Has Merkel Destroyed Europe?

[Hamble]

Twitter melt down after Owen Jones released his latest piece of leftie wisdom.


Quote
"Angela Merkel’s government bears chief responsibility for plunging Europe into catastrophic austerity which has ruined living standards, caused mass unemployment, decimated public services, and fuelled the far right.

Her government isn’t woke, it’s a catastrophe for Europe."


A tad surprising shift of gear from the activist.

[said]

Twitter melt down after Owen Jones released his latest piece of leftie wisdom.


Quote
"Angela Merkel’s government bears chief responsibility for plunging Europe into catastrophic austerity which has ruined living standards, caused mass unemployment, decimated public services, and fuelled the far right.

Her government isn’t woke, it’s a catastrophe for Europe."


A tad surprising shift of gear from the activist.

Yet another showman takes the stage! It is all hot air from an Oxford History student still wet behind the ears!

[Desert Region]

Twitter melt down after Owen Jones released his latest piece of leftie wisdom.


Quote
"Angela Merkel’s government bears chief responsibility for plunging Europe into catastrophic austerity which has ruined living standards, caused mass unemployment, decimated public services, and fuelled the far right.

Her government isn’t woke, it’s a catastrophe for Europe."


A tad surprising shift of gear from the activist.

Surprising, yes, but not a shocking reveal. Owen Jones is a socialist. For a true socialist's views on the EU, see the words of Tony Benn. Of course, Corbyn was a great friend and political follower of the late Tony Benn.

<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.21%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f0wFii8klNg?ecver=2" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0" width="641" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

[Toodles McGinty]

A German Chancellor destroying Europe? Who'd have thought it?

Owen Jones' opinion doesn't just come from the left, although the reasons might be slightly different. The Express said much the same a while back: https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...y-Brexit-Italy

Viewing it from the left, as I do, I personally think her open door policy for millions of immigrants was misguided. And, as the article states, the backlash has emboldened the extreme right around Europe. Her austerity policies have had a knock on effect throughout the continent, while having no discernible positive impact at all.

While the left and right might have started from very different viewpoints, it seems they've arrived at the same conclusion.

[Desert Region]

Interesting timing on the landing of that incendiary tweet from ardent Jeremy Corbyn supporter, ex parliamentary researcher for John McDonnell, and member of the National Advisory Panel for the Centre for Labour and Social Studies...

Brexit: MPs reject bid to stay in EEA amid Labour revolt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44474661

The Guardian lead with the headline,

Jeremy Corbyn hit by revolt as dozens defy whip in Brexit vote

A headline built on and promoting the premise that Jeremy Corbyn is actually a supporter of the EU.

[Hamble]

Yet another showman takes the stage! It is all hot air from an Oxford History student still wet behind the ears!

Before entering journalism, Jones worked as a trade union lobbyist and was a parliamentary researcher for the Labour politician John McDonnell, then a backbencher, who became Shadow Chancellor in 2015.

Another commy trot using the Labour Party to Goovernment.
Odd blokey.

[Hamble]

Surprising, yes, but not a shocking reveal. Owen Jones is a socialist. For a true socialist's views on the EU, see the words of Tony Benn. Of course, Corbyn was a great friend and political follower of the late Tony Benn.

<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.21%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f0wFii8klNg?ecver=2" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0" width="641" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Thank you for that interesting link.

[Hamble]

A German Chancellor destroying Europe? Who'd have thought it?

Owen Jones' opinion doesn't just come from the left, although the reasons might be slightly different. The Express said much the same a while back: https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...y-Brexit-Italy

Viewing it from the left, as I do, I personally think her open door policy for millions of immigrants was misguided. And, as the article states, the backlash has emboldened the extreme right around Europe. Her austerity policies have had a knock on effect throughout the continent, while having no discernible positive impact at all.

While the left and right might have started from very different viewpoints, it seems they've arrived at the same conclusion.

So true.

What about cheap labour?
Germany needs immigrants for cheap labour (due to falling native birth rate) and like some other EU countries segregates migrant workers in districts and schools.

The UK strives and achieves to avoid any discrimination and certainly cheap labour is not reserved for newcomers.

