tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post802333863600072336..comments2024-03-29T11:29:58.276+09:00Comments on BigHominid's Hairy Chasms: update: the UK pulls a Scotland still counting votesKevin Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-74340980933707105282016-06-24T11:50:45.736+09:002016-06-24T11:50:45.736+09:00The vote count seems to be happening pretty quickl...The vote count seems to be happening pretty quickly. We're already up to 16 million votes counted (roughly 8-point-something million per side), so I'd guess we're about 40-50% of the way through the count.<br /><br />Agreed: it's not a cut-and-dried issue, but when I weigh all the factors, I can't help but skew toward Leave. And if this sets off a preference cascade in other Continental countries, <i>tant mieux.</i> All the better.<br /><br />One online article notes that the EU has been, overall, very pro-free-trade, which is something to consider. I mention the issue in my previous long post on Brexit, but don't discuss it in any depth, mainly because I haven't really researched the topic. My intuition, though, is that an independent England can still craft friendly arrangements with EU countries; there might be speed bumps and sudden difficulties, but these can all be overcome. Continental Europe knows that, even if the UK does leave the EU, it still has to interact with the UK to keep its own collective economy strong. I'm not that worried about the EU penalizing the UK for leaving by slapping tariffs on it. That would be gratuitous.<br /><br />Another article made precisely this point, arguing for Remain because, after all, what'll be the difference between pre-Leave and post-Leave? Practically speaking, the same economic agreements will be in place, right? I concede that that's probably true, but the fundamental difference is that the UK will no longer have to kowtow to Brussels. I used to be very pro-transnational governance, but as I've gotten older, I've looked at the practical effects of centralization and concluded that that's not the way to go. Greece and Portugal only prove my point: the stronger countries (like Germany and France), being tied to the weaker ones, have to pull their own weight plus the weight of delinquent countries to keep everyone afloat at the same level. That's just silly.<br /><br />Anyway, the vote is ping-ponging back and forth. It's incredible to watch. My fingers are crossed.<br /><br />Oh, yeah: word is that Scotland might have another independence referendum if the UK does opt for Leave. Good riddance, I say; today's morally decrepit Scots are a shadow of their former, fiercely independent selves. Sean Connery would be spinning in his grave if he were dead.Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-7748983280536901352016-06-24T11:03:34.615+09:002016-06-24T11:03:34.615+09:00Leave currently holds a very slight lead. 7 of the...Leave currently holds a very slight lead. 7 of the latest 10 local results are for Leave.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, of the four nations, Scotland is by far and away the biggest proponent of Remain so far. We'll see what happens when London reports, though.<br /><br />I can understand being pro-Leave--I lean that way myself--but I can also understand the arguments for Remain. I don't think it is really a cut-and-dried issue.<br /><br />Anyway, we've taken advantage of the fairly predictable currency fluctuations to stock up on cheap GBP for our upcoming trip. If nothing else, at least we got that out of this.Charleshttp://www.liminality.orgnoreply@blogger.com