Unusual article from the wapo.

[EddieM]

Not saying I agree or disagree, but simply as the thread title suggests.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amph...e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?noredirect=on

 

[bernardgreen]

I think this paragraph makes the most omportant and valid point

It’s easy to see the difference between the United Kingdom and the E.U. when you visit London and Paris, as I just recently did. Paris is beautiful but forlorn. The stores are old, the buildings are old, and spirits are downcast. London, by contrast, sparkles with the new. New buildings, new stores and the energy positively crackles from the streets. Ask any leader in Britain’s business world and they will tell you they worry about the post-Brexit future. But look in the eyes of anyone, leaders included, and you see that they will rise to that challenge with resolution rather than resignation.

I do believe that there are enough people in the UK to enable the UK to rise to the challenge of Great Britain outside the EU and then to make Great Britain once more an independent and GREAT Britain.

 

[Doppleganger]

Interesting that an American describes the EU as "But the E.U. is not a functioning democracy. "
when his own country is described as a flawed democracy:

http://www.eiu.com/Handlers/Whitepa...017.pdf&mode=wp&campaignid=DemocracyIndex2017

Also his comments appear to be contradictory:
"it remains a Franco-German entente against which the majority of nations, and members of the E.U. Parliament, are powerless."
yet he thinks that EU economies are stagnating:
"Should continental economies stagnate further,"
and his emotive Leave opinion is evident:
"The E.U.’s rejection of the British prime minister’s plea for slight adjustments to her exit deal is merely the latest in a series of acts that show the E.U. holds Britain in contempt. The sad fact is that the E.U. looks at Britain as a cash cow whose economy sends money directly and indirectly to the other member states. It will not hesitate to milk the cow until it drops."
If that were true, why would they be prepared, and preparing for a No-Deal Brexit?
You don't let your biggest cash cow escape without offering concessions for them to stay.

Henry continues by arguing for the strength of the UK's financial system, a system that will be hardest hit by Brexit and is staffed by 20% of EU citizens.
"Data shows that in 2016 almost one in every five workers in the City of London originated from a European country – the highest figure since records began." https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/record-number-of-european-workers-in-the-city-of-london/
Not to mention the other EU agencies that will be affected or moved out completely.

He chooses to completely ignore the opinion and advice of UK business leaders:
"Ask any leader in Britain’s business world and they will tell you they worry about the post-Brexit future."

He deviously and deceitfully pushes the narrative of Franco-German domination:
"Franco-German domination"
A disgusting and disturbing approach for a so-called intellectual. Obviously his intellect has given way to his emotion.

 

[Notch7]

nteresting that an American describes the EU as "But the E.U. is not a functioning democracy. "
when his own country is described as a flawed democracy

What is interesting about it? -the fact, you consider a strawman gives weight to your argument?

Are you saying anything an American journalist writes cant be vaid because of the American political system.

Perhaps your intellect has given way to your emotion

 

[Doppleganger]

Are you saying anything an American journalist writes cant be vaid because of the American political system.

I'm suggesting that an American who appears to be content with a flawed democracy at home is not best placed to assess another political system abroad.
His value judgements must be in question if he is content with a flawed democracy.

 

[JohnD]

... London, by contrast, sparkles with the new. New buildings, new stores and the energy positively crackles from the streets.

London's a big place.

I wonder which street his taxi was going down when he looked out of the window.

 

[JohnD]

I do believe that there are enough people in the UK to enable the UK to rise to the challenge of Great Britain outside the EU and then to make Great Britain once more an independent and GREAT Britain.

And I do believe that the United Kingdom is capable of being a positive and constructive member of the EU, gaining benefits for itself and being a leading member, contributing to the development of Europe.

Maybe some of the older Brits will never come to terms with the fact that the UK no longer has an empire, and is no longer a Great Power.

But our younger generations have their eyes more on the present and the future.

 

[Doppleganger]

London's a big place.

I wonder which street his taxi was going down when he looked out of the window.

To be fair, if he was travelling by taxi he would have had loads of time to study the street life.
Of course if he actually wanted to get anywhere, he might have been better off walking, cycling or underground.

 

[bernardgreen]

But our younger generations have their eyes more on the present and the future.

That generation has not experienced the process of recovery that independent Great Britain acheived after the hardships of war time.

That slow but sucessful process was with eyes for the future of Britain.

The younger generation has no experience of an independent Britain.

 

[Doppleganger]

It’s easy to see the difference between the United Kingdom and the E.U. when you visit London and Paris, as I just recently did. Paris is beautiful but forlorn. The stores are old, the buildings are old, and spirits are downcast. London, by contrast, sparkles with the new. New buildings, new stores and the energy positively crackles from the streets. Ask any leader in Britain’s business world and they will tell you they worry about the post-Brexit future. But look in the eyes of anyone, leaders included, and you see that they will rise to that challenge with resolution rather than resignation.
.

London, by contrast, won't sparkle for long due to the pollution in London. Which probably is going to be allowed to deteriorate even further after and because of Brexit.
Not to mention the reduction in investment in London, and UK generally.

 

[Doppleganger]

That generation has not experienced the process of recovery that independent Great Britain acheived after the hardships of war time.
.

The independent GB that was dependent on immigration for that recovery?

 

[Notch7]

won't sparkle for long due to the pollution in London

Caused by German cars because they lied about particulates.

Why will pollution be allowed to increase?

You are spouting remainer rubbish as usual.

 

[JohnD]

How sweet to see notch appealing to hatred of foreigners.

 

[Doppleganger]

Caused by German cars because they lied about particulates.
Why will pollution be allowed to increase?

I suspect that you appreciate as much as I do that the majority of road pollution in London is caused by buses and taxis.

If you are not already informed about the effect EU legislation has had and will continue to have on air quality you should read up on it.
Here's a starter:
"EU and air pollution
Air pollution is an international problem, as no individual nation is in complete control of their air quality. For example, 48% of the equivalent deaths in London associated with air pollution are caused by sources outside the city, including sources from Europe.[3]

The EU has played a significant role in implementing safeguards that control levels of harmful air pollutants.[4] For example, when fully implemented; the new National Emissions Ceilings Directive will reduce the negative health impacts of air pollution, such as respiratory diseases and premature death, by almost 50% by 2030.

RCP recommendations
Brexit must not be used as an opportunity to weaken laws and regulations relating to air pollution. We believe the government should:

• consolidate the complex and disparate body of domestic, EU and international air pollution laws into one coherent and effective piece of legislation
• retain the objectives under the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive
• adopt revised objectives based on WHO guidelines
• implement the UK’s pollution reduction targets for 2020 and 2030 under the Gothenburg Protocol and the newly agreed EU National Emissions Ceiling Directive, in order to tackle trans-boundary sources of air pollution
• continue to work with EU institutions in responding to the challenge of tackling air pollution. Without such cooperation, the UK may be unable to meet the WHO’s air pollution standards through local action alone."

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/outputs/brexit-what-does-it-mean-air-quality

"Brexit could present a further challenge for London’s fight to clear its air, because EU laws have until now provided the strictest air quality standards that the UK is obliged to meet.
“The concern post-Brexit is that if that falls away, there is a real risk that ambition will fall away even further on this issue,”
https://www.ft.com/content/9c2b9d92-a45b-11e8-8ecf-a7ae1beff35b

 

[JohnD]

And that Bernard has already written off Northern Ireland.