is there anything that could reconcile you to Brexit?

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

AIBU to think Boris Johnson's latest initiative is just another exercise in words that mean nothing? What does stuff like 'hope not fear' actually mean?

I want to write to my MP (again) but I'm running out of ways to ask him to explain what the actual fuck any of it means. He just bats me back and says to read Hansard and that the PM is completely clear but I can't make head nor tail of what their plans are and how they then plan to get the EU to agree to them.

I genuinely now want to be reconciled (whatever that means) but AIBU to think there can't be any reconciliation because no-one will say anything other than what they want to happen with no explanation of what will happen in the real world.

I fucking hate this, the whole mess of it and the fact it's now being led by bloody hardline Tories who think repeating that we need 'get over it' is some kind of response to valid concerns. Get over what? What does any of it mean.

[araiwa]

It means they have no idea what the fuck theyre doing

[TeasndToast]

Actually we do need to get over it because we have squabbling toddlers running the country and nothing we say, do or write to any of the stupid muppets will make the slightest bit of difference.
Much like waiting for a nuclear bomb to drop, its better to enjoy life before its obliterated than repeatedly ask the dictator why he’s doing it.

[yolofish]

No. Absolutely nothing could ever reconcile me to it. But it seems its going to happen... currently I am just ignoring it as much as possible.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

It is honestly a worse farce than I even imagined. Why have a referendum and then have absolutely no plan what to do if the answer is yes?

We are suffering from a shocking lack of leadership in this country. From all parties. It feels like anyone with even a small amount of talent has washed his hands of the whole parliamentary thing until times improve (looking at you Andy Burnham and David Miliband).

I do actually have some respect for Theresa May for at least putting herself out there doing an impossible job, but she is totally out of her depth. I loathed Thatcher, really loathed her, but at least she was the sort of strong leader we need right now. She wouldn't have let us get fucked over.

[Bluelady]

We're completely buggered. No wonder the rest of Europe is laughing at us and preparing to screw us over royally.

[TheElementsSong]

I'm still waiting for somebody to explain to me exactly what Brexit is actually going to comprise: something that isn't a stream of hollow slogans and totally contradictory magical thinking of some 17-million disparate fantasies.

Then I'll take a view on whether to be reconciled to it (or think positively about, or work together on, or ).

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

And the fucking red lines ... they mean NOTHING!!!

You can draw as many red lines or colour the map in pink as much as you like. But if no-one else takes any notice of your fucking stupid red lines then they are worthless bits of ink on paper. Which is what they are. And a waste of ink and paper.

[ZBIsabella]

Not much. What a mess.
I am pretty sure it will go ahead however. I suppose I might get a bit of work out of it. If it resulted in less admin or lower taxes for small businesses like mine that would be good but it is much more likely to mean a lot more.

[Efferlunt]

Nothing really could it’s a national tragedy really so I’m ignoring as much as possible.

We’ve made this crazy decision and the EU will get a deal that maximises their advantage (as anyone would) and other countries are circling like sharks ready to sign us up to deals we are not now in a position to refuse

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Honestly, the only future I see for us is becoming some sort of massive Monaco, servicing mega rich tax avoiders, with most of the country i.e. The north, living off the trickle down.

But my kids are educated enough to go elsewhere if the worst comes to the worst and DH is getting an Irish passport.

[Efferlunt]

Not sure about lower red tape either. Evidence is that in lieu of govt regulation companies will impose there own rules for doing business which will end up as a confusing mish mash.

[YetAnotherUser]

The only way I could be properly reconciled with Brexit is if I, and everyone else, is unequivocally better off after all the dust is settled.

If that happens I'll happily admit I was wrong and that Brexit was a good idea after all. Until then, no number of blue passports will appease me.

[Efferlunt]

Being a tax haven only really works well in counties with small populations can’t see it being successful here in a way that would support a large welfare state

Sorry I’m being very negative about this

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

can’t see it being successful here in a way that would support a large welfare state

I don't think maintaining a decent welfare state is top of the Tory list of priorities - so they'll be doubly happy. Yay.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Maybe the Saudis will buy Britain as a summer retreat.

[Voiceforreason]

There was a life and an economy and a successful happy country before the EU and there will be after the EU.

[JoeyMaynardssolidlump]

I agree with Tinkly

[SillyLittleBiscuit]

Nope, I think it's a shower of shit and I'm ignoring as much as possible as the alternative is to worry.

[SusanWalker]

If we end up better off after with decent jobs and training opportunities for my kids and decent public services I will happily say I was wrong. I'm not holding my breath though.

[Somerville]

Selfishly, I'd be reconciled to Brexit if it lead, peacefully, to a united Ireland.
But peacefully is the operative word, and unfortunately the combined pig-ignorance and loathing of north-of-Ireland from some sections has instead put twenty years of uneasy peace in peril.

[sixteenapples]

Supposing it works out reasonably well? Supposing we are doing ok in five years time and the EU is struggling with the problems in Greece and Spain and with the change in German leadership? Might it be ok then?

The thing is we don't really know - it is a gamble either way

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

sixteenapples sorry to pick on you but what does 'reasonably well' mean? This is my problem - I might say that things are 'reasonably good' right now so how can we quantify any improvement?

The only concrete thing is what Somerville says about a united Ireland. That is the ONLY measurable fact - not supposition or hope - that we've come out with on this thread.

[tava63]

No. A number of lying politicians mislead UK voters causing them to inflict upon itself an act of great self harm, damage European solidarity, cause divisions between generations, and, EU nationals who have been peacefully living and contributing to the UK. It is an enormous tragedy in my mind and shame on the politicians who so pathetically lead the Remain campaign. Post referendum result if the government had respected both sides it should have reached a compromise but instead it actually accelerated it's route to folly, behaves duplicitously on key matters - Northern Ireland, EU citizens living here and UK citizens living in EU member nations, the economy. We are not a laughing stock amongst other EU members, we are pitied. We have been told that we can rescind Article 50 and I hope we do very soon.

[Glumglowworm]

Politicians that were capable of acting like grown ups and had a coherent plan would be a start.

But that’s looking ever more unlikely

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Thing is before we were in the EU, there was no EU in any meaningful sense. But now we are on the outside looking in. It's not the same as being pre EU (or EEC).

But yeah, I would be delighted if the Brexiteers could say "I told you so". Though even then, I think we'll have lost something valuable in how we are able to interact with the rest of Europe.