep their noses out of the campaign.

Normally, I would agree, but brexit will have an major effect on us, especially in regards to potential border checks in the North.

SEPT 23 1989

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Can you imagine if we were having a referendum and David Cameron and Coldplay were over here trying to influence the vote.

I hope Britain stay but non brits should keep their noses out of the campaign.

UKIP sent literature to houses over here during one of the referendums (maybe the one we kept voting on until we got the answer right) and the bedwetters in RTE and the Irish Times had a total meltdown over it

ClovenHoof

VinLieger wrote: »

Jeremy Clarkson came out remain as well which was surprising

No it isn't, he is a establishment toff looking after his financial portfolio.

It's all Eaton and Harrow old boys who are the most pro REMAIN.

Working class Brits can't afford to live in Gated Communities. Brexit is the nearest chance they'll get to that.

timthumbni

LightsStillOn wrote: »

Having an opinion on a major event happening ≠ becoming a political party.

Not sure how you made that jump. If that's the case I guess David Beckham has come out as a politician too

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36584685

David says playing in Europe he saw the importance of a "vibrant and connected world"

I wonder who wrote that for him.

wes

ClovenHoof wrote: »

It's all Eaton and Harrow old boys who are the most pro REMAIN.

How the hell is Boris Johnson not part of that group?

The Backwards Man

ClovenHoof wrote: »

No it isn't, he is a establishment toff looking after his financial portfolio.

It's all Eaton and Harrow old boys who are the most pro REMAIN.

Working class Brits can't afford to live in Gated Communities. Brexit is the nearest chance they'll get to that.

Which one did Beckham or Bobby George go to?

sbsquarepants

wes wrote: »

Normally, I would agree, but brexit will have an major effect on us, especially in regards to potential border checks in the North.

It's all bollox - Britain leaves, Britain stays - won't make the slightest bit of difference to you or me in the long run. Nothing, nada, zip.

When extra countries have been added - what difference did it make to you? None whatsoever, why would it matter if one left?

Birneybau

Has beens, should have disappeared years ago.

ClovenHoof

wes wrote: »

How the hell is Boris Johnson not part of that group?

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum circus for the masses. None of it is real.

Democracy isn't real. You should have figured that one out after a second Lisbon Treaty vote was announced.

ClovenHoof

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It's all bollox - Britain leaves, Britain stays - won't make the slightest bit of difference to you or me in the long run. Nothing, nada, zip.

When extra countries have been added - what difference did it make to you? None whatsoever, why would it matter if one left?

Best comment on this thread.

Grandeeod

For Irish voters in Britain, don’t go we’d miss you… Europe without Britain seems unimaginable to us. Bono, Edge, Adam, Larry.”

Jesus wept.:rolleyes:

Jayop

ClovenHoof wrote: »

No it isn't, he is a establishment toff looking after his financial portfolio.

It's all Eaton and Harrow old boys who are the most pro REMAIN.

Working class Brits can't afford to live in Gated Communities. Brexit is the nearest chance they'll get to that.

So basically you're only pissed off that they had a different opinion to you. If u2 and enda campaigned to leave you'd be saying nothing.

VinLieger

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It's all bollox - Britain leaves, Britain stays - won't make the slightest bit of difference to you or me in the long run. Nothing, nada, zip.

When extra countries have been added - what difference did it make to you? None whatsoever, why would it matter if one left?

Ahh i havent seen the ostrich approach in a while

VinLieger

ClovenHoof wrote: »

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum circus for the masses. None of it is real.

Democracy isn't real. You should have figured that one out after a second Lisbon Treaty vote was announced.

Awww is someone living in the past? Thats sweet, much like most of the leave voters who think they can go back to being the almighty british empire again you might want to move on with your life

seamus

sbsquarepants wrote: »

When extra countries have been added - what difference did it make to you? None whatsoever, why would it matter if one left?

Yeah, those 125,000 Polish people were here all the time, just hiding behind some rocks and happened to appear after Poland had joined the EU.

Not to mention the other 8.5% of the population who are from the EU.

sbsquarepants

VinLieger wrote: »

Ahh i havent seen the ostrich approach in a while

Not ostrich approach, it's the truth. No matter what happens in the referendum for the average "man on the street" absolutely nothing will change.

Any time someone gets all hysterical and tells you the world is going to fall apart at the seams, a handy tip is to simply remind yourself that they are almost certainly wrong and then get on with your life.
Makes no difference to me whether Britain is the eu or not. No difference whatsoever.

Matters much the same to me as whether Scotland stayed or left the union.

sbsquarepants

seamus wrote: »

Yeah, those 125,000 Polish people were here all the time, just hiding behind some rocks and happened to appear after Poland had joined the EU.

Not to mention the other 8.5% of the population who are from the EU.

Maybe you misunderstood my point. What difference did all those polish people make to you? Did they take your job and steal your women or something?

I'm gonna guess that life went on as normal for you. Just like it will if Britain leaves.

