Paphos Life

This is my first post and may raise fierce debate no doubt; however I have been an avid reader of Paphos Life and previously Paphos Living. I find it interesting that some threads always seem to digress into Brexit and the pros & cons and in many cases always brings a wry smile to me with the usual posters for and against Brexit thrashing it out so I thought I would add my 10 cents worth as everyone else seems to have a view.

One forum member and avid poster always likes to try and prove the point that Brexiteers were uninformed and completely wrong and have led the UK into the biggest mistake ever and that the EU is rosy. My points are this:

1. I, like many are extremely uncomfortable that the EU is ruled and governed by unelected Presidents making decisions that clearly affects the financial and lawful running of not just the UK but all EU Countries. If my MP was acting in a way that was not to the benefit of his constituents and their wishes then I have the option of voting against him in the next local or generall election – can this be done with the EU Presidents – NO

2. Can anyone please give a credible answer as to why the EU have never produced any accounts to show where the billions of pounds / euros contributed by EU member states hard working taxpayers goes annually.

3. I voted to leave based on the above being a couple of my prime motivators, I am certainly NOT uneducated and like to think that I am informed.

4. Can anyone justify to me and many other forum members why they seem to think and In many cases argue that things are rosy within the European Union – Spain, Greece and Italy in particular – record levels of unemployment, massive debts, split governments and a general wish of the populous (according to various press agencies) that they would prefer to be out of the EU. Italy in particular are in a deep financial crisis and like Greece should never have been allowed to join the single currency as their national debt exceeded 60% of GDP (The EU and Brussels own criteria) but were allowed to join as it suited the EU agenda of total unification of EU member states ruled by Brussels.

5. Italy is the third largest EU Member but it has become clear the country is ruled from the shadows by the EU as this week’s latest fiasco with the proposed appointment of a finance minister shows – a finance minister proposed by 2 legally elected bodies with a recognised financial background but is a eurosceptic has been deemed unsuitable by the Italian President but another candidate who is very Pro-European is then proposed by the Italian President as this candidate would happily follow any EU agenda if put in control of Italy’s fiscal policies.

6. The EU technocrats have been bleating on about the UK having to abide by EU rules on leaving the EU but choose to rip the rule book up when it suits their own agenda – a proven historical fact.

7. I am no great lover of politicians, domestic or foreign they have one agenda they sell to voters and another agenda once in power and many with their noses in the proverbial trough at the expense of every EU taxpayer as proved time again especially within the halls of EU Power – luxury hotels, ridiculous expense claims, first class travel and private jets, needless foreign trips but to name a few.

I have listed JUST 7 points out of the many points I am sure better people than myself could no doubt come up with but these points entrenches my belief that UK citizens were not uninformed and certainly not uneducated when casting their vote. No doubt certain posters will try and paint a different picture as to my own view and how wrong I am.

Can someone (and I am sure someone will) please explain to me how the EU can be this great democratic and benevolent body when the presidents making decisions (good or bad) affecting all EU Subjects daily lives are unelected by those very same subjects – sorry that’s more like a dictatorship than a democracy.

Finally I and the 17M more who voted Brexit were in basic terms accused of wearing Rose-Tinted Specs and that our vote that lead to Brexit was wrong; if so I am happy to wear the proverbial Rose-Tinted Specs as opposed to the Blindfold, Ear Muffs and Gags worn by those wishing to stay in this EU technocrat club that appears to be unravelling week by week – this is in stark contrast to the posts made by certain posters who try to convince everyone who disagree with their views that the UK is doomed and that all is rosy within the EU and its "onwards and upwards" – sorry to shatter your illusions but its more more like "backwards and downwards".

An excellent post. If it gets transferred to the political section, then it will probably be answered by one who arrogantly assumes that 17.4 million souls are complete idiots for voting. I too voted leave, because in 1971 I voted to join the European Economic Community, an entity of 6 countries and we would be the seventh. This EEC was to have free trade and movement between the 7 countries. Somewhere along the way the truth that didn't quite make it to the lying politicians lips came to fruition and now we are leaving a monstrous entity that illegally steals money from EU citizens, well one set of EU citizens who were seen to be easily bullied - despite what some say about a "haircut" being the only way - that arrogantly denies posting actual accounts of where taxpayers money goes, and that is going al out to bully my country into paying an obscene amount of money for leaving.

It is a crying pity in my opinion that the French man De Gaulle who said "Non" to us joining for so many years wasn't still in charge.

One final thing....Imagine them offering membership to Russia..The European Union would stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific. What a horrible thought.

Not bad for a first post! I'm neither pro nor con Brexit but do I take it you are pro (don't know how I got that impression)? However, in a fit of impartiality, may I ask whether 'all is rosy within the UK and it's "onwards and upwards"', especially in NI (border, abortion)? Viewed from outside, the UK and the EU both seem to be problematic, probably due to weak (or non-existent) leadership in both camps.

Outasite

Yes and it's a pity we didn't say "non" to him in 1940 !

Jackie

I seem to recall that the UK voted to join the Common Market which then developed into the EEC which then developed into the EU. All this has been done at the cost of all member states taxpayers, a loss of sovereignty, laws foisted upon various countries that may or may not be conducive to the democratic will of the people. I still remember the EU dictating that bananas should be straight and not bent !!!!! the only bent bananas seem to reside in Brussels these days.

I certainly do not think that it is a onwards and upwards for the UK in fact my own personal opinion is it will probably gets worse before it gets better. I also agree that major hurdles lie ahead but I have always believed nothing is insurmountable. with regards to the UK leadership I actually feel sorry for Mrs May in some ways as the EU are benefitting from the cross party and in house fighting over Brexit, this is only strengthening the EU negotiation position. A Parliament divided demonstrates a weak leadership in all parties and not just the governing party and a divided HOP is far weaker than a unified HOP.

There is the old saying "Divide and Conquer" and this is the game the EU are playing. Hopefully at some point those in the power and all others who represent us in the HOP will actually wake up and smell the coffee and start to work together in order to deliver a sustainable and conducive Brexit deal fair to all, in the meantime life goes on and the UK and its citizens will ride through whatever comes our way as it has always done.

living the dream wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 3:51 pm I actually feel sorry for Mrs May in some ways

There is no reason to feel sorry for her or Mr Juncker or Mr Tusk. They are all hoisted by their own petards and incompetence. It is us, citizens, that you should feel sorry for because we are the victims of their own respective ineptitudes.

May I ask why this is your first post? If you feel so passionately about the subject, why haven't you posted sooner? I think most people are fed up with the subject now.

I'm not saying don't talk about it. I was just wondering why you suddenly decided to start.

Oh, and regarding your bananas:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/unitedkin ... nanas.html

In answer to your question Dominic I have always just been quite happy to sit on the sidelines whilst the regular posters go ten rounds with each other on numerous subjects which you have to admit sometimes digress to the usual Brexit topic and the sparing starts again. As you say this subject has been around the houses on numerous occasions but with the latest developments in Italy which seems to be gaining pace I thought I would add my "Pro Brexit" view.

There has been the Pro Brexit Posters and the forum has many Pro EU posters and some excellent posters sitting on the fence with great posts trying to give an impartial and balanced arguments. I am not trying to convince anyone that there is a right or wrong in Brexit but am interested in the points I made and interested in other peoples take on those points.

I thought the article on bananas was equally bananas

Perhaps you should have asked a year ago? Other people were interested then too.

Wouldn't argue with that but up until 5 months ago my job was totally different and significantly more stressful. My job and employer changed and after a 2 week conversion course I now have the luxury of more time and less stress.