• EU election results due to start coming in - polls close at 2100 UTC
    191 replies, posted
[QUOTE=The mouse;44912230] I don't really see where Ukip can go now.[/QUOTE] Into the trash.
Die PARTEI got a seat in the parliament!
did scotland announce their results? i hope ukip get a scottish MEP
[QUOTE=Jon27;44909863]Can someone please explain to me in terms simple or otherwise, how voting for the anti-EU party to represent us in the EU was a good idea? Because in my naive young mind, that seems to be a dumb fucking idea. I can just imagine them sitting in the parliament refusing to participate.[/quote] Firstly, because polls suggest that most people do not feel the EU represents them in anyway or reflects their views - they are not happy with being the second largest net contributor in a system where more countries are net recipients than net contributors. The benefits of EU membership are largely intangible to the public, yet they are unhappy - primarily - that Europeans have unrestricted access to the UK, particularly due to their high job uptake rate but also in relation to benefits claims and crime. This has allowed anti-EU sentiment to largely increase over the past few years. Secondly, because the changes to the UK's relationship with the EU that David Cameron and the Conservatives have pledged are looking increasingly unlikely. Angela Merkel recently said that change is possible but very difficult, as it would require approval from the other 27 member states - this is something that has also been echoed by various senior EU officials. It is typical for EU officials to take a very hard stance to member states when they are unhappy with the direction they are heading. In response to the hard line taken by EU officials, many people in the UK have voted to take a tougher stance in the EU parliament by electing anti-EU parties. I would agree that the UK is more likely to obtain the change people desire with the threat of invoking article 50, I don't believe that the EU would risk losing a large contributor such as the UK. If you also consider that the UK is running a trade deficit with the rest of the EU, and that it is unlikely the UK would ever be 'isolated' or suddenly lose in excess of 3 million jobs as some politicians would have you believe, then people would have reason to feel confident in voting for such parties. [quote]The gains UKIP have made here are really beginning to scare me. If they get into government next year, they stand to utterly destroy the progress that the UK has made struggling its way out of 20th-century attitudes. I've been proud to be British this year what with the improvements in equality and human rights, despite a vocal minority spreading bullshit about how it would ruin us. Please, don't let them reverse it now. I'll be urging everyone I know to use their vote next year, since apathy seems to be a large part of the reason they're getting so far.[/QUOTE] UKIP entering government office should not scare you if you're concerned with equality and human rights. It is not unrealistic that the Conservatives will remain in government - particularly with Labour not making any significant gains in the year before the election and the possibility that UKIP support will wain and return to them. It is a Conservative policy to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights, and a Conservative policy to ban prisoners from voting. Indeed, much of the rhetoric surrounding immigration is largely the same between the parties, 'British jobs for British workers', 'Tougher border controls' - there really isn't much between them apart from who you trust more to deliver what they promise.
[QUOTE=krakadict;44912301]did scotland announce their results? i hope ukip get a scotish MEP[/QUOTE] They have one, taken from the Lib Dems, but other than that gain of one, the results are virtually identical to the last one. SNP still leads, but only enough to get the same 2 seats they had last time.
[QUOTE=Craigewan;44912314]They have one, taken from the Lib Dems, but other than that gain of one, the results are virtually identical to the last one. SNP still leads, but only enough to get the same 2 seats they had last time.[/QUOTE] that's good, can't build a house without a foundation
It's annoying to see David Cameron's back-pedalling response:- [I]"Oh yeah, it seems the people actually don't like the EU..." "Hey everyone we want out of the EU too, always did! Yep! Let's have a referendum now!"[/I] Acting as if he knew it all along. He back-pedalled on immigration too. If back-pedalling was an olympic sport, he'd take gold. If you want to know why people are disillusioned by mainstream politics, there's part of your answer ^. And the other part of your answer is, who could really actually feel well represented by Ed Miliband? I can't think of a single group of people that Ed Miliband would appeal to.
David's a snake but Ed take the cake
[QUOTE=smurfy;44909798]It's struck me that European elections must be a fucking nightmare for news outlets. They have to explain so much shit in so little time - who's Syriza, who's the Front National, who's UKIP, what's going on in the other two dozen countries, why's this happening, how's it looking overall in the European Parliament, why are some countries taking so long to get results out, what does the European Parliament even do, what does this mean for the EU, what does this mean for my country, what does this mean for the next general election Explaining a single election in another European country is hard enough, with these you have to explain the party systems and political climates of 28 countries at once.[/QUOTE] Not really - remember that the EP has multiple "parties" of it's own so most of the coverage that doesn't focus on the national aspect will focus on those larger groupings like S&d, EPP nad stuff like that.
What fucking idiot votes yes to both the EU patent thingy AND the Danish Peoples Party? Like, seriously, what kind of mental gymnastics are these people going through? Right now, political commentators everywhere are scratching their heads at this. I just read an article written by some poor sap trying to understand the sheer incompetence of the people voting like this. Come the fuck on.