VinLieger

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Not ostrich approach, it's the truth. No matter what happens in the referendum for the average "man on the street" absolutely nothing will change.

Any time someone gets all hysterical and tells you the world is going to fall apart at the seams, a handy tip is to simply remind yourself that they are almost certainly wrong and then get on with your life.
Makes no difference to me whether Britain is the eu or not. No difference whatsoever.

Matters much the same to me as whether Scotland stayed or left the union.

Thing's will obviously change to some extent and to argue the opposite is moronic in the extreme, it might not be completely visible to the average punter but its the long term changes that cannot be measured day to day which are what you need to be concerned about. An obvious example of this was pointed out up above, did the 125k polish people just suddenly appear in the country the day after poland joined? No they came over a long number of years, but the one thing is certain they were not here in those numbers before poland joined and definitely would not be now if poland had not joined.

VinLieger

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Maybe you misunderstood my point. What difference did all those polish people make to you? Did they take your job and steal your women or something?

I'm gonna guess that life went on as normal for you. Just like it will if Britain leaves.

Nobody is trying to argue they took anyone's job we are just pointing out your argument that nothing will change is ignorant of long term changes.

The polish who came are actually a benefit to the economy, not matter what some fringe elements will argue, so there that is the change for you.

Your small view of day to day life change is impossible to measure against these massive changes at an international and continental level as it happens over very long periods of time

The Backwards Man

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It's all bollox - Britain leaves, Britain stays - won't make the slightest bit of difference to you or me in the long run. Nothing, nada, zip.

When extra countries have been added - what difference did it make to you? None whatsoever, why would it matter if one left?

It might not mean much to you, but there's a hell of a lot of people in this country, myself included, whose livelihoods are hanging in the balance of tomorrow's result. It's the most important referendum in the history of this state, and it's not even being held in this state.

Jayop

Possible negative changed in Ireland if brexit happens.

1) border. Massive worry both for the border economy and even a greater thread of increased support for dissidents.

2) another recession could happen. The markets are already volatile and brexit could push them over the edge.

3) if you are worried about eu migration then the UK being out will make Ireland more attractive for eu citizens.


Personally 3 doesn't bother me because eu immigration has only benefitted Ireland. Our eastern European neighbors have greatly added to the Irish economy and culture imo. I'd be very worried about 1 and 2 though. Also the UK were a string ally in Europe that we'll lose. Germany and France will become even stronger voices within the union.

LordSutch

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It's all bollox - Britain leaves, Britain stays - won't make the slightest bit of difference to you or me in the long run. Nothing, nada, zip.

Are you sure about that? :cool:

qrx

The only thing history will remember is the name Brexit. Forever connected to Jedward and J-lo. Sums up this generation.

seamus

Value of sterling is sitting pretty stable today. Looks like the markets are more confident this week that Britain will remain.

HensVassal

VinLieger wrote: »

Theres a load of celebs coming out with their opinions, its how the UK does elections, sure look at geldof and his stupid boat, Jeremy Clarkson came out remain as well which was surprising, Beckham has also come out with a call to remain, the weirdest one has to be all the Premiership football clubs making official statements asking their supporters to vote remain

Cos all those continenatal players would have to apply for work permits :pac:

qrx

seamus wrote: »

Value of sterling is sitting pretty stable today. Looks like the markets are more confident this week that Britain will remain.

Or it's already made the adjustment and been devalued as much as it's going to be. In other words the fallout is not going to be as big as everyone says.

HensVassal

wes wrote: »

Normally, I would agree, but brexit will have an major effect on us, especially in regards to potential border checks in the North.

It wouldn't really. Would there even be border checks? Crossing the border was easy enough during the height of the troubles and that's when there was Army checkpoints everywhere and both countries were in the EU.

seamus

qrx wrote: »

Or it's already made the adjustment and been devalued as much as it's going to be. In other words the fallout is not going to be as big as everyone says.

It hasn't made the adjustment. In fact, it's been pretty consistent that the value drops when polls suggest leave is going to win and then rallies again when the polls swing the opposite way.

There was a very strong rally in the last week which coincided with the death of Jo Cox and a swing towards the remain winning.

No, the fallout won't be world-ending, but pretty quickly euro and sterling with hit parity as everyone starts moving their money out of sterling and into dollar or euro.

seamus

HensVassal wrote: »

It wouldn't really. Would there even be border checks? Crossing the border was easy enough during the height of the troubles and that's when there was Army checkpoints everywhere and both countries were in the EU.

EU rules require robust border checks between members and non-members.

We'd be obliged to have these.

Though likely the UK would manage to negotiate a special exemption so that it's a customs and revenue check only and not a full border check.

HensVassal

VinLieger wrote: »

Ahh i havent seen the ostrich approach in a while

How the hell would it impact Ireland if the UK left?

