Some stupid questions

[silly0ne]

My username sort of prefaces my questions. However, I am hoping for some straightforward, simple answers to two questions.

First: I can see absolutely no benefits to leaving the EU and, as far as I am aware, a 'deal' would be at best, a dilution of the rights and freedoms we enjoy as members of the EU. So, is there any way Brexit can be stopped now?

Second: I have never felt so impotent as a member of a democracy. Boris Johnson has proved himself to be a liar and a very self seeking individual. He is the last person I would want to run this country. Can anyone convince me that he is 'the right man for the job' whatever that 'job' is?

Simple and straightforward:

First: Agreed a 'deal' will be at best, a dilution of what we have now. (1b) Can it be stopped now? Unlikely- watered down maybe -but not stopped.

Second: Can anyone convince me that he is 'the right man for the job' whatever that 'job' is? Nope.

As for feeling impotent just keep on keeping on. Five mins a day, 30 mins, one hour whatever:signing petitions, marching, commenting on No 10 website, comment on news articles, writing to your and other MPs. Write to thank good MPs, join a local political party. Sign more petitions, ring radio stations. Complete polls - join a sympathetic trade union, donate to protest groups , encourage one friend to do the same - just keep on , keeping on.

So, is there any way Brexit can be stopped now?

In theory, yes. In practice, it remains unlikely, although it's possible that if a new GE resulted in another hung parliament we'd just keep asking for extensions forever.

The "revoke Article 50" boat probably sailed when the Labour Party refused to support an SNP amendment which would have resulted in revoke becoming the default in the event of a failure to agree a deal.

Can anyone convince me that he is 'the right man for the job' whatever that 'job' is?

Your opinions on Johnson will depend on what characteristics you see as desirable in a politician. If you value competence and honesty then he is plainly not the right man for the job. But many voters value other things above competence and honesty - they like "strongman" politicians who don't mind getting their hands dirty and who think the end justifies the means. This is by no means a minority opinion. There is no reason to believe that the British electorate is any different in this regard to, for example, the Turkish or Hungarian electorates, with whom strongmen politicians remain hugely popular despite their very dirty politics.

I saw this in today's Evening Standard when I was coming home from London today and it made me laugh:

Johnson’s language was much less butch [compared with Cummings] , and his manner that of a man who is genuinely puzzled that his sheer marvellousness has not carried the day.

www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/no-ifs-no-buts-brio-and-vim-alone-won-t-deliver-brexit-prime-minister-a4268851.html

From Baz Luhrman's Sunscreen:

"Accept certain inalienable truths: prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old-- and when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders"

And from The Divine Comedy

" generation sex
Elects
The type
Of guys
You wouldn't leave your kids with
And shouts "off with their heads" if they get laid"

Leaving the EU isn't about whether we'll be better off, it's about isolation and "independence" rather than being part of a larger group. It's an emotional desire rather than an economic one.

And there's no such thing as a stupid question!

But there are stupid answers...