Betzonmark3 and people thinking similarly:
(I've added to this since last posting).
BREXIT FAQ
1 why do you think it necessary? The U.K. Govt won't allow it all to go to hell in a handcart?
We are not as a country self sufficient. The govt has failed to organised increased production either by farmers or manufacturers and haven't even helped supermarkets arrange extra warehousing. At this point they are however starting to stockpile themselves and are refreshing training for police and armed forces in case of unrest.
2 But surely it won't affect uk products
many if not most uk products require ingredients/raw materials from outside the uk. Also, again as we're not self sufficient that means many more people using U.K. Products (including using farm shops, butchers etc where previously they didn't) who previously would have bought non uk alternatives. This means less uk produced food to go around and probably higher prices.
3 stockpiling means you'll be responsible for empty shelves
no you'd be confusing stockpiling with panic buying. People buying and storing a little extra than they'd normally buy now means this frees up warehouse space for supermarkets and allows them to adjust their buying rates appropriately. It spreads the stores around basically.
4 there was all this over the Millenium bug too and it was all hype
No - IT and telecoms people worked for YEARS in advance to prevent that issue from happening. But even so there were no guarantees as everyone was relying on everyone else having done this job & done it properly too so there was still the possibility of one persons/organisations cock up causing a domino effect. I worked for an organisation involved in this and even though they were doing the work to prevent - they were also organising at home supplies of bottled water, wind up torches etc just in case.
5 we managed before we were in the eu the population was much smaller, our productivity was higher per capita, and we still traded with Europe under established terms of the time.
6 we managed during WWII, people just pulled together
No there was at least a years planning by the government including rationing, plus crime rates soared and people did die from hunger/malnutrition related illness.
7 but if it proves unnecessary or govt finally pull their finger out won't you have wasted your money?
No. It will mean a reduced grocery bill for a while as I won't need to buy those long life products. Some better off mners have said they'll happily donate to food banks anything they're unlikely to use. Also if the "only" thing that happens is slight price rises perhaps due to £ falling initially then those of us on tight budgets won't be immediately in the shit!
8 well we all need to lose weight anyway we'll just diet
You still need nutrition for basic bodily functions & health. Obesity is more complex than simply "eat less", also children, the elderly and sick need calories and nutrition to grow and to stay healthy. And not everyone's fat! My dd is over 6' and barely more than a size 8 due to her disability she has a high metabolism. She needs the calories AND she needs to consume a certain amount of fat to protect her joints. Diabetics need a stable diet to manage their condition as do people with a variety of other conditions, some people need to take medication with certain types of foods, there's those with allergies to consider etc
Also hungry, frightened people get pissed off! Before they get to a point where they're too weak to fight they'll get angry! That's what will likely lead to the civil unrest. That and people fearful for loved ones who are diabetics etc.
9 grow stuff in the garden, we can grow stuff in this country too
March/April is a low harvest time. Google the "hungry gap" even if you were to plant stuff now it won't be ready for ages and even that only works
if you know what you're doing
can invest in the raw materials necessary
HAVE a garden or somewhere to grow stuff
The weather does what it's supposed to - no unusually warm or cold spells, or too much/too little rain!
And then you'd better hope nobody who hasn't prepped doesn't Nick it either - a problem for farmers during WWII
But interestingly your comment has made me realise I'm missing one so
10 "we can trade from outside the eu though can't we?"
As pp pointed out we currently trade with non eu countries AS an eu country. The govt have been very lax in sorting new trade deals with non eu countries but also non eu countries are understandably reluctant to negotiate while they don't know wtf we're doing! (Because WE don't know wtf we're doing!)
In addition getting goods from non eu countries is more difficult and more expensive - basic common sense and geography!
They're further away from us so there's additional transport costs, they don't necessarily make/grow the same products depending on climate, fresh products will have shorter shelf lives, and they'll take longer to get here and our govt hasn't put plans in place to cover the stopgap.
Also many products we already get from non eu countries currently come to to us VIA eu countries eg most new world wines are flown into mainland Europe in vats then bottled in Europe and distributed to other eu countries inc uk I believe many products from africa come to us via land transport into southern med and are then distributed to us.
So no it's not as simple as "just trade with someone else"