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When democracy is its own worst enemy

Aug 14, 2016

Now that the dust has settled in the UK after the historical vote to divorce from the European Union no amount of protesting is going to change the decision or can it? Demonstrations having died away, reality has set in, aided by quick action resulting in a new Prime Minister and cabinet which has stopped a prolonged period of uncertainty.

The younger generation of voters cannot be blamed for wanting their futures protected as the world looks so different at their age. However the referendum to leave or remain within the EU was not the issue to expel personal grievances and/or protest about the immigration issue. EU membership was far too important an issue for a protest vote.

Did the younger generation of voters understand the seriousness or the consequences of their protest vote or their apathy? Will they live to regret what has occurred? When it is their turn for control of the Country will they attempt to reverse the decision?

The final vote was to closely split for such an important question. An expensive life changing lesson has been learnt by both young and old including any question of such magnitude should require, say a, 75/25% outcome before any changes made.

Are we now to have a decade of turmoil the likes of which has not been seen for many years in the UK, for it is hard to come to grips with the complexities of leaving such an organisation. Ironical as it may appear the EU will now consider changes to avoid any other countries leaving.

Scotland still wants to remain in the EU and a further referendum to leave the UK and go alone seems likely. Ireland after 800 years of war looks as if it may quietly join with Northern Ireland forming one Country without a shot being fired. Who would have thought that 20 or so years ago.

That would leave Wales with England to stand side by side which, looking forward ,is not a very attractive proposition. Thankfully it is still early days and any ‘knee jerk’ reaction may yet be replaced with commonsense.

It is a sorry loss for the UK that a Prime Minister of David Cameron’s standing found it necessary to resign, but can you blame him for not wanting to sort out the mess ,notwithstanding it was of his own making? The new Prime Minister has one heck of a job ahead and is a brave person to take on the challenge. Or is she?

It’s impossible to know what motivated people to vote the way they did, but that’s the whole point of the democratic system and you have to live with the results. The academics got this one so so wrong and proved their lack of credibility once again; perhaps that is the problem, listening to academics and not the people?

The dust has settled over the people’s vote and now the fun starts, it matters not what side was voted for, the result is the result, and has to be lived with. Worse decisions have been made and who knows perhaps the UK as a whole will benefit from the result but it may take decades to achieve. UK has entered unchartered waters and the problems that were there before the referendum are still there today, nothing has gone away only become more complicated.

Australia will be effected to an extent that it is impossible to gauge, as it is to early. Trade between the two Countries will improve which is a positive and travellers in the short term will gain because of the GBP/AUD rate but food parcels are not yet required. The British spirit has started to show and will pull through, but at what cost, who knows.

Remember Cliff Richards’ song, “the young ones won’t be the young ones very long”. How long do we have to wait until the next generation come through, take positions of responsibility and authority within the country and blame the older generation for what it then perceives to be their mistakes?

What do you think now the dust has settled? Did David Cameron commit political suicide or was he right to go to the people?

Will the UK continue and go ahead and fully withdraw? Will Young UK continue to pressure, succeed and be heard? Is it possible that the UK will rejoin when Young UK control positions of power within the Country.