The European Union

duly noted..

It is my firm belief that nationalism demonstrated by Brexit was not extreme nationalism that European integration sought to combat, rather EU federalism is the same extreme counter democratic control that came with that extreme nationalism that tore apart Europe.
The UK is a democracy. Countries in the UK have democracy; Cities vote for mayors, British countries and dependencies have referendums whether to be British or not.. They've voted to be British, it's democracy.
The EU may look like a country with our cars and roads being the same; But trust me, it's not.
It's federalised, but it's not a country.

 

Who knows what's going to happen in the future in Scotland, N. Ireland or Gibraltar with Brexit. But loosing a good friend to cancer age 55 last week sharply reminded me again that life's too short to spend it arguing. No matter the political landscape, the only two things still guaranteed in life is death and taxes.


It would appear the UK Govt. is anticipating a request to hold a second Scottish Independence referendum, though other Conservatives are telling the press there is no need for a second. https://stv.tv/news/politics/1380202-indyref2-uk-government-prepares-for-referendum-in-2018/

The EU are discussing ways to fast track Scotland into the EU should a second referendum return a vote in favour of independence from the U.K. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/eu-officials-are-discussing-how-to-fast-track-an-independent?utm_term=.pkL5ADvrK#.utrN0v39E

I'm a supporter of independence but was happy to accept the 2014 result until I saw David Cameron's speech the following morning. I'm no fan of Nicola Sturgeon, yet Scotland voted for them in the 2015 UK election and they just about won the majority in the Scottish Parliament Election in 2016.

I'll remain an independence supporter while I recognise others are staunchly against it. It's their vote at the end of the day and not my business. Some polls are nearly neck and neck. So it will be up to the undecided and those that didn't vote last time, if we get to vote a second time.

The landscape is completely different now. The undecided will be looking at the unstable situation we are going through dealing with Brexit. Those that voted for a stable UK back in 2014 with a No vote, may think things are changing anyway exiting Europe, so why not vote for Independence.

But the media bombards the public with misinformation, especially in England. Here's today's headline from the Sun newspaper English version https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2825661/cambridge-university-student-ronald-coyne-homeless-man-20-note-nicola-sturgeon/

In the article they allege this student who burned money in front of a homeless person was Nicola Sturgeon's relation. The prank was part of the initiation into the Bullingdon Club. The same club David Cameron allegedly put his manhood into a dead pigs head to join.

Nicola is not related to the student whatsoever, yet today's headline in the Sun leaves their readership in England with this impression. Even with all my genealogy experience I struggled to grasp how this student was connected to Nicola.

Turns out Nicola's husband's sister was married to a man called Coyne but they are divorced. The student is this ex husband's Brothers son.

But what does it matter? The seed is sown, the hatred ratcheted up another notch. Even if the Sun prints an apology or a retraction of the very, very old loose connection to Nicola, how many today are left thinking this ass hole is related to Nicola?

Like I say I'm no fan of hers, but the blatant lies printed down south are appalling and tarnish our neighbours view of the Scots, or at least those seeking Independence. I do however, acknowledge there are a few Scottish racists who do not hide their dislike of the English. I am not one of them and speak out against it wherever I hear it or read it.

 

Hold on though, that's the complete opposite to what's being said in other sources-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/10/european-commission-independent-scotland-would-have-join-queue/

 

You are finding it hard to digest that two different thoughts are coming from government/politicians?

 

Never!
Just pointing it out.

 

If some of these reports are to believed it shows how desperate the EU is. Would love to see how the SNP sees Scotland's position against these measures and how much the EU is willing to look the other way to get new members in.





Conditions for membership






The EU operates comprehensive approval procedures that ensure new members are admitted only when they can demonstrate they will be able to play their part fully as members, namely by:

• complying with all the EU's standards and rules
• having the consent of the EU institutions and EU member states
• having the consent of their citizens – as expressed through approval in their national parliament or by referendum.

