You need to keep up with the plot.
{When we voted to join the EU, back in the 70’s, we simply voted to join a trading block, not a political union heading to tighter and tighter federalisation and loss of sovereignty.}
From the outset the element of federalisation was always there. It has developed over 40 years, as have many things.
{Many people are unwilling to remain in an EU dominated by Germany and designed for their benefit, and are disgusted by the EU’s treatment of Greece.}
maybe research facts rather than tabloid, anti EU headlines.
{They also take issue with the talk of apocalypse following our departure. Trade goes both ways}
Indeed but tariffs will massively impact the UK. This will put UK industry at a serious disadvantage.
{the U.K. is the biggest market for German cars, to take one example, and the Germans will not want their car industry destroyed by high tariffs.}
The European car industry is needing to rethink strategy. Europe is pretty well saturated for vehicles and growth is elsewhere. BMW for example are setting up in China in about 3 years, waiting for Chinese legislation to come through. Losing manufacturing in a (about to become more expensive due to tariffs) UK is a convenient way out for them. See also Nissan.
{There are 170 countries in the world who are NOT EU members, and they all manage to trade with each other perfectly successfully.}
Yes, using tariffs negotiated between themselves. It will taker years for the UK to try and muscle into existing deals.
{The biggest potential trading partners in the future are not the EU but rising economies like China, India, Brazil and Indonesia, plus the developing nations of Africa.}
Long term maybe, but many of these have already signed up agreements with China which is putting them into debt with China which will also tend to exclude 'new players'.
{I voted to remain, but I fully respect the votes of leavers, and since seeing the intransigent attitude of the EU over the exit negotiations,}
The EU are not intransigent. The UK trying to leave are wanting to take the 'furniture and fittings' (cake) which is contrary to the basic working principles of the EU. They are rightly sticking to their lines.
The fact that the UK are 'demanding' that they change to suit the UK who is the one that is leaving is leaving is preposterous. The problem is the UK, not the EU.
{ I now think we are probably doing the right thing in going - and should walk out with no deal, rather than accept the “still tied in but with no say” deal currently being offered.}
The WA is a LEAVE procedure that acknowledges that disentangling the UK from the EU will take at least 2 years. Since the UK enjoys the free trade and many other benefits of being a member of the EU during transition, it is right that the UK pays.
The departure will be a 'cliff edge' because so many things are being changed at once. An incident like a flood, earthquake or whatever is a sudden and devastating occurrence, but it is not changing laws and the fundamental basis of trade and negotiations of the whole country.