British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - The Recession will complete sterling's sabotage

Stephen Booth · 05-06-2008, 09:02 PM

With respect, I disagree with some of what has been posted on here. I think various assumptions need to be examined: ----

(1) Protectionism is a bad thing / We need to (or even MUST) participate in a global economy.
Our lifestyles would be different if we did not participate as much in the global economy, because we would not have access to various types of consumer goods which are produced abroad. Provided we could have access to the appropriate raw materials, we could manufacture our own goods here. A reduction in the amount of goods being consumed might even be a good thing. As would a reduction in transportation.

(2) if we withdraw from the Global economy it will be painful.
This may be so, assuming (1) above, the love of the consumer goods manufactured abroad, but in my submission here, we need to be weaned off them, anyway.

(3) Similar to (2) If we withdraw from the EU this will be painful.
Our continued involvement is destroying Britain. We have no choice but to leave the EU, if we are to continue to exist. Some of the pain the pro-globalisation / pro-EU posters describe on here as attributable under (3) is really answered under (2). The EU is a manifestation of globalisation.

(4) If Britain withdrew from the EU then foreign investors would withdraw from Britain.
We do not need fairweather friends like these. These people are part of the problem for Britain. If they want to go then let them.

(5) Similar to (4) International Standards are a covert form of protectionism and British manufacturers (if any are left) have to conform to them.
Standards are a double edged weapon. If foreign markets exclude British goods under the guise of 'standards' then let British Standards be applied to foreign companies wishing to import to the UK.
[The example of the EU removal of lead from solder, which allows tin to form microscopic threads which short out electronic equipment is one of the examples of the total stupidity of EU so-called 'standards'. Remember the building that collapsed at the Paris airport? etc etc etc]

(6) People here seem to have a pessimism about the capacity of Britain to feed herself, re-establish a manufacturing base capable of meeting our own needs.
I think we are quite capable of doing this, if we have to. We are resourceful, inventive, flexible, capable. Free people from bureaucratic limitations and they will flourish.

(7) If we stopped paying into the EU, then the EU payments to Britain would stop, and this would be a bad thing.
This is a one way street in the wrong direction. If we took the money we pay into the EU, and used this to pay ourselves for things, we would benefit. I suggest we take all the money currently being wasted on the EU, and pump this into our armed forces.

(8) Gross assumption at the head of this thread - the recession / economic downturn is harming Britain more than it is harming Europe. We will be forced to adopt the Euro.
The truth is the opposite of this, in my view. Club Med will drag down the Germans and Scandinavian countries. How much will the high value of the Euro cut its capacity to sell its goods? Britain will be less affected.

05-06-2008, 09:02 PM	#51 (permalink)
Stephen Booth Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Galgate, Lancaster Posts: 201 Party: None	The cost of globalisation With respect, I disagree with some of what has been posted on here. I think various assumptions need to be examined: ---- (1) Protectionism is a bad thing / We need to (or even MUST) participate in a global economy. Our lifestyles would be different if we did not participate as much in the global economy, because we would not have access to various types of consumer goods which are produced abroad. Provided we could have access to the appropriate raw materials, we could manufacture our own goods here. A reduction in the amount of goods being consumed might even be a good thing. As would a reduction in transportation. (2) if we withdraw from the Global economy it will be painful. This may be so, assuming (1) above, the love of the consumer goods manufactured abroad, but in my submission here, we need to be weaned off them, anyway. (3) Similar to (2) If we withdraw from the EU this will be painful. Our continued involvement is destroying Britain. We have no choice but to leave the EU, if we are to continue to exist. Some of the pain the pro-globalisation / pro-EU posters describe on here as attributable under (3) is really answered under (2). The EU is a manifestation of globalisation. (4) If Britain withdrew from the EU then foreign investors would withdraw from Britain. We do not need fairweather friends like these. These people are part of the problem for Britain. If they want to go then let them. (5) Similar to (4) International Standards are a covert form of protectionism and British manufacturers (if any are left) have to conform to them. Standards are a double edged weapon. If foreign markets exclude British goods under the guise of 'standards' then let British Standards be applied to foreign companies wishing to import to the UK. [The example of the EU removal of lead from solder, which allows tin to form microscopic threads which short out electronic equipment is one of the examples of the total stupidity of EU so-called 'standards'. Remember the building that collapsed at the Paris airport? etc etc etc] (6) People here seem to have a pessimism about the capacity of Britain to feed herself, re-establish a manufacturing base capable of meeting our own needs. I think we are quite capable of doing this, if we have to. We are resourceful, inventive, flexible, capable. Free people from bureaucratic limitations and they will flourish. (7) If we stopped paying into the EU, then the EU payments to Britain would stop, and this would be a bad thing. This is a one way street in the wrong direction. If we took the money we pay into the EU, and used this to pay ourselves for things, we would benefit. I suggest we take all the money currently being wasted on the EU, and pump this into our armed forces. (8) Gross assumption at the head of this thread - the recession / economic downturn is harming Britain more than it is harming Europe. We will be forced to adopt the Euro. The truth is the opposite of this, in my view. Club Med will drag down the Germans and Scandinavian countries. How much will the high value of the Euro cut its capacity to sell its goods? Britain will be less affected. __________________ Britain Out of Europe Now !