[Hamble]

Interesting timing on the landing of that incendiary tweet from ardent Jeremy Corbyn supporter, ex parliamentary researcher for John McDonnell, and member of the National Advisory Panel for the Centre for Labour and Social Studies...

Brexit: MPs reject bid to stay in EEA amid Labour revolt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44474661

The Guardian lead with the headline,

Jeremy Corbyn hit by revolt as dozens defy whip in Brexit vote

A headline built on and promoting the premise that Jeremy Corbyn is actually a supporter of the EU.

What actually is Corbyn's (latest)stance on Brexit?

[said]

There will never be a 'falling birth rate' unless every single family decided not to have any children at all. It is both humanly and mathematically impossible.
The UK claims to avoid discrimination - you would need to go to the huge overseas owned farms in the UK and view for yourself how the migrant workers are employed - I have seen them, and was starkly reminded of paddy fields or cotton picking from way back in History class. These people are hired in their own countries by gang masters. Several are housed in shabby caravans on site, there are no leisure facilities - I am given to understand that they are provided with meals, those and the accommodation are charged for! Many of the workers do not stay in that employment due to the conditions that they work under - this is supported from the blogs on various community site pages which have to be translated - so it is necessary for a constant supply of labour to be brought over to the UK - which is why the Remain bosses want to stay in the EU. Those who leave the farm work continue on in the UK to find work elsewhere, while the gang masters bring in more labour. Those who choose NOT to become British Citizens, do not pay full taxes in the UK, even if they have been here a number of years.
The higher educated immigrants who came over to the UK to find work after being told that there was ample opportunity as the British workers were lazy - have all returned to their own countries disillusioned. Any that found themselves trapped in the system are struggling.

[silver fox]

What actually is Corbyn's (latest)stance on Brexit?

There lies a good part of the problem, the Tories haven't a clue how to achieve leaving the EU with anything intact, Labour are very hesitant to nail their colours to the mast one way or another.

Both parties are more afraid that which ever way they go they will most assuredly alienate a good portion of the electorate, we have a relatively slim majority for leaving, all based on the lies and deceit of a group of self interested, self serving hypocrites, the promise and claims made by Brexiteers were never achievable and are looking worse by the day.

Farage got Cameron rattled, then he made a total pig's ear of the whole damn thing, where are they now? Farage is quietly getting out of the country, on paper, Cameron seems to have dropped into a parallel universe and we are left to the mercies and incompetence of May, with the likes of Gove, Rees-Mog and liar in chief Boris pulling the strings.

I'm damn glad that at my age it probably won't affect me too much, but we have children and grandchildren, I do worry for their future and I fear it won't be in this country.

[silver fox]

There will never be a 'falling birth rate' unless every single family decided not to have any children at all. It is both humanly and mathematically impossible.
The UK claims to avoid discrimination - you would need to go to the huge overseas owned farms in the UK and view for yourself how the migrant workers are employed - I have seen them, and was starkly reminded of paddy fields or cotton picking from way back in History class. These people are hired in their own countries by gang masters. Several are housed in shabby caravans on site, there are no leisure facilities - I am given to understand that they are provided with meals, those and the accommodation are charged for! Many of the workers do not stay in that employment due to the conditions that they work under - this is supported from the blogs on various community site pages which have to be translated - so it is necessary for a constant supply of labour to be brought over to the UK - which is why the Remain bosses want to stay in the EU. Those who leave the farm work continue on in the UK to find work elsewhere, while the gang masters bring in more labour. Those who choose NOT to become British Citizens, do not pay full taxes in the UK, even if they have been here a number of years.
The higher educated immigrants who came over to the UK to find work after being told that there was ample opportunity as the British workers were lazy - have all returned to their own countries disillusioned. Any that found themselves trapped in the system are struggling.

All of that is the fault 100% of our own governments, this country allowed this wholly discriminatory employment system to flourish, just to satisfy employers who don't actually want to employ people, all of this in turn gave rise to the payroll and umbrella companies with the sole aim of taking a slice of income from workers and dodging employment rights.

[Desert Region]

Thank you for that interesting link.

