Something amazing is happening....
27 March 2013
.... I remember back in the 70's when we had a referendum to stay in what was the European Economic Community, many on the far left called it a 'capitalist club' and campaigned for our exit. The strange thing of course was that the right wing as well as the left wing of British politics were united in the No vote but for very different reasons. It was quite bizarre during that campaign when I attended at public meeting in Folkestone at which Enoch Powell and Tony Benn were united on the No platform. The so called 'respectable' political opinion from centre right to centre left supported our staying in.
.... I remember back in the 70's when we had a referendum to stay in what was the European Economic Community, many on the far left called it a 'capitalist club' and campaigned for our exit. The strange thing of course was that the right wing as well as the left wing of British politics were united in the No vote but for very different reasons. It was quite bizarre during that campaign when I attended at public meeting in Folkestone at which Enoch Powell and Tony Benn were united on the No platform. The so called 'respectable' political opinion from centre right to centre left supported our staying in.
We now know that it was the 'respectable' political opinion that was on the wrong side of that campaign and I include myself in that. I was involved in the Britain In Europe campaign and this is something that I have now long regretted.
But back to my original point.
The accusation of a 'capitalist club' was absurd and was no reason to oppose our membership in a campaign in which there were very good reasons to oppose it, even if I did not appreciate them at the time.
These days though this 'capitalist club' would be better described as a 'statist club' in which high government spending and interference is the norm. Nanny EU knows best might be its mantra.
What is ironic of course is that the two large socialist 'blocs' back in the 70's, Russia and China, have opened up their economies. While the European Union has moved to more and more state control they have loosened up and are now arguably more capitalist that the EU, even if China still calls itself communist. A label only.
This is one good reason why we need to stop looking to Europe as a main trading partner and should be looking to other parts of the world including China and Russia. China is slowly evolving into what will become the worlds biggest consumer market. The political development of China is lagging behind its economic development and, indeed, Russia in many ways as well. But they will change in that respect as well, as consumer power strengthens. It is inevitable.
We can be shackled to the declining EU, being strangled by its red tape, high taxes and insane currency experiment or we can be bold and go out into the world as our forefathers did and win business for Britain.
Our businesses are doing so now, increasingly. In fact our fastest growing markets are out there in the wider world but until we win back full control over our destiny we will be hamstrung by the backward EU.
The referendum, when it comes, is our opportunity and we must fight the scare tactics and bullying of the EU fanatics with reason and logic.
Pressure is building for Cameron to have a referendum legislated for, before the election. That would be wise because then there would be no turning back. We then need an alternative to present to the British people that does not constitute a leap in the dark to counter the lies and scare stories of the EU.
- oh dear barry,you do have a bad case of the eu blues.britain is becoming a communist country under dave and gidion.starln and ho chi min spring to mind.
- Do you know what that actually means then Brian, or is it that you will say anything to defend your precious EU? Find out what communist actually means.
- I received an email from the Peoples Pledge today.
It calls for an EU in/out referendum to be made object of legislation before the next General Election. - barry,of course i know what a comminist is and the implications are,what you dont understand is i did have an education.commnisom was one of the subjects taught at the time i was in school.
- Then don't make such ridiculous and pointless comments as you did Brian at 15.20.
- barry,if it was a pointless post i wouldnt have posted it,i got that inprssion from your introdution.all so if thats what you want fair enough.
Ah yes, the same old same old Association Football. It is time for something new. Let us instead, like a bolt from the Blue, create a whole new game. Let us pick-up the ball and run with it...
As this whole idea is predicated upon the Conservatives achieving a glorious victory at the next election there can be none surprised at the net-curtaining of UKIP policies in the above. Reminiscent of the Old Vic static-nude displays.
" strangled by its red tape, high taxes and insane currency experiment"
-strangled by its red tape
We did rather well engineering the downfall of our own, and that of many other country's, banking system. Perhaps red-tape should hobble rather than strangle in the future?
-high taxes
Who set VAT at 20%, who sets UK Excise Duties. Who sees nothing wrong with taxing the many and not the few?
-insane currency experiment
As with 'high taxes', a return to currency exchanges would only harm the many, but perhaps we have simply drained that watering-hole. Mirage after Mirage onto Oases-new.
All in all the dark triangle of true Conservatism shows through the veil, for at core, true Tory is UKIP.