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Brexit discussion thread X (Please read OP before posting)

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,644 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    theguzman wrote: »
    From my own reading of the current situation would it be fair to say that a No Deal Brexit is now off the table? Or can Boris Ignore the motion passed and plough on breaking the law?

    It is theoretically off the table on Oct 31st, assuming the EU acts as expected.

    In practice, Johnson may try some stunt or other to get around the law, and have to be removed through a VoNC, and replaced by a caretaker PM. Johnson has made this much more likely with his illegal prorogue shenanigans.

    Currently, UK commentators seem to think the EU will grant an extension to January 31st if asked, meaning No Deal would be back on the table for Feb 1st. I think that is very unlikely, no way will the EU want to have to deal with another extension request that soon, they will just offer a take-it-or-leave it 12 or 18 months, long enough for the UK to realistically settle this one way or the other via an election and referendum.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,952 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    dublinjock wrote: »
    No one suggested deal or no deal at the time. The question was leave or remain.

    I am really starting to think what do we vote for, what is the point of voting.
    So the only thing you read before you voted was the ballot paper?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,170 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    dublinjock wrote: »
    I think your right about referendums being undemocratic. Im so so learning this.
    I know there was much lies and shenanigans went on but this is the way with politicians.
    But i have never been happy with the way the EU is run and how undemocratic it is. What i didnt know and i am also learning is how undemocratic the UK house of commons is. Voting it seems changes nothing.


    Can you give me examples of why you dislike the way the EU is run and how you see it as being undemocratic?


    Also the real reason or problem with the UK being undemocratic is due to FPTP coupled with the unwritten constitution.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,392 ✭✭✭✭Professor Moriarty


    DOCARCH wrote: »
    After today's events, I think Boris may be reaching out for his slippers quite soon!

    I am sure moderate Tories are horrified.

    A dying breed.


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,227 Mod ✭✭✭✭DOCARCH


    dublinjock wrote: »
    But i have never been happy with the way the EU is run and how undemocratic it is.

    More democratic than people think.

    http://www.progressivepulse.org/brexit/eu-uk-democracy-compared

    Also have to bear in mind that the source of a lot of myths about the EU, in the UK, was Boris Johnson, from his days a journalist/EU correspondent. He simply made things up!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,190 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    dublinjock wrote: »
    No one suggested deal or no deal at the time. The question was leave or remain.
    That's what was in the ballot paper, but surely everyone knew that the Uk's wasn't planning on becoming like North Korea, and that deals with all trading partners including the EU would be needed? In fact I seem to remember Leave people saying it would be the easiest deal in history - perhaps you missed all that?

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,781 ✭✭✭✭Inquitus


    dublinjock wrote: »
    I think your right about referendums being undemocratic. Im so so learning this.
    I know there was much lies and shenanigans went on but this is the way with politicians.
    But i have never been happy with the way the EU is run and how undemocratic it is. What i didnt know and i am also learning is how undemocratic the UK house of commons is. Voting it seems changes nothing.

    The whole point of representative democracy is that the Government takes complex decisions using expert advice on our behalf. Referendums are not made for complex decisions like this were an average person cannot grasp the impact of what they are voting on. Cameron abdicated his responsibility as PM when he decided to have the vote.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,738 ✭✭✭JeffKenna


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    But then general elections are also snapshots of people's views on a particular day. Are they also undemocratic?
    They're not snapshots in the same way as referendums. A GE is a vote for your representative in parliament. And you have the right to remove them at the next election.

    Come on, by that logic a second referendum would also be undemocratic regardless of the result.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,947 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Mod: Please do not paste music videos here. Post deleted.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,338 ✭✭✭Bit cynical


    prawnsambo wrote: »
    They're not snapshots in the same way as referendums. A GE is a vote for your representative in parliament. And you have the right to remove them at the next election.
    That is true but no right before that. If an election is held and the sitting government loses they get out even though they don't agree with the result. For a period of time at least, the result of this decision based on one day's polling is expected to be implemented. You don't get the standing government saying that the people weren't properly informed and therefore another election will be held when they have had time to reconsider their opinion (Zimbabwe excepted).

    It might be for the best that the UK does not leave the EU. Certainly it is for Ireland and we have a right to pursue our interests in the matter. But democracy has suffered in the UK if they end up revoking A50 or rerunning the referendum. All we can really say is that it is a price worth paying.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,952 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    JeffKenna wrote: »
    Come on, by that logic a second referendum would also be undemocratic regardless of the result.
    We're talking about UK style advisory referendums. They are not democratic because they don't have the built-in safeguards that a binding referendum has. Referendums should also have definable outcomes. It's hardly democratic to hold a referendum for essentially a blank cheque with no defined outcome and no path for elected representatives to follow. Hence the current mess.The only thing you could say was democratic about that one was that people could vote in it. Wholesale confusion is not democracy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,981 ✭✭✭Naggdefy


    The old Rabbie Burns song 'Parcel of Rogues in a Nation' about the Scots nobles who sold out to England for unification in 1707 has very appropriate lyrics for the Brexit mess. Only applied to the English mostly this time.


