(July 8, 2016 at 11:21 am)Minimalist Wrote: They also seem to think they can negotiate from a position of equality, don't they?  Taking what they want and ignoring everything else.

Just today I read a comment by the Belgian prime minister saying that we (meaning Europe at large) won't pay the bill. No free access to the European market without subscribing to free immigration for EU citizens. An interview with the financial Times, obviously.

(July 8, 2016 at 11:32 am)Minimalist Wrote: That's the thing, they haven't left yet nor have they even formally invoked the applicable section of the treaty to do so.  Obviously Cameron's position was, "fuck off, I'm not going to do it."   So you have a non-binding referendum which needs to be enacted by a government which seems lukewarm at best to the prospect AND, the rabble-rousers who pushed for it are gone.  Meanwhile the uncertainty it created is most definitely real and the consequences of that are even more real.

The term in the US is "clusterfuck."

Clusterfuck may fit the situation pretty nicely. The longer article 50 isn't invoked, the more nervous the reaction of the markets. It's more or less being in limbo with the UK being on the receiving end right now.

(July 8, 2016 at 11:53 am)abaris Wrote:

(July 8, 2016 at 11:21 am)Minimalist Wrote: They also seem to think they can negotiate from a position of equality, don't they?  Taking what they want and ignoring everything else.

Just today I read a comment by the Belgian prime minister saying that we (meaning Europe at large) won't pay the bill. No free access to the European market without subscribing to free immigration for EU citizens. An interview with the financial Times, obviously.

Its as if they have constructed a narrative and are not about to let any ugly or contrary facts get in the way.

There's a lot of that going around, now.

(July 8, 2016 at 11:16 am)Nymphadora Wrote: Well that helps me out. Up until now, I thought Brexit was someone's last name or something.

Brexit is the hair product that you use after Breck.

(July 8, 2016 at 12:12 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

(July 8, 2016 at 11:53 am)abaris Wrote: Just today I read a comment by the Belgian prime minister saying that we (meaning Europe at large) won't pay the bill. No free access to the European market without subscribing to free immigration for EU citizens. An interview with the financial Times, obviously.

Its as if they have constructed a narrative and are not about to let any ugly or contrary facts get in the way.

There's a lot of that going around, now.

Reminds me of the dicks, pussies and assholes narrative I read somewhere on these forums recently.  Trump is both an asshole and a dick, but he is too big of a dumbass to be a pussy even when it comes to getting pussy.  He just hires/marries the next model.  Of course his idea of marriage is to regular marriage what leasing a car is to buy it.

(July 8, 2016 at 12:12 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Its as if they have constructed a narrative and are not about to let any ugly or contrary facts get in the way.

There's a lot of that going around, now.

The narrative will be there as long as reality doesn't hit home. Which will be as soon as Osborne makes true on his promise to raise taxes, the pound falling lower and lower, making imports and consumer good that more expensive and the first negotiations not being a cakewalk.

You know what they say about rats leaving a ship. Nigel and Boris bailing should be a pretty good indicator. With Mr Brexit himself, Nigel, the weasel, of course keeping his comfy chair at the European parliament. If his former electorate isn't entirely braindead, this would be the moment to get the pitchforks and feathers.

Did they mention the part where all the problems will somehow go away, and things will suddenly get better for no apparent reason?

(July 8, 2016 at 11:16 am)Nymphadora Wrote: Well that helps me out. Up until now, I thought Brexit was someone's last name or something.

You were closer than I was.  Fuck, I thought it was one of those 'pokemon' my grandchildren go on about.

(July 8, 2016 at 1:08 pm)robvalue Wrote: Did they mention the part where all the problems will somehow go away, and things will suddenly get better for no apparent reason?

You Brits are really pissing me off. Magical thinking, when it comes to political and economic problems, is our schtick.

In the future, kindly stick to being the adults in the room.

(July 8, 2016 at 1:08 pm)robvalue Wrote: Did they mention the part where all the problems will somehow go away, and things will suddenly get better for no apparent reason?

Not unless you all applaud really loudly for Tinkerbell, silly.  (You'll only have yourself to blame for failing to believe.)