Britain and the EU

Graham_Devon

Mistermeaner wrote: »

Big business = jobs and prosperity = successful economy = happy people and nice place to live

But we've fallen back to the job security thing again.

And I'm not entirely sure your analogy above is all that true to be honest. Especially with today's climate of job insecurity, imigration to keep wages low and the watering down of contracts (zero hours etc) and working rights (unions).

And even if it were absolutely true - it appears Norway is a pretty nice place to live. I say that as an outsider, I admit. But Norway isn't exactly renowned for being a bad place to live.

Looking on the ridiculous happiness index, Norway is placed as the 29th happiest place to live. The UK is in the 41st place.

Mistermeaner

I'm not saying I agree or disagree - just pointing out that's the angle the stay ins are touting, at least to start out with.

Don't know what else there can be other than economic arguments?

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Looking on the ridiculous happiness index, Norway is placed as the 29th happiest place to live. The UK is in the 41st place.

Ludicrous to even try and relate this to membership of the EU.

Anyway it's nothing to do with personal happiness but the happiness of the planet whatever that means.

CLAPTON

Mistermeaner wrote: »

Big business = jobs and prosperity = successful economy = happy people and nice place to live


I'm Not saying the economy will tank if we leave the eu but I think the link between a successful economy and happy people is clear.

confused about the 'nice palce to live'


it would seem that


big business = lots of immigrant labour= low incomes = high houses and high rents = unhappy people= lousy place to have a family

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

If anyone can give me just a handful of benefits that the UK will lose from not being in the EU that the UK itself could not possibly replicate I'd love to hear them

The right to live and work in 26 other EU countries.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

But we've fallen back to the job security thing again.

It's a pretty big 'thing' for millions of people.

Norway

Pays roughly as much per person to trade with the EU as we do, has to participate in the free movement of people to do it, has to comply with all the red tape of EU regulations for business, and gets no say whatsoever in setting those rules and regulations.

Are you sure you want to use them as an example?

wotsthat

I'm happy. Last weekend had a bit of a hike to the highest point in Cornwall with the family. Had virtually the whole moor to ourselves. Didn't give house prices a second thought. Didn't think my happiness was related to membership of the EU either.

CLAPTON

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

It's a pretty big 'thing' for millions of people.



Pays roughly as much per person to trade with the EU as we do, has to participate in the free movement of people to do it, has to comply with all the red tape of EU regulations for business, and gets no say whatsoever in setting those rules and regulations.

Are you sure you want to use them as an example?

do you think the job security thing has worked for the Greek, Spanish, Portugeuse, Italians, Irish etc?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

CLAPTON wrote: »

do you think the job security thing has worked for the Greek, Spanish, Portugeuse, Italians, Irish etc?

How much worse would their job security have been had the international companies basing their EU Single Market facilities there pulled out?

Very substantial numbers of jobs in the UK are reliant upon companies basing their facilities and HQ's within the single market, and choosing the UK to do so.

If the UK is no longer in the single market, many of them will leave, taking jobs with them.

Graham_Devon

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

How much worse would their job security have been had the international companies basing their EU Single Market facilities there pulled out?

Very substantial numbers of jobs in the UK are reliant upon companies basing their facilities and HQ's within the single market, and choosing the UK to do so.

If the UK is no longer in the single market, many of them will leave, taking jobs with them.

We've heard this said time and time again since the recession. We heard it when the top rate of tax went to 50p. We heard it when the banks were threatened. We heard it regarding the living wage. We hear it today in terms of if we leave the EU, business will leave the UK.

The problem is, we hear it....we very rarely see it.