    'Oh would or I had seen the day
    That treason thus could sell us
    My old gray head had line in clay
    With bruise and loyal wallus
    But pith and par, till my last hour
    I'll make this declaration
    That we're bought and we're sold for English Gold
    Such a Parcel of Rogues In a nation'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,356 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    dublinjock wrote: »
    .

    Then we had a general election with both the main parties telling us they would deliver brexit and do as the people had instructed.
    All i am able to do is vote to change things, now it seems that what i was told is true.
    "If democracy was to change anything then it would be got rid of"

    I really do worry about the state of Democracy in the EU, hence i voted to leave. Now im worried about Democracy in the UK and house of commons.

    Isn't it interesting though how EU countries like Ireland have so much say in the European Union compared to NI and Scotland in the British Union...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭dublinjock


    VinLieger wrote: »
    Can you give me examples of why you dislike the way the EU is run and how you see it as being undemocratic?


    Also the real reason or problem with the UK being undemocratic is due to FPTP coupled with the unwritten constitution.




    How to i vote to get rid of EU?

    Who votes for the commissioners?

    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.


    You might be correct about the UK being undemocratic this is something that im really starting to learn and to be honest its frighting.


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 43,835 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    theguzman wrote: »
    From my own reading of the current situation would it be fair to say that a No Deal Brexit is now off the table? Or can Boris Ignore the motion passed and plough on breaking the law?
    No deal is the default exit and will happen if the UK take no action before 11pm on Oct 31st such as revoke, request and receive an extension or accept the WA.
    The recent vote within Westminster to prevent a no-deal exit does not stop a no-deal exit. It is an internal Uk law and has nothing to do with the EU.
    theguzman wrote: »
    I can't see why the Conservatives don't just jettison off Northern Ireland and agree to a Northern Ireland only backstop, keeping NI in the Customs Union and thus avoiding the need for a hard border. This would effectively create a border down the Irish sea, I am baffled that Boris hasn't secretly reached out to Jeremy Corbyn and let them jointly pass this motion before dissolving Parliament.
    So "taking back control" means to give away part of their Union? :confused:
    theguzman wrote: »
    The whole thing is mind boggling or does the default hard brexit seem more likely. The Northern Ireland backstop would effectively create a hard brexit for the mainland UK anyway if I read it correctly. Boris lost his majority so why he doesn't dump the DUP and reach out on a cross party basis to get Brexit done.
    To be honest, nobody knows what will happen with Boris and Cummings pulling the strings.
    As for the DUP, maybe Boris will need them, possibly after a general election, and so doesn't want to burn his bridges?


  • Moderators, Politics Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 43,835 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    dublinjock wrote: »
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?

    Who votes for the commissioners?

    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.


    You might be correct about the UK being undemocratic this is something that im really starting to learn and to be honest its frighting.
    Pardon?
    Are these genuine questions :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,963 ✭✭✭54and56


    It would be very interesting to see the breakdown of those answers for the
    50% who don't indentify as Nationalist or Unionist.

    The increase from those identifying as neither nationalist or unionist corresponds with the period of the GFA which de-polarised NI and has allowed people to get out of their narrow silo's.

    Brexit and in particular a no deal Brexit will have the opposite effect and could re-polarise NI to the detriment of NI, RoI and GB who will end up picking up a lot of the financial and political cost.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,125 ✭✭✭✭Strazdas


    dublinjock wrote: »
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?

    Who votes for the commissioners?

    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.


    You might be correct about the UK being undemocratic this is something that im really starting to learn and to be honest its frighting.

    If anyone is destabilising democracy in the UK, it's Johnson and Cummings. They're hinting they won't let anyone get in their way and are answerable to nobody : not even Parliament and the judiciary.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭dublinjock


    Isn't it interesting though how EU countries like Ireland have so much say in the European Union compared to NI and Scotland in the British Union...


    Yes Ireland does have a bigger say, i would be in favour of a referendum on each of the home countries having independence. But whats the point of a referendum if its not upheld, or worse still some are and some are not.


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,227 Mod ✭✭✭✭DOCARCH


    dublinjock wrote: »
    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.

    You can only vote for you constituency candidate(s).....from there on it's out of your hands! Who is PM is not a choice of 'the people'.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,823 ✭✭✭✭First Up


    dublinjock wrote:
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?
    Vote for politicians who want to get rid of the EU. If enough people vote the same way as you, then they might get elected.
    dublinjock wrote:
    Who votes for the commissioners?

