The Return of Perfidious Albion

June 24, 2016

On the two week run-up to yesterday's referendum in Britain, I posted a few comments to Facebook: 

Just a reminder - don't empower Farage's UKIP on June 23.

The hypocrisy of Brexiteer Boris, who's clearly just working his own political aganda and quest for power. This is what he said in his book just two years ago: "It was his (Churchill’s) idea to bring those countries together, to bind them together so indissolubly that they could never go to war again - and who can deny, today, that this idea has been a spectacular success? Together with Nato the European Community, now Union, has helped to deliver a period of peace and prosperity for its people as long as any since the days of the Antonine emperors.”

£65b takes flight, on for fear that the UK will vote to exit the EU. Thanks Farage and the Brexiteers - there go our pensions

Bloody foreigners - come here; take our jobs! It will be interesting to see what impact Brexit would have on these individuals working in the EU. Back to a ball-reaking yearly work permit process, I expect. Been there; done that, and I don't wish it on anyone! And I have no doubt that leaving the EU would put paid to my dreams of retiring to Portugal one day. All this because we're xenophobic and nationalistic :-( Good grief - it's sounding more like central Europe in the 1920's and 30's. 

No "Project Fear" required. If this mugwump gets the US top job and the UK proletariat elects to self-flagellate by imploding the EU, we're doomed. Fact. The end of the (generally) safe, secure and prosperous world as we know it, and the tipping point for "Western Civilisation". The Barbarians filled the void after the fall of Rome. I have no doubt that history will repeat itself.

Member of Parliament, Jo Cox, was murdred today. This is one of the last links she posted to her Twitter feed. To quote Franklin Medhurst, DFC (RAF 1939-46): "If the nation should fall for this deceit (i.e. voting "leave") I can only conclude that the lives of my comrades – Irish, Scots, Welsh and English – were lost in vain. They will be rattling their bones, wherever in the world they fell, at the loss of the beliefs for which they fought. Britain in Europe will enhance progress to higher values in the greater world; Britain out means a return to the early-20th-century chaos of warring states against each other. I am 96. I remember how far we have come. I know what we stand to lose."

The Times backs Britain remaining in the EU. Bottom line: "staying in may not sound as exhilarating or romantic as a defiant march to Brexit, but it is the better choice for Britain and Europe."

To all those Brexiteers who "want their country back", PLEASE read this eloquent piece. There is a reason that most of the people who want to leave the EU are old while those who want to remain are young: it’s because the young aren’t infected with "Bisto nostalgia" and have enjoyed a good life in the EU...

Welcome home Tim Peake - great job :-) "So a British man has just returned from space. He never would have got there if it hadn't of been for the incredible work of people from over a dozen countries working in collaboration and co-operation over the past few decades. That work means we have the ISS, a permanently manned outpost in space doing essential research in preserving the future of our species and it's been there for nearly twenty years. As a basis of comparison, China, who have worked solo on manned spaceflight since the 60's, only launched their first man into space FIVE years after the ISS launched. It's not a perfect analogy by any stretch but it highlights how much better, more effective and stronger countries can be by working together rather than seeking isolationism. Tim Peake would have never got to space if we had just made a spitfire out of sauce pans and iron gates and tried to will it to escape the clutches of Earth's gravity by shouting 'Rule Britannia' at it as loudly as possible. Which I'm sure would be Farage's et al preferred method." (Sam Pike 2016-06-18) Vote "remain" on June 23...

Today, in town, I was approached by a "leave" campaigner, peddling her message of hate and xenophobia. When I proved anything but receptive, she took a different tack and started quoting the Bible. Apparently Brexit is God's will and the European Union is the new Tower of Babel that The Lord is going to bring down. I went ballistic, and apparently one day I'm going to have to account to this Creationist's invisible friend. The ultimate fear tactic. The lunatics have taken over the asylum. Vote "remain" to stay in the EU on June 23.

John Oliver was excellent last night, summing up the situation really well. 
 
Boris Johnson, the opportunist who was a staunch "remain" supporter only a few months ago, has descended to such a pathetic level of politicking that not even his father support his point of view. If Johnson doen't have the backing of a parent (who probably understands his intentions better than most), he's clearly lost the argument.

A vote to leave the EU is a vote for "separate development". In South Africa that same philosophy became the foundation of Apartheid. Sure, this is a different time and place, but only yesterday this poster appeared on the streets of Britain, demonising hundreds of desperate refugees including hungry, terrified children fleeing from the terror of Isis and Russian bombs. It's a slippery slope. Distrust the Brexit isolationists on June 23...

