This Europe referendum malarkey

[busguy]

I'm not interested in history. I am not an extremist in any way, and I am more left wing than right wing. I am only interested in the here and now, and the foreseeable future for my home country and its people, wherever they come from.
Let's look forward 5 years.
Where will the EU be then?
Like the UK leaving, no-one really knows. To me, if it leaves, in the UK's position it is more likely to be able to use its strengths and be in a good place in 5 years, compared to being in the EU.
The EU is a stagnant trading organisation, with lots of problems looming, but after a leaving blip, the UK can confidently built new trading links, being the 5th largest economy in the world.
Admit it, the signs are there that the EU does not have a good future.
Now is the time for the UK, and any other country confident in its abilities and future prospects, to get out.

[Nickol]

Hope springs eternal.

If UK does leave the EU then will the UK itself break up? The Scottish think so and now the Welsh I am told. Not a promising future either.

The EU has the second largest BIP in the world.
Based on BIP per capita, which is a more realistic assessment Uk is 25th - on a par with Germany as it happens.

There is unlikely to be a leaving " blip" for ordinary persons - the Pound will suffer no doubt and the stock exchange may fall with a "leave" vote but that will not effect the lives of most People - short term.

The signs in the political Spektrum in the Western world are becoming more right wing orientated and as a result there will be a less tolerant Society than present. Cleverer People than I can explain the reasons for this.

However, as with all right wing politics, they Need a scapegoat and anti EU Sentiment is the solution, it seems. For the EU to thrive, rather than survive, it will Need to address the reasons behind this and not just respond to rhetoric.

[les]

Won't be long now!

[Blaketon]

Far more chance of Scotland going it's own way than Wales, since Scotland has far more SNP MPs and MSPs, than Wales has Plaid Cymru MPs or MSPs. I don't know about Scotland but in Wales, appetite for that sort of thing tends to be found in the West (Though not Pembrokeshire) or north West; ie furthest from the so called border. It seems that the nationalists want independence but under the umbrella of the EU, in the hope that someone will bail them out (They'd just sooner take charity from someone other than the "English"). I hope it doesn't come to that.

[simmitc]

I'd like to thank everyone for some informed (?) points of view and some interesting discussions. It was a good idea of SteveClem to start the discussion,

In the spirit of no media campaigning during the voting I'm going to lock this thread. After Thursday we can always have another about what a great/terrible result it was/wasn't etc. More importantly, we'll carry on being the friendly Morris-loving club that we always have been and enjoy our 40th anniversary celebrations For those voting, use your vote wisely as you think best; for those watching, thank you for your interest in our "malarky".