Membership criteria – Who can join?
The Treaty on the European Union states that any European country may apply for membership if it respects the democratic values of the EU and is committed to promoting them.
The first step is for the country to meet the key criteria for accession. These were mainly defined at the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993 and are hence referred to as 'Copenhagen criteria'. Countries wishing to join need to have:

• stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
• a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces in the EU;
• the ability to take on and implement effectively the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

The EU also needs to be able to integrate new members.
In the case of the countries of the Western Balkans additional conditions for membership, were set out in the so-called 'Stabilisation and Association process', mostly relating to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations.

What is negotiated?
The conditions and timing of the candidate's adoption, implementation and enforcement of all current EU rules (the "acquis").
These rules are divided into 35 different policy fields (chapters), such as transport, energy, environment, etc., each of which is negotiated separately.
Other issues discussed:

• financial arrangements – such as how much the new member is likely to pay into and receive from the EU budget (in the form of transfers)
• transitional arrangements – sometimes certain rules are phased in gradually, to give the new member or existing members time to adapt.

Oversight by the EU institutions
Throughout the negotiations, the Commission monitors the candidate's progress in applying EU legislation and meeting its other commitments, including any benchmark requirements.
This gives the candidate additional guidance as it assumes the responsibilities of membership, as well as an assurance to current members that the candidate is meeting the conditions for joining.
The Commission also keeps the EU Council and European Parliament informed throughout the process, through regular reports, strategy papersSearch for available translations of the preceding link••• , and clarifications on conditions for further progress.

 

Oh dear. The EU-wreckers are put out because ungrateful Johny Foreigner is using their own tactics against them. May goes to Washington and prostrates herself in front of Trump in order to get a special deal. The SNP do the same and it is called 'desperation'. If anyone wants to know what real desperation is refer back to May's visit to India

 

#430- "I'm a pro global immigration Union Jack flying Londoner."
Ben, you just wrote the first line of your next song. Could be the next right thinking Billy Bragg.

 

#431- mmmmkenny does have a sense of humour.
"My average is 8 posts a month. Yours is 43."
Who looks up that kind of stuff
Curious now, how many times do i post every month (too much)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILZwt3leeA&t=1357s
Nigel Farage

 

Something is missing...Haven't been kicked in the balls yet...Calling Mr T, where are u...hope ur ok.
Honestly we are like bickering brothers. What would i do, if i didn't have youse

 

spends his time sniffing around profiles as well - every time I get a PM or the occasional salute and go to a profile to reply he has been there, spooky!

 

Plus he seems to think the IRA are at war with the British and no matter how many times we try to talk about the EU, he has to derail this topic to talk about the UK.

 

Was that war in the Bronze Age..............

 

Why can't you be a progressive?
Why do you want to break up the UK?
Why do you want to be in the EU?

I have mixed emotions about this
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3JTIKB0GXs[/youtube].
On the one hand I'm pro trading route, on the other hand; I don't care for China's labour laws and lack of human or animal rights and dare I say it, political system of the PRC...

 

The Muslim scare stories didn't work in Switzerland.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/12/world/europe/switzerland-citizenship-3rd-generation-referendum.html



To reinforce the point, the party mounted a poster campaign of its own, featuring a silhouette of a woman in a burqa and with the slogan “No to uncontrolled naturalization.”
Though the People’s Party has a long history of provocative posters and slogans playing on popular suspicion of outsiders, the current posters shocked many Swiss, who saw them as racist and irrelevant to the ballot measure.
“It’s quite systematic — they are really trying what Trump’s campaigns did, to go beyond the facts,” said Lukas Goldber, an analyst at Gfs.bern, a political and social research institute, referring to President Trump’s election campaign in the United States.
“Some elements were trying to see if it works in the Swiss system,” Mr. Goldber said. “It didn’t work at all.”

 

Switzerland's not in the EU.

 

Never said it was....however it is in The EU in all but name and the point I was making is that the Islampobic Hate Posters didn't work. Sensible people told the looneys to take a hike.

 

Yep destroys your ongoing diatribe that you have to be in the EU to be sensible and non racist. And be quite successful.

 

Forgive me for butting in but when are you guys simply going to agree to disagree, qualify out and move on? It's clear that none of you are going to change your minds.