In response to an FT article by Martin Wolf on 7th January 2016, entitled 'A vote for Brexit is a leap into the abyss'
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f770eb8-b529-11e5-8358-9a82b43f6b2f.html#ixzz3wafXLCRF
Mr. Wolf, you say:
'David Cameron, UK prime minister, is clearly right on one point: “This is perhaps the most important decision the British people will have to take at the ballot box in our lifetimes.”'
And yet, you also say:
'...so, welcome to a year of painful and unnecessary debate'
There seems to me to be a contradiction in this position:
If it IS the most important decision that the British people will take, and on that I totally agree with both you and the Prime Minister, then as far as I'm concerned, the debate is totally necessary.
If you think that the people of this country can give the European project the commitment it needs to be successful without a powerful affirmative choice, or if you think that such a choice can be made without a debate, then I think you are badly mistaken.
If you think that the whole referendum and the debate is unnecessary then, that is a vote for the status quo. Do you want to take the decision on our behalf Mr Wolf?
If so, I can't speak for anyone else, but here's my response - No thanks Mr Wolf, I will have my say and I will caste my vote - because, for me at least - that is EXACTLY what this whole thing is about. Here is my position:
For me, this is not primarily about economics, important though that is. It is about sovereignty and liberty. This requires transparency and the direct accountability of the government to the governed. My agenda is to articulate a very personal 'no' to centralisation of power and/or 'ever closer union' with any globalist, federalist and/or elitist organisation whether it claims to be of the left, the right, or the centre. I don't trust big government of any description, especially the unelected branches of them...and I don't trust the people who work their way to the top of them or use their money to advocate for them in public and/or pull their strings in private.
I may not get my way on the outcome, this country may vote to stay in. If it does - so be it. But I WILL get my debate Mr. Wolf, and that is good thing. No way is it unnecessary, except perhaps for people who want to make the decision on my behalf. As for it being painful...come on...get a life.