A Brexit could feasibly take us back to a situation similar to 1967 when, following a 14% devaluation in Sterling, Harold Wilson famously declared that “the pound in your pocket has not been devalued.” But the British people disagreed with him, quickly noticing that the cost of imports and foreign holidays were rising sharply and that their true living standards were going down. Meanwhile financial speculators, back then called the "Gnomes of Zurich", were making large profits at Britain’s expense. I watched this video with a depressing sense of premonition. Today the speculative forces in the markets much bigger and more powerful, so don't let this happen again - vote to "remain" in the European Union on June 23

Why would anyone in the UK ignore global leaders, most expert opinion and now 1,285 business leaders? Simply to feel that you're a "true libertarian" and enjoy giving two fingers to “The Man?" Sure, it's nice to vote with your heart, and it's easy to soak up the thumb-sucked ra-ra of the "remain" camp's vapourware. Making the case for the status quo (with actual data) is less glamorous and alluring, but decisions of this enormity need to be taken with the head and not the heart. The hard facts are that Brexit would damage Britain’s economy and therefore each and every one of us. Smaller businesses and employers would be particularly vulnerable to any economic shock as a result of an "out" vote as Britain leaving would mean uncertainty, less trade and fewer jobs. The terms of trade between Britain and its European market would have to be reset “from scratch” in the event of a Brexit, and that's just insane. But, sadly, logic gets swept under the carpet in minds where nationalism, xenophobia and isolationism run deep. The referendum has forced people to reveal their true colours, and it's been disturbing to get a glimpse of a dark, heartless and intolerant side of Britain that would have been at home in Germany of the '30's and South Africa of the '70's. The "leave" campaign's Project Hate has been destructive, and I personally can't wait to put this turbulent time behind us. Tomorrow, please use your head and vote to "remain" in the European Union.

For Britain to stand alone against the forces of evil in 1940 was heroic. For Britain to choose to stand alone among friends in 2016 is incomprehensible. Is almost 50% of this generation saying they'd rather throw in the towel than tackle the bureaucracy and frustrations of Europe head on? Times sure have changed and their brave ancestors, who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for Europe, must be spinning in their graves. Who would ever have though that we'd see the day where instead of "fighting them on the beaches and never surrendering", Britain would be standing on the verge of giving up an important fight for change and reform (and essentially renouncing our British values of cooperation, mutual respect and tolerance) because we don't like EU regulations that govern the power of our kettles, the suction power of our vacuum cleaners and the number of fellow Europeans coming to our island? If this is the case then Little Britain will get the bleak future it deserves. Vote to "remain" in the European Union on June 23, and keep Britain Great.

Boris Johnson. For years I backed him as Mayor of London, and enjoyed his apparent eccentricity. Before the start of the referendum campaign I would have supported him as a future successor to Cameron as leader of the Conservatives. But after the past month of campaigning, I see him for what he really is - an opportunistic, xenophobic, nationalist, isolationist who's clearly putting personal ambition before the national interest. Nope. "It'll all be okay and we'll make it up as we go back to the future" is not going to work for me I'm afraid. Pass.

Readers in the UK. On Thursday when you vote, think who and what you are aligning yourself with. If you choose to align yourself with "leave" - which includes a significant proportion of Conservative xenophobes and racists, and all of UKIP and their doctrine of hate - that's fine. But then could I please ask those that feel they're voting "out" purely in pursuit of some form of unbridled liberty and freedom (good grief - that sounds very Haight-Ashbury, doesn't it?) regardless of who’s in that camp to please burn that old libertarian banner and acknowledge your slip to the dark side, and descent into creeping nationalism. Also be aware that some insensitive souls may henceforth brand you a xenophobic, isolationist, navel-gazer by your association with the likes of Farage and his cohorts. Looks like a xenotard, sounds like a xenotard, smells like a xenotard, votes like a xenotard must be a xenotard! Ha-ha! Have a good day everyone and remember, patriots looks outward and forward while nationalists look inward and backwards. We are stronger, safer add better off together. Vote to "remain" in the European Union! Peace :-)

In light of this morning's referendum results, I posted the following short message and video clip:

The country defers to lowest common denominator and elects to become Little England. The tabloids win. Perfidious Albion returns. Farewell pension. Brexit supporters - please let me know when to expect Kristallnacht...



But my old frien K.F. summed it up better than I ever could...

Little Britain has just condemned Great Britain to a path of steady decline to insignificance. I'll bet there are more than a few exit strategies being planned as the intelligentsia and wealthy plan to abandon this sinking ship. I'll bet there will be several million red faces when they soon realize they have been hoodwinked into betraying their children.

A sad day for the world, the European Union, Great Britain, my wife and I, and (most of all) my son. I'm sorry my boy - I did all I could.

Sincerely, MAlfaRK ©