I know many ‘Remain’ supporters who say they ‘despise' Cameron & Osborne, (who want us to stay in); so why should they then assume that I am somehow a supporter of Farage and his type just because I have chosen to vote to leave?
I’m not a member of the ‘Angry Brigade’, I don’t read the Express or the Mail, i’ve also spent many years criticising UKIP and the way they do politics, I don’t even spend time worrying about bendy bananas...
There is a political spectrum, with those who hate the EU on one side, and those who love it on the other; but most of us are somewhere in-between. British politics has historically favoured the centre.
That’s easy during an election as there are normally several candidates to cover a broad range of views, so you can vote for the one who represents you the most. But there are only two choices in this referendum, so it will split people from all walks of life.
Like so many of us, I never really wanted this referendum, but now it is here, I do not feel I can vote for the EU because I believe a vote to ‘Remain’, whatever the reason, gives a democratic mandate to develop further into a political union; a mandate they have never had until now.
I want UK politicians to be fully accountable to us, and don’t believe this can happen when we share an increasing amount of the decisions & law making with 27+ other countries that all have their own individual national interests.
I don’t feel comfortable with having ‘Presidents’, and other EU politicians that govern us, without first being able to vote for them.
For democracy to work, it has to be visible and directly answerable to the voters. We demand this from our Westminster politicians, which is why PMs must now publish their expenses, and why party leaders had to recently announce details their legal off-shore savings account’s.
The larger and more distant from the people an organisation is the harder it is to hold to account. This is why we now have the Scottish Parliament, and Welsh, & NI Assemblies…. We’re now just waiting for the English Parliament or Regional Assemblies.
The same is often true for large corporations, compared to small businesses. The larger a company is, the longer it seems to take to make a decision, more people & departments are involved, the greater the disconnect between the lowest worker and the highest boss, and the more restrictions on things that really don’t need restricting. In a small company, the lowest worker can often ask the boss directly, and agree things immediately.
I recently had the chance to visit the Houses of Parliament, and was proud to review our nations' long transition from absolute monarchy to a parliament, which anyone over 18 may now vote for, (unless they’re in prison). A system that so many other countries around the world have adopted. And it is still evolving.
I don’t want to give this away.
True, we elect MEPs, but our voice and voting power is becoming smaller as more MEPs from other countries are added.
We’re told our voice is louder on the world stage when in the EU, but I do believe this will eventually be replaced by one EU voice instead.
As a believer in democracy, I will respect anyone's opinion if they say this does not bother them, or they think my concerns are wrong, but they are my concerns.
I’d like to think/wish I am wrong, but history has shown several times over the years, that when we were told there would not be further political union, there eventually has been.
For example: When the Netherlands voted against and effectivly vetoed the proposed 'European Constitution', it was later introduced anyway via the Lisbon Treaty, which the Dutch were then not allowed to vote on.
The Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty in their referendum, but were told it would go-ahead anyway.
I would still like us to work together and be friends with our European neighbours, I don’t want us to ‘close the door’ as has been said, which Britain has never done; But I don’t want to be in a political union.
I am sad that this debate has been allowed to become focused almost exclusively about immigration; from both sides.
Immigration is not a driver for me on this issue. I definitely don’t believe immigrants come over to claim benefits. I believe immigration probably is good for our economy; young workers, to help our ageing population, keeping our industries going, etc.. It may well be that the housing crises, (which really is a not spoken about enough), struggling hospitals, and pressures on schools and school places is down to the failings of successive governments, going back to at least Tony Blair.
But the fact mainstream politicians have avoided talking about the issue, and seem to have shown no interest in addressing the worries of communities that have been transformed in a very short space of time, and worse, dismissed anyone who mentions it as biggotts and racists, has offered the agenda to those on the Right, who some people feel offer the easy solutions to a more complicated problem.
I am also sad that so many people have been drawn into thinking that if we leave the EU, Britain will become a land ran by "biggots and racists". Britain has never embraced extreme politics; we ignored Communism, and made fun of Fascism; I can’t say the same for many of our European partners.
Good luck with however you vote, but please respect each others choices.
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