The rise of Extremism in Economically tough times

CLAPTON

wotsthat wrote: »

Of the people I know who voted UKIP (4) all said they didn't like Eastern Europeans and thought the only reason they came to the UK was to sign on and use the NHS. No mention of the EU.

The move to the right during the economic crisis means that weak willed politicians have gone with the flow. Possibly 10 years ago they would have been willing to try and link immigration with having the world's fastest growing developed economy. Not now - if the electorate is simply basing their ideas on misinformation no politician is going to tell them otherwise. Pointing out people's faults is a vote loser.

yes, democracy is such a burden

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

vivatifosi wrote: »

I would not classify UKIP as extremist .

I think the best answer to that is from what is probably the best ever article on UKIP.....

Most important of all, we are asked to believe – and this is essential in making Ukip palatable to The Annoyed – it may walk like a duck and quack like a duck and be affiliated to other ducks all over Europe, but it is, in fact, a platypus.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/02/ukip-party-bigots-lets-look-evidence

That UKIP have managed to disguise their extremist views under a cloak of respectability is the greatest political smokescreen since the rise of a certain National Socialist party in the 1930's...

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

vivatifosi wrote: »

. They came across as a bit superior and knowing better.

But what do you want them to come across as Viva?

They do know better, and they are right, and the evidence overwhelmingly supports this.

How exactly are intelligent and rational people supposed to act when presented with barely disguised racism, bigotry and xenophobia and illogical, emotive and factually incorrect views?

Pandering and weather-vaning by mainstream politicians to the ignorant and ill-educated is exactly what has allowed UKIP and their ilk across Europe to get the votes they did.

They should be ruthlessly exposed for the bigots, xenophobes and racists so many of them are, not celebrated for being 'eccentric' and 'different'.

Gangaweed

IronWolf wrote: »

I think people in general have had enough of the EU.

Correct. The Brussels "elite" are the worst sort of gravy train politicians, totally disconnected from the reality they have imposed on millions of EU citizens in the periphery.

Jean-Claude Juncker: "When it becomes serious, you have to lie"

SailorSam

Carl31 wrote: »

Could this be the end of the EU though? Certainly seems like a lot of Europe has had enough of it

It does seem to have past it's sell-by date. But i'm not sure you can go back. When the major Countries in Europe joined together in one Common Market it must have seemed such a good idea. The memory of two World Wars was in living memory of everyone, so a joining together of the most powerful Countries in Europe would have people feel more secure of having a peacful future, and then all the financial advantages of one big trading area, and a growth in all economies.
I think the Uk made a mistake not joining, was it the 5 ? then we had to fight years later for them to let us in. But how many are there now ? 28; 29; 30 ? And it's not a group of top equal partners anymore, we're starting to carry to many of the poorer Countries of Eastern Europe that take a lot more than they can give. So freedom of movement brings immigration problems and the rise of extreme parties trying to stop it.

Bantex_2

All the time anyone who expresses worries about uncontrolled immigration is called a bigot, racist, xenophobe, etc rather than taking account of their opinion, more extreme parties will flourish. Many people are sick and tired of the refusal to discuss the matter without name calling. (Hamish).

antrobus

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

I think the best answer to that is from what is probably the best ever article on UKIP.....
....

Oh no! We're not going there again are we? We're not going to have another 'UKIP are fascists' thread complete with people posting links to sundry opinion pieces in the Guardian and the likes and citing them as 'evidence' are we?

It will only mean that the thread will get shifted to DT when the forum team have finished enjoying their bank holiday.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Gangaweed wrote: »

The Brussels "elite" are the worst sort of gravy train politicians,

Indeed.

And the honour of being the worst of the worst of the gravy train politicians belongs to....

This man, who claims he stands alone in wanting to fight for Britain’s interests in the Evil EU, and who bemoans the amount of taxpayers' money going to the aforementioned Evil EU, boasts about having claimed up to £2m in expenses out of said taxpayers' money and presides over a party whose representatives have the worst attendance record of any British MEPs (who together already have the lowest attendance record of any national delegation).

Presumably they are all fighting for Britain’s interests remotely from a BBC studio, somewhere.

CLAPTON

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Indeed.

And the honour of being the worst of the worst of the gravy train politicians belongs to....

does this make the case for the EU or against it?

nashly

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

In France...



In Denmark...



In Germany...



In Greece....



And in the UK....


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10855972/Ukip-storms-European-elections.html

Just goes to show how extraordinarily dangerous it can be to allow economic turmoil to get out of hand.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the political response in the UK and Europe to the global financial crisis was wholly inadequate, and far too little too late...

I think you have missed the point, WW2 came about because one organisation wanted to control Europe and as it has now happened by stealth people now luckily are using the ballot box to end the Nazi EU by parties willing to fight the fascism of the left.