Why would people vote euroskeptics into the european parlament, it's pretty much a given they'll oppose each and every thing the others will try to do. I've seen enough Movimento 5 Stelle toxic behaviour in congress to know how derimental the 'rebel to anything' approach is I'm legitimately sad 5 whole retarded ass racist bigoted separatist anti-euro anti-union Lega Nord members will fly to bruxelles. Also what's up with you britons and UKIP, I thought you were better than that.
[QUOTE=Muggi;44912531]What fucking idiot votes yes to both the EU patent thingy AND the Danish Peoples Party? Like, seriously, what kind of mental gymnastics are these people going through? Right now, political commentators everywhere are scratching their heads at this. I just read an article written by some poor sap trying to understand the sheer incompetence of the people voting like this. Come the fuck on.[/QUOTE] It's because people voting for the Danish People's party most likely don't know much about what's actually going on.
[QUOTE=lapsus_;44912597]Why would people vote euroskeptics into the european parlament, it's pretty much a given they'll oppose each and every thing the others will try to do. I've seen enough Movimento 5 Stelle toxic behaviour in congress to know how derimental the 'rebel to anything' approach is I'm legitimately sad 5 whole retarded ass racist bigoted separatist anti-euro anti-union Lega Nord members will fly to bruxelles. Also what's up with you britons and UKIP, I thought you were better than that.[/QUOTE] What do you think of this guy: [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beppe_Grillo"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beppe_Grillo[/URL]
[QUOTE=lapsus_;44912597]Why would people vote euroskeptics into the european parlament, it's pretty much a given they'll oppose each and every thing the others will try to do. I've seen enough Movimento 5 Stelle toxic behaviour in congress to know how derimental the 'rebel to anything' approach is I'm legitimately sad 5 whole retarded ass racist bigoted separatist anti-euro anti-union Lega Nord members will fly to bruxelles. Also what's up with you britons and UKIP, I thought you were better than that.[/QUOTE] I imagine they'll give their respective countries more freedom to rule as they please, rather than enforcing EU referendums that have no ability to be refused.
[QUOTE=lapsus_;44912597]Why would people vote euroskeptics into the european parlament, it's pretty much a given they'll oppose each and every thing the others will try to do.[/QUOTE] You answered your own question.
with so many far right parties constantly gaining ground, maybe that is saying something. I dont agree with them myself really nor did i vote for any. But if so many people consider extreme levels of immigration troublesome then maybe it is. If so many people can agree on that, maybe there actually is a problem
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;44912713]with so many far right parties constantly gaining ground, maybe that is saying something. I dont agree with them myself really nor did i vote for any. But if so many people consider extreme levels of immigration troublesome then maybe it is. If so many people can agree on that, maybe there actually is a problem[/QUOTE] There isn't an immigration problem.
[QUOTE=Coffee;44912873]There isn't an immigration problem.[/QUOTE] What even is this? You can't assert shit like that because [B]all problems are human-created[/B] and exist as subjects within perception. "There isn't an immigration problem" [I]that you percieve.[/I] Do you live in an area negatively effected by immigration? Do you go outside? These things might effect your perception. There is no divine 'problem' that exists in the universe, nor is there a non-problem. It's pure perception.
[QUOTE=Hardsurface;44912934]What even is this? You can't assert shit like that because [B]all problems are human-created[/B] and exist as subjects within perception. "There isn't an immigration problem" [I]that you percieve.[/I] Do you live in an area negatively effected by immigration? Do you go outside? These things might effect your perception. There is no divine 'problem' that exists in the universe, nor is there a non-problem. It's pure perception.[/QUOTE] you know you don't need that much overcomplicated metaphysical crap to justify voting for bad parties
[QUOTE=Hardsurface;44912934]What even is this? You can't assert shit like that because [B]all problems are human-created[/B] and exist as subjects within perception. "There isn't an immigration problem" [I]that you percieve.[/I] Do you live in an area negatively effected by immigration? Do you go outside? These things might effect your perception. There is no divine 'problem' that exists in the universe, nor is there a non-problem. It's pure perception.[/QUOTE] except there are statistics for this kind of thing immigration is a terrifying boogeyman that doesn't actually exist that people use as a scapegoat to blame their problems on
[QUOTE=Hardsurface;44912934]What even is this? You can't assert shit like that because [B]all problems are human-created[/B] and exist as subjects within perception. "There isn't an immigration problem" [I]that you percieve.[/I] Do you live in an area negatively effected by immigration? Do you go outside? These things might effect your perception. There is no divine 'problem' that exists in the universe, nor is there a non-problem. It's pure perception.[/QUOTE] what
I wish American politics were this interesting.
[QUOTE=Cone;44912972]you know you don't need that much overcomplicated metaphysical crap to justify voting for bad parties[/QUOTE] Don't make bold assertions that X is Y then. [QUOTE=Cloak Raider;44912983]except there are statistics for this kind of thing immigration is a terrifying boogeyman that doesn't actually exist that people use as a scapegoat to blame their problems on[/QUOTE] Statistics show that 38% of people are 'very happy'. But what does that even mean? You can't quantise perceptions. People's negative outlook on immigration might be effected by something as simple and insignificant as builders on your property speaking amongst themselves in a foreign language, or encountering loud obnoxious hate preacher in your hometown - