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Differences yet again in perspective and comprehension Rob_j1. ;) Apologies if I failed to be more specific.
Re protectionist stance I refer to Commonwealth countries
the EU is holding the nation back from fostering stronger trading links with Commonwealth countries, many of which are growing at a faster rate than EU economies.
As for the bad old days, that's exactly my concern that the EU by turning a blind eye to the proliferation of intolerance through their inflexibility on lack of controls where required, is actually exacerbating the problem.
I do take note of the failures by the Cameron Govt to adequately react to these realities however, but to suggest that the source of these problems were solely of the UK's making is to me a form of denial.
As for no need for reform, goodness that's a bold generalisation that fails to take account of all manner of realities already discussed at length on this forum.
You ask about an alternative this has already been identified in terms of greater flexibility and willingness to listen and better respond to citizens concerns, better coordination and forward planning, greater accountability and transparency, adherence to predefined stability mechanisms, etc etc.... the list goes on.
Enough repetition, surely?
On an optimistic note, let's take pleasure from a hopefully redefined CETA agreement which if they have resolved the issues that were compromising the deal, then the Wallonians will have done a massive favour for us all. That's why I referred to it as being courageous.... not to succumb to powerful elites ( and that includes the EU bureaucrats who IMHO were not taking on board valid citizen concerns).
Nice to finish on a positive. ;)
There are about 200 countries in the world today, and we have the 5th largest economy. And considering that those ahead of us have vastly larger populations, I often wonder if those who are complaining are serious. Things are (were?) just fine, and asking for more seems a little like greed.
My statement that I am happy with the way things are, has been firmly backed up by economics. With a 4.9% unemployment rate, the UK is, again, doing just fine.
Those are the "realities". People here seem to fall into a trap of whinging about specifics (my local school this, my hospital that), yet cant see the forest for the trees. Workforce participation is at its highest level EVER. This is a reality, and if you draw the logical conclusion, you would have to say, people complaining about work (I couldnt get a job because of an immigrant) have no justification to say this. Far harder to look at yourself in the mirror and admit a personal failing, and far easier to blame someone else.
I dont agree with your views on the "problems", because to me this is just the natural course of events when economies grow, and a function of the digital revolution we are in. Its a bit like the dinosaur complaining about evolution.
All economies need growth, and they need inflation in the stable range of about 2-3%. The reasons are, again, backed up by economics, but broadly speaking, we cant have deflation. If people thought deflation was happening, they then put off and put off spending, thinking "it'll be cheaper tomorrow". Eventually, business collapses.
Thats the laymans explanation for saying why we need growth.
The more I listen to the rhetoric on here, the more it strikes me that people here are confused about our borders (are they open or closed), immigration (can we stop people or not), jobs (do we have a problem with unemployment or not), and infrastructure (theres an enormous cause / effect discussion right here).
Ads, we will indeed have to agree to disagree.