Quote Originally Posted by Redshank View Post
Very interesting RP, and it's hard to argue against anything in that video. It's a strong case against Brexit.

However, what both sides of the argument conveniently ignore is why a majority of the British public who bothered to vote, voted for Brexit in the first place. It was essentially the disenfranchised, the disillusioned (with politics) and the "ordinary Joe" who'd had enough of their living standards being eroded by successive governments. Rightly or wrongly, the EU was seen as a bastion of the establishment that had made their lives much harder, so they kicked against it...very hard! That vote pushed it over the line.

Until the reasons why many people feel this way is recognised and openly and properly discussed there's absolutely no point in banging on about how much worse off we are now because of Brexit. It will fall on deaf ears.

There's no doubt peoples living standards are being eroded over time - in fact it's gathering pace. Brexit is having an effect, but it's not the root cause, and it wasn't the root cause prior to 2016. Sorry to keep saying it but neoliberal economics over the last 30-40 years is to blame.

Tax the rich. End of story.
I hear you shank and pretty much agree with your analysis of the reasons behind where we are and the ultimate conclusion that the only significant wealth that is available that can possibly make a difference to public services is to redirect from those who have gained the most in the last three decades or so.

The problem is how do you frame a convincing argument to do that that will win a popular vote? The wealth is very well protected by the media owners who help shore up the status quo and sway popular opinion against acting even in its own interests but also, I think that economies are also more complex than we think and that there is actual truth in the fact that the wealth you are trying to redistribute can be very easily moved around the world and any such arguments for what you suggest have to first of all convince the masses that they are not going to crash the economy further by targeting wealth and actually literally find ways of adapting the tax system so that the wealth that has been built up can't be easily moved away from the UK in the first place.

Wish it was as easy as "tax the rich".