In response to an FT article by George Parker and Alex Barker on 19th February 2016, entitled 'Cameron secures ‘new settlement’ after marathon talks'
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e15b54d6-d751-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#ixzz40esID2qg
The Eton Common Room…Young Cammers returns after being sent to see the Head Master to re-negotiate the school uniform code, by the head boy Big Bozo
BB: Cammers old chap, how’d you do?
YC: Success BB, I think we can all be proud of what we’ve achieved when we put it to the other chaps this weekend. I thought we could do it over a couple of swift ones after rugger – you know, when everyone’s in a good mood after our inevitable victory over the Harrow lot
BB: So what have we achieved Cammers – did you get what I sent you in there for?
YC: Well…
BB: No more stupid top hats…ever?
YC: Well on that partic…
BB: Total abolition of any necessity to wear those sawn off jackets that make us well endowed chaps look like utter plonkers?
YC: Ah well, you see on that…
BB: How about the Dicky Bows, don’t tell me you came back without full agreement on those bloody Dicky Bows?
YC: Well if I could exp…
BB: Oh Lord, I might have known…spit it out Cammers before I lose the will to live and give your head the toilet treatment you used to get twice weekly when you were my fag. Out with it boy…what did you get for me?
YC: We can remove our hats on sunny days in May & June, if…we…check there’s nothing…special…on that day
BB: Get out you useless oaf. If you want something done, do it yourself…go and fetch me something to eat you idiot, I’ve got a plan to work on.
***
A fellow reader also commented:
"A surprisingly level headed article from the Guardian today, and one not only for you, dear readers, but one for the editorial of the FT, giving a demonstration of how a newspaper can provide room for opinions which do not necessarily correspond with its own"
http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2016/feb/20/brexit-economy-eu-europe
To which I replied:
Thanks, as ever, for the wider research, and the links that you provide. I think Mr. Collinson makes very good points, and his closing idea is spot on:
"The next few months will see hysterical claims about the economic impact of a Brexit by both sides, and both can be safely ignored. My vote will come down to the pros and cons of the EU political project. This is one issue where it’s not about the economy, stupid."
I agree. For me the most important issue is the nature of government - its purpose, its size, its powers, its accountability and its transparency. Ultimately these factors are governed (pun intended) by the first - its purpose. On that basis, speaking for myself, I do not want any further expansion in the growth or centralisation of governmental power. I will be voting to leave the governmental structure known as the EU. I will not be falling out with any of my French, German or Italian friends, cancelling any holiday arrangements, hanging a union jack outside my house or subscribing to the Daily Mail.