Should the UK stay in the EU?

by **Osway** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:13 pm

This is a hot topic in the UK right now, and I'd like to get NS's take on it.

Personally, I think the UK should definately stay. Although we pay very high membership fees (though a tiny fraction of the total budget), I believe the benefits of EU membership far outnumber the drawbacks. For example:

Free movement of goods within the EU, facilitating trade;
Student exchange programs, which I have taken part in;
EU membership vastly increases the UK's influence on the world stage;
Most immigration into the UK is from outside the EU, which would not change after a UK exit;
British citizens living or working abroad may be forced to return home

by **Benuty** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:14 pm

Yes
/thread.

by **Mefpan** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:17 pm

The EU is the only feasible long-term way for European nations to maintain a reasonably loud voice on the world stage, so I'd like to have it stay as united as possible.

by **Arglorand** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:18 pm

Amusingly, this was the first topic of serious political discussion with a foreigner that I've had in RL. My answer was, and I quote:

Benuty wrote:Yes
/thread.

by **Tagmatium** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:19 pm

Yes - anything else is wishful thinking or wilful ignorance.

Without the EU, the UK is nothing but a backwater with delusions of grandeur and a history of empire.

by **Aldheim** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:19 pm

No, obviously they should be annexed by the US.

by **Benuty** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:20 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyywfHbj3M
For all you sceptic naysayers.

by **Arglorand** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:21 pm

Aldheim wrote:No, obviously they should be annexed by the US.

I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

by **Brocwika** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:22 pm

Tagmatium wrote:Yes - anything else is wishful thinking or wilful ignorance.

Without the EU, the UK is nothing but a backwater with delusions of grandeur and a history of empire.

They seem to be doing good on their own.

by **Aldheim** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:22 pm

Arglorand wrote:
Aldheim wrote:No, obviously they should be annexed by the US.

I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

Don't worry, I was joking

by **Priory Academy USSR** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:23 pm

Osway wrote:Student exchange programs, which I have taken part in;

While I agree with your point, wouldn't student exchange programmes still continue, but with a little more border control?

by **Benuty** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:23 pm

Tagmatium wrote:Yes - anything else is wishful thinking or wilful ignorance.

Without the EU, the UK is nothing but a backwater with delusions of grandeur and a history of empire.

The UK still retains a sizeable portion of its island empire so if anything the UK is a remnant empire with de-facto connections to 16 other-countries ( thanks to the commonwealth).

by **Herrebrugh** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:24 pm

If they want to. I don't really care.

by **Neo Arcad** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:24 pm

I don't think the British Isles need the EU... but at this point, the integrity of the union is paramount. It's the way forward, really. Intranational organizations are the best way to get to space.

by **Benuty** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:24 pm

Arglorand wrote:
Aldheim wrote:No, obviously they should be annexed by the US.

I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

About as likely as the Chinese flag flying high above the remains of Luxor.

by **TaQud** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:24 pm

Benuty wrote:Yes
/thread.

by **Ruridova** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:25 pm

TaQud wrote:
Benuty wrote:Yes
/thread.

by **Nationalist State of Knox** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:25 pm

Yes, and to those who disagree, I defer to Nadkor's thread explaining why.

by **Arglorand** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:25 pm

Also, I need flights to remain cheap and border controls to remain simple as far as the UK is concerned, because ~~I'm coming to steal all your jobs~~ I have personal reasons why I might need to sometimes visit some people.

by **Arglorand** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:26 pm

Benuty wrote:
Arglorand wrote:I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

About as likely as the Chinese flag flying high above the remains of Luxor.

Crying at even the picture of that.

Aldheim wrote:
Arglorand wrote:I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

Don't worry, I was joking

Excellent.

by **Tagmatium** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:28 pm

Arglorand wrote:
Aldheim wrote:No, obviously they should be annexed by the US.

I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

Well, if Scotland becomes independent, it wouldn't be a problem.

Bar that they would now have a border with the US.

by **Arglorand** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:28 pm

Tagmatium wrote:
Arglorand wrote:I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

Well, if Scotland becomes independent, it wouldn't be a problem.

Bar that they would now have a border with the US.

That's why you have rebuilding Hadrian's Wall with the remnants of former Trident missiles.

Call it Salmond's Wall.

by **Osway** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:29 pm

Priory Academy USSR wrote:
Osway wrote:Student exchange programs, which I have taken part in;

While I agree with your point, wouldn't student exchange programmes still continue, but with a little more border control?

It's unlikely they would get the funding. A future anti-EU government wouldn't want to want to "waste" money like that.

by **Nationalist State of Knox** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:30 pm

Arglorand wrote:
Tagmatium wrote:Well, if Scotland becomes independent, it wouldn't be a problem.

Bar that they would now have a border with the US.

That's why you have rebuilding Hadrian's Wall with the remnants of former Trident missiles.

Call it Salmond's Wall.

We'll push them back to the Antonine Wall.

by **Mefpan** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:31 pm

Tagmatium wrote:
Arglorand wrote:I know you're probably not serious, but the moment I see an American flag above something as fucking beautiful as Edinburgh Castle is the moment I go and jump off a cliff.

Well, if Scotland becomes independent, it wouldn't be a problem.

Bar that they would now have a border with the US.

~~Is there oil in Scotland?~~

Actually, let's hope Scotland doesn't break away from the UK. The 'a country for every kind of group' nonsense has gone on for long enough, at least when there's no mistreatment of the populace, I suppose.