Would they have a new currency that we would have to change to when visiting? Eh..no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

Would we need passports to visit Britain? Eh...no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

Would the stop being our biggest trading partner? Eh..no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

VinLieger

HensVassal wrote: »

It wouldn't really. Would there even be border checks? Crossing the border was easy enough during the height of the troubles and that's when there was Army checkpoints everywhere and both countries were in the EU.

That's the thing we don't know what the border will look like cus they won't be in the EU anymore so that's already different to how it used to be, nobody can say for certain what will happen if they leave, anyone who says different is a liar

VinLieger

HensVassal wrote: »

How the hell would it impact Ireland if the UK left?

Would they have a new currency that we would have to change to when visiting? Eh..no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

This might actually benefit us as the markets arent a fan of them leaving so the exchange rate might be better

HensVassal wrote: »

Would we need passports to visit Britain? Eh...no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

Yes but we may need to now go through customs and border control to enter and vice versa which increases the cost of people moving between the 2 countries at a bureaucratic and security level. Flights might also cost more

HensVassal wrote: »

Would the stop being our biggest trading partner? Eh..no. Just like it was before the EU existed.

No it wouldnt stop trade but tarriffs, increased custom's controls and other restrictions that don't apply cus of the open market will make trade more expensive which ultimately will cost jobs

HensVassal

VinLieger wrote: »

Nobody is trying to argue they took anyone's job we are just pointing out your argument that nothing will change is ignorant of long term changes.

The polish who came are actually a benefit to the economy, not matter what some fringe elements will argue, so there that is the change for you.

Your small view of day to day life change is impossible to measure against these massive changes at an international and continental level as it happens over very long periods of time

How can you possibly state that the addition of several thousand Polish people has had a positive impact or are a benefit to the economy other than they are decent people? What longterm impact will they have? You're only making things up to back up your flimsy argument. So we'll have a few shops selling perogis and kielbasa and a few extra blonde honeys added to the gene pool. Other than that, what's your big long term change?

HensVassal

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It might not mean much to you, but there's a hell of a lot of people in this country, myself included, whose livelihoods are hanging in the balance of tomorrow's result. It's the most important referendum in the history of this state, and it's not even being held in this state.

How is your livelihood "hanging in the balance"?

HensVassal

Jayop wrote: »

Possible negative changed in Ireland if brexit happens.

1) border. Massive worry both for the border economy and even a greater thread of increased support for dissidents.

2) another recession could happen. The markets are already volatile and brexit could push them over the edge.

3) if you are worried about eu migration then the UK being out will make Ireland more attractive for eu citizens.


Personally 3 doesn't bother me because eu immigration has only benefitted Ireland. Our eastern European neighbors have greatly added to the Irish economy and culture imo. I'd be very worried about 1 and 2 though. Also the UK were a string ally in Europe that we'll lose. Germany and France will become even stronger voices within the union.

So the 3 things you've just pulled out of a hat a 3 "could happen" bits of nonsense.

ClovenHoof

Jayop wrote: »

So basically you're only pissed off that they had a different opinion to you. If u2 and enda campaigned to leave you'd be saying nothing.

"enda"...

How did we get to be all personal friends with politicians in this country so we could call them by their first names?

Oh right. PJ O'Mara the 'Charlie' spin doctor who invented the idea.

HensVassal

seamus wrote: »

It hasn't made the adjustment. In fact, it's been pretty consistent that the value drops when polls suggest leave is going to win and then rallies again when the polls swing the opposite way.

There was a very strong rally in the last week which coincided with the death of Jo Cox and a swing towards the remain winning.

No, the fallout won't be world-ending, but pretty quickly euro and sterling with hit parity as everyone starts moving their money out of sterling and into dollar or euro.

Why would people do this if the referendum vote is to remain?

HensVassal

VinLieger wrote: »

This might actually benefit us as the markets arent a fan of them leaving so the exchange rate might be better



Yes but we may need to now go through customs and border control to enter and vice versa which increases the cost of people moving between the 2 countries at a bureaucratic and security level. Flights might also cost more



No it wouldnt stop trade but tarriffs, increased custom's controls and other restrictions that don't apply cus of the open market will make trade more expensive which ultimately will cost jobs

In other words none of the above are likely to come to pass.

andekwarhola

Like or not, they're in a position to influence far more people to a particular cause than any of us.

ClovenHoof

Listen to me carefully.

Any Irish person who defends the 'democracy' of the EU following the announcement of Lisbon Treaty second vote is akin to a cult member who stays with the cult leader even after the date of end time predictions comes and passes.

Irish people should know more than anyone else, that EU simply does not do the democratic choice thing.

valoren

It's a WITH/WITHOUT EU referendum after all.

VinLieger

HensVassal wrote: »

In other words none of the above are likely to come to pass.

Again nobody can know for sure what will happen, yes everything above is a possibility that may or may not happen, but those arguing nothing will happen are literally burying their head in the sand as you cannot have the 3rd largest economy and roughly 8% of the population of the union leave without some kind of ripple effect.

Jimmy Garlic

When they stopped making good music. Somewhere around the mid 1990s.