From Clay Jones on his political cartoon “Brexit,” The United Kingdom’s succession from the EU, and how nationalistic xenophobes are everywhere
The United Kingdom is proving the United States isn’t the only nation with a lot of stupid, nationalistic, and xenophobic people. They’re leaving the European Union.
I understand the desire to leave the EU. England has a great tradition and used to be an empire. They have their own identity. But I don’t think they’ve lost it by strengthening their financial structure. At this moment, the pound versus the dollar is at its lowest since 1985, all because of this “Brexit” nonsense. Even Obama has come out in favor of the U.K. staying in the EU. It makes more sense financially, and apparently the banks agree.
A lot of people attribute this to the sort of nationalism and racism we’re witnessing today in the U.S. The U.K. believes it’s too progressive and smart for the the likes of a Donald Trump, but it has its ultra right-wing radicals willing to throw their economy in the loo and become poorer because brown people are entering their nation. One of the radicals actually killed a member of Parliament, Jo Cox, who campaigned against leaving the EU. Her killer is apparently tied to pro-Apartheid, Nationalists, and Neo-Nazi groups. Go figure. Donald Trump would probably describe the killer as passionate.
While people look at trade (no tariffs between EU members), sovereignty, defense (they’re still in NATO), and investment, a lot of this is really about immigration. Sound familiar?
People in the EU can move and work in other EU nations without the complications of passports, visas, work visas, etc. There may be a few things in there I’m not aware of since I’m not a citizen within the EU. This has also allowed immigration to increase in the U.K. Right-wingers don’t like brown people. That’s established, and apparently it’s not just an American issue.
What could become interesting is what Scotland does down the road. It recently voted to remain a member of the U.K., but looking at voter turnout, they also want to remain a member of the EU. Could there be another referendum down the line on leaving once again, so they can rejoin the EU? Donald Trump is visiting Scotland today, and that image alone might encourage the Scots to break away from the right-wingers. Northern Ireland might be joining them.
The U.K. is not an ultra-conservative nation. But as in the U.S., conservatives vote much more reliably than liberals or moderates. This was a very close vote. Staying home can put your nation’s fate into the hands of the wingnuts. That should be a lesson learned by those of us on this side of the pond.
claytoonz.com/2016/06/24/brexit
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