    The people who the most people vote for.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,394 ✭✭✭✭briany


    54and56 wrote: »
    Brexit and in particular a no deal Brexit will have the opposite effect and could re-polarise NI to the detriment of NI, RoI and GB who will end up picking up a lot of the financial and political cost.

    The average no-deal Brexiteer doesn't care about this. To them, the GFA is a red herring being waved by the EU to thwart Brexit. They don't have any interest in the consequences of a hard border except to say that it's a perfectly acceptable price to pay, if they even defined it as a price. They don't believe it will have any effect.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,644 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    dublinjock wrote: »
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?

    You already did, and the EU has already accepted it, agreed a Withdrawal Agreement with the UK Government, all done and dusted ready for last March.

    You would have been out of the EU for 6 months by now if your own Government had not requested two extensions. They are about to request another.

    Perhaps your problem was never with the EU?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,338 ✭✭✭Bit cynical


    JeffKenna wrote: »
    Come on, by that logic a second referendum would also be undemocratic regardless of the result.
    Rerunning a referendum is unsatisfactory from a democratic point of view, yes. Not the only perspective; there are other considerations. But from the perspective of democracy, problematic I think.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,952 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    dublinjock wrote: »
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?
    The same way you vote to get rid of your golf club.
    dublinjock wrote: »
    Who votes for the commissioners?
    The MEPs you voted for. You know, Nigel and the boys.
    dublinjock wrote: »
    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.
    Can you? Can you really? Have you heard of 'safe seats'. There are over 200 of them in the HoC. Check your constituency and see can you really vote out the incumbent Tory there (if that's the case in your constituency)
    dublinjock wrote: »
    You might be correct about the UK being undemocratic this is something that im really starting to learn and to be honest its frighting.
    I think you are finding out how representative politics works tbh. You vote for an MP and they act as your representative in the HoC. Your representative, not your delegate. Their job is to look after your interests and the national interest. Not to jump every way you want them to on any particular issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭dublinjock


    Pardon?
    Are these genuine questions :confused:


    So i take it im not able to vote for either?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,170 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    dublinjock wrote: »
    How to i vote to get rid of EU?

    Who votes for the commissioners?

    I mean i dont like Boris Johnson or the tories so i can vote to change him to someone else when we have a general election.


    You might be correct about the UK being undemocratic this is something that im really starting to learn and to be honest its frighting.


    I mean if your serious with these questions, which by the way don't really seem to have anything to do with you saying the EU is undemocratic or you having problems with how it is run. If anything they show a complete and utter misunderstanding of the EU or the entire brexit debacle.

    To get rid of the EU? do you mean to kill it entirely? If so then id also ask how to you vote to get rid of the UK?

    If its how do you leave the EU? Then your government submits a letter under article 50 and understands how that process works and realistically what is possible/not possible in its specific circumstances or what it even wants to achieve in its negotiations for leaving.

    The UK did submit article 50 letter but then had no idea what it wanted to do next when confronted with the reality that leaving isnt as simply as walking out the door for various logical reasons.

    You want to vote for commissioners? Do you understand what commissioners are or do? Do you also want to vote for UK civil servants? Because thats effectively what you are asking to do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭dublinjock


    You already did, and the EU has already accepted it, agreed a Withdrawal Agreement with the UK Government, all done and dusted ready for last March.

    You would have been out of the EU for 6 months by now if your own Government had not requested two extensions. They are about to request another.

    Perhaps your problem was never with the EU?


    I did vote yes thats correct.
    The leave vote won.
    The house of commons dont want to leave the EU. They are a total disgrace and as i have said im learning that the saying i was told is so true.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,213 ✭✭✭trellheim


    You can vote for the EU Parliament. (tick).

    The Commission is not elected. (aww, theres one commissioner for each member state, Irish Govt gets to pick). If it was like the Eurovision voting the eastern europeans would get everything.

    European Council - not elected directly its all the heads of state ( Taoiseach's on it ) - I'm happy with that. (tick)


    President of the European Council - picked by the heads of state ( see Eurovision voting above )

    Theres quite a bit of safety built into the current system for Ireland. I would also note that enfranchising something ( giving it the vote) - takes some power away from where it is at the moment.

    anyway slightly ot


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,338 ✭✭✭Bit cynical


    You already did, and the EU has already accepted it, agreed a Withdrawal Agreement with the UK Government, all done and dusted ready for last March.

    You would have been out of the EU for 6 months by now if your own Government had not requested two extensions. They are about to request another.

    Perhaps your problem was never with the EU?
    I don't want to intrude on the poster's line of questioning but I don't think that was the point of his question.

    Most of the discussion on this forum doesn't treat the UK as a black box. We are very involved with the intricacies of UK government, parliamentary procedure and the like and the various personalities.


This discussion has been closed.
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