(June 24, 2016 at 10:09 am)Kingpin Wrote: I honestly was quite surprised this morning to see Brexit succeed. My immediate thoughts were what if this was a big "FU" to the EU policy and knowing the trade power the UK has and leaving the EU, they could vote to exit and force the EU to make drastic regulation changes in the negotiation process and then not invoke Article 50. Basically likening it to a "strike" in a Union. We aren't going to work until we get what we want.
Reading more I'm not so sure. If this legally happens, there will indeed be immediate localized economic impact and a residual global impact in the years to follow. If the UK handles this departure well, I'm sure it will lead to more departures of the other EU members. Going to be watching this unfold intently, but this could spurn a massive change in our world.
All eyes will be on the UK to see how it fares outside of the EU. If it looks like it is doing OK then the countries at the brunt of the austerity drive will start to re-evaluate their membership.
The EU on the other hand had already decided that even if the UK were to stay in that this was a wake-up call to change. So how they adapt to this situation will also be important.
The EU will be keen to show that leaving is not in the interests of any country so they'll play hardball with Britain.
If Scotland wins an Indy Ref then they'll be fast tracked back into the EU, or stay in the EU if they never leave it in the first place. Then all eyes will be on Scotland and the rest of Britain to see which decision was the best. There could even be favourable concessions to Scotland.
Just a plea though to the other Europeans on this forum. Please don't crow if Britain tries to get back into the EU when the baby boomers die off. The younger generations were forced out against their will. They will also be bearing the brunt of leaving the EU.