Then, I'm sure you will enjoy this.

A Thames TV production broadcast in May 1975, with Labour's Michael Foot, a socialist down to his boots, pitted against Ted Heath, who had just been supplanted by Thatcher as leader of the Conservatives. Ted Heath, of course, was a leading figure in the UK Common Market/EEC membership referendum.

Michael Foot argues forcefully for voting No in the referendum, argues forcefully for voting Leave. Michael Foot, the then Labour Secretary of State for Employment.

It's fascinating to listen to the language and phrases Michael Foot uses. They are awfully familiar - very topical!

So, to borrow contemporary, prevailing logic: was Michael Foot a Little Englander, a vile Nationalist, a liar, deceiver and a racist, then? . Was Tony Benn? .

I wonder if they would consider Jeremy Corbyn's position re the EU to be a Socialist one? Jeremy's position is one of political pragmatism - in this sense he is playing a Tony Blair style game, borrowing strategies out of the Tony Blair playbook. I remember once when people might say: "I don't like Corbyn, but I respect his principles." Less often heard, that remark, nowadays.

https://youtu.be/CuZrzwm6CJs

[said]

Thank you for that interesting link.

There is more to that alliance - practically all the Labour MP's and leaders belong to the Marxist leaning Fabian Society, which is supported both by the central banks and the unions.

[Desert Region]

Below reads a c&p from a section of Michael Foot's Labour Party's 1983 election manifesto.

http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/lab83.htm

Britain and the Common Market

Geography and history determine that Britain is part of Europe, and Labour wants to see Europe safe and prosperous. But the European Economic Community, which does not even include the whole of Western Europe, was never devised to suit us, and our experience as a member of it has made it more difficult for us to deal with our economic and industrial problems. It has sometimes weakened our ability to achieve the objectives of Labour's international policy.

The next Labour government, committed to radical, socialist policies for reviving the British economy, is bound to find continued membership a most serious obstacle to the fulfilment of those policies. In particular the rules of the Treaty of Rome are bound to conflict with our strategy for economic growth and full employment, our proposals on industrial policy and for increasing trade, and our need to restore exchange controls and to regulate direct overseas investment. Moreover, by preventing us from buying food from the best sources of world supply, they would run counter to our plans to control prices and inflation.

For all these reasons, British withdrawal from the Community is the right policy for Britain - to be completed well within the lifetime of the parliament. That is our commitment. But we are also committed to bring about withdrawal in an amicable and orderly way, so that we do not prejudice employment or the prospect of increased political and economic co-operation with the whole of Europe.

We emphasise that our decision to bring about withdrawal in no sense represents any weakening of our commitment to internationalism and international co operation. We are not 'withdrawing from Europe'. We are seeking to extricate ourselves from the Treaty of Rome and other Community treaties which place political burdens on Britain. Indeed, we believe our withdrawal will allow us to pursue a more dynamic and positive international policy - one which recognises the true political and geographical spread of international problems and interests. We will also seek agreement with other European governments - both in the EEC and outside - on a common strategy for economic expansion.

The process of withdrawal

On taking office we will open preliminary negotiations with the other EEC member states to establish a timetable for withdrawal; and we will publish the results of these negotiations in a White Paper. In addition, as soon as possible after the House assembles, we will introduce a Repeal Bill: first, in order to amend the 1972 European Communities Act, ending the powers of the Community in the UK; and second, to provide the necessary powers to repeal the 1972 Act, when the negotiations on withdrawal are completed.

Following the publication of the White Paper, we will begin the main negotiations on withdrawal. Later, when appropriate and in the same parliament, we will use our powers to repeal the 1972 Act and abrogate the Treaty of Accession - thus breaking all of our formal links with the Community. Britain will at this point withdraw from the Council of Ministers and from the European Parliament.

There will need to be a period of transition, to ensure a minimum of disruption - and to phase in any new agreements we might make with the Community. This will enable us to make all the necessary changes in our domestic legislation. Until these changes in UK law have taken place, the status quo as regards particular items of EEC legislation will remain. And this period will, of course, extend beyond the date when we cease, formally, to be members.