The infighting over Europe starts

pqrdef

And another thing. What line will Tory MPs be expected to take in this referendum?

londonTiger

Frankly europe has plenty of labourers paticulatly those out of work to meet any shortfall in labour. The only reason why europe is expanding eastwards is due to stupid nato fetish of trying to rob russia of influence over its neighbours. Russia isnt a uk problem, its a american problem and let the americans give concessions to the bulgarians and the estonians.

This will be disasterous for uk unemployment. The uk will be rife with immigrant labourers who undercut domestic workers.

alleycat`

Marine_life wrote: »

The biggest mistake is allowing the public any input on issues which -with all due respect - they have absolutely no clue about.

The problem with this approach is that most politicians also have very little understanding of the bigger picture.

They are also "swayed" by things that are of benefit to themselves and of no benefit to the country as a "whole".

There are huge problems within the EU, there are also some good aspects of the EU.

The biggest issue for myself is that, if the EU as a whole continually fails to get "the books" signed off then it looks no better than a banana republic.

You can't have faith in something like that.

antrobus

N1AK wrote: »

All fair points antrobus. However I am not suggesting that the conservatives should target an age group but should instead be aware that the 'traditional' views they are being asked to return to are overwhelming the views of a couple of generations that are aging and thus they should consider the views of the following generations very carefully....

I think the point I was trying to make was that people often make the mistake of assuming that, just because (say) 18-24 year olds are more pro or anti something than those who are over 65, it means that the population will over time become more pro or anti something. All it means a lot of the time is that people change their views as they get older.

N1AK wrote: »

...Lastly, UKIP does have support for issues outside of just its position on Europe. I am yet to see any evidence that people are voting on it based on a considered appraisal of their policies. Their position on most issues appears to be whatever is popular regardless of how viable it is or how much damage doing it would cause.

Personally, I have yet to see much evidence that people vote for any party based on a considered appraisal of their policies. Most of the time its simply tribal.

Marine_life wrote: »

The biggest mistake is allowing the public any input on issues which -with all due respect - they have absolutely no clue about.

Like in General Elections you mean?

pqrdef

londonTiger wrote: »

This will be disasterous for uk unemployment. The uk will be rife with immigrant labourers who undercut domestic workers.

Then we must ensure they get paid the minimum wage, so they can't undercut anybody else who'd get the minimum wage.

purch

It's not just weight that "Fatty" Lawson appears to have lost :eek:

Thrugelmir

pqrdef wrote: »

Then we must ensure they get paid the minimum wage, so they can't undercut anybody else who'd get the minimum wage.

Then the minmum wage will become the living wage.

Germany has no minimum wage. So where will people head.....

Thrugelmir

wotsthat wrote: »

He's an odd combination of dinosaur and lightweight.

More substance than the current generation of clueless politicians driven by ideology than any financial sense. Too young to remember how fragile relationships are between certain groups across Europe. Much in the same way we like to forget that Irish nationalism is still very much alive in pockets decades on.

michaels

antrobus wrote: »

I'd point out the following;
(2) Given that there is expected to be a 50% increase in people aged 65 by 2030 (i.e. we have an ageing population) having policies that appeal to older people might not be a bad idea for a political party

So the day I turn 65 I will change from being a social liberal to a racist homophobe? Can I sign up for euthenasia now please?

antrobus

michaels wrote: »

So the day I turn 65 I will change from being a social liberal to a racist homophobe? Can I sign up for euthenasia now please?

For example, it's well established that the older you are, the more likely you are to vote Conservative. Since that's been a reasonably consistent pattern over the past 30-whatever years, the conclusion would be that people are more likely to vote Conservative as they get older.

On the other hand, if you're interested in euthanasia I believe that Dignitas and a plane ticket to Switzerland is your best option.:)