I think I would add to this analysis, also in light of a comment by a user (@colmanareilly ) that there is no sensible solution. What is the problem with Brexit? (Short thread)
@colmanareilly 1) The issue is not that there is no solution or no sensible solution. It is that there is no agreement what the problem is. Here’s how that is relevant:
@colmanareilly 2) Assume your problem with the EU is “ever closer union” and the euro. That is a perfectly reasonable analysis one might share or not. The rational, reasonable solution is: EFTA & EEA.
@colmanareilly You could also throw in a CU.
@colmanareilly 3) What, however, if your analysis is that the EU is an undemocratic hellhole (which IMHO would be utterly wrong, but let’s not go there)? If that is the case, you cannot support the EEA/EFTA approach. Your solution must be a CETA like FTA (as you’d support with China).
@colmanareilly 4) But what if you rejected the EU, because you want sovereignty? We’ll need to discuss sovereignty separately, my friend (and I need to get to my e-mails to do just that in a moment). In short: it’s a sliding scale. There’s no clear cutoff.
@colmanareilly 5) Finally what if you wanted the global UK to do better economically? Here we get into difficult terrain. A majority opinion of economists: stay in the EU. A minority opinion: abolish all tariffs, deregulate, we’ll lose farming and the car industry, but that’s ok. (Quite daring)
@colmanareilly 6) Oh, I forgot. If your concern are foreigner, first of all my personal apology to you for taking what clearly is your job. Secondly: you would not want FoM. So a CETA style deal.
@colmanareilly Of course the no FoM solution presents lot of problems like what hit to the economy are you willing to take. You might end up where we are and just call it differently...
@colmanareilly 7) and let‘s add one: what makes Brexit utterly unpleasant is that different groups have to convince others of their preferred outcome.
@colmanareilly But often the groups have fundamentally different assumptions - and you then have to twist and bend facts and arguments.
