Aibu to think we may get a referendum ?

[Lonelybunny]

I've heard talk of it in the news ? Do you think it will be a good thing and has it been a good thing so far being in the EU ?

What on earth are we going to do if we leave the EU? Sink? Become the 51st state of America?

Why would we trust something so important to the British public when we can't even vote for the right people on reality shows?

I consider myself fairly well educated. I read a newspaper, listen to Radio 4, but I don't know what the right answer is and I don't trust anyone's PR machine to help me make that decision.

Hope we do leave it cause I see no benefit at all

Truth is how do any of us know what life out of the EU would be like. Would we sink or swim? You can listen to all the parties and get a different view point, look at the responses on this thread.

That's my helpful contribution.

What has the EU done for us?

• helped maintain stability in Europe over the last 65 years. Hugely important
• biggest trade partner
• allowed freedom of movement, Brits go abroad as well. What we do with all those British pensioners in Spain and Portugal

I'd vote for staying in. Most of the stuff put out by the anti parties are myths.

By 2014, things may very well change. When America broke from Great Britain, those who signed its Declaration of Independence were considered big idiots. '. . . that these colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent states. And that all political connextion between them and the country of Great Britain, is, and ever right ought to be, totally dissolved.'

12 yes, 1 (New York) abstention. No naes.

And everyone thought they were really dumb. No chance in hell to survive as a country. 236 years later, the nation still stands.

Why would we trust something so important to the British public when we can't even vote for the right people on reality shows?

Other nations trade and have good political relationships with EU without being a member of it. Switzerland for one example and they seem to be doing just fine. They negotiate bilateral treaties with EU and the EU with them. the UK would do the same if it were outside the EU.

There woudl be benefits too such as reinstating trade/political relations with countries in the old Commonwealth and emerging countries.

Oddly, I actually think our relationship with USA might mature and be more balanced if were outside EU.