I try to keep up as much as possible with the affairs of England as well as other parts of Europe despite being an American. With our unfortunate propensity in the States to ignore European issues, we seemingly discard them unless they directly impact us (or our europhilic fantasies such as travel, cuisine, or arts, etc). There are some issues in Europe, however, that we should keep a watchful eye on even if they don’t affect us on the surface.
One such issue in Europe is the current hot button issue in England surrounding the European Union and whether England should vote yay or nay to stay in the Union. It is quite a polarizing issue with websites such as WhatUKThinks stating (according to current data as of 3/29-4/12) that public attitude is about a 50/50 split.
I first became intrigued by this issue by listening to and watching UKIP (UK Independence Party) leader Nigel Farage. Mr. Farage verbally decimates the EU at nearly every meeting of the European Parliament and has positioned himself as the de facto leader of the Brexit movement (despite London mayor Boris Johnson’s group Vote Leave having the official designation). Farage’s arguments for a Brexit are well articulated and brutally honest. He states everything from greater control over English borders, long-term economic stability (despite short-term unease) and liberation from European Union rule as his primary reasons for fueling the Brexit.
Although I’m not directly impacted by the issue, it is a pressing one for me because I am indirectly impacted by it, as all in the USA (and Canada as well) are whether they realize it or not. As someone from a country that has historically been an ally of England (United States), greater British autonomy could mean better trade agreements between the US and England (especially under a new US administration) and greater national security for a nation who has gone out of their way to ensure the stability of our nation as well. Greater national security for a country such as England, which has a passport agreement with the US, is also crucial for us as well because many would be terrorists could use England as a way here if they wanted to. Coupled with the fact that England, notably London, is a popular tourist destination for many Americans (to strike a chord with the otherwise apathetic) and vice versa, it’s an even stronger argument. I could go on with other reasons as well, but I want to avoid exhausting the reader.
The alliance between the US and England has been a pivotal part of the success of our nations and to not support England’s wish for greater autonomy would be an affront to every value we supposedly espouse as a liberty and democracy loving nation. Not supporting England’s individual liberty would make us extremely hypocritical for using the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” should we deny an ally their own desire for the same thing.
With that said, it also affects every country, because a vote to leave would also be a spark of hope to people in other nations who oppose globalism, that once you are in you can get out.
England is currently being undermined by a giant globalist conglomerate filled with unelected politicians which have in turn flooded their country with an unsustainable amount of economic migrants and undermined a nation that at one point in history would have laughed at the prospect.
To me it would only be right to help a country that went to bat for us to defeat fascism in WWII, the oppressive Soviet machine and also helped us in questionable conflicts in the Middle East (even when it was of little to no benefit for them), then we should go to bat for them as well should they wish to remove themselves from the EU.
Concerned people in the US should be more vocal in its support of the Brexit and eurosceptic movements all over Europe, as should all who find globalism or the repressive agenda of a small collection of corrupt elites to be abhorrent.
We should also be more vocal in our criticism of the Obama administration for trying to interfere. We need to advocate to this administration and the next, that we have no right to keep a sovereign nation such as England from pursuing its autonomy. This is the same advocacy that we should also extend to the autonomy of other European countries who are sick of Schengen Agreement abuse, underhanded resolutions, the immoral treatment of Greece and the undermining of the nation state.
A spark of hope could also be ignited among the Dutch and their NExit movement as well with an English victory and eventually create a domino effect with other EU member states with the hopeful conclusion of ending the failed concept of the EU.
At this point, however, it’s wait and see.
– The Darn Messenger
Further reading:
http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/28/how-brexit-would-impact-the-us-what-the-experts-say/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/eu_referendum/index.html
http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/24/eu-referendum-should-we-stay-or-should-we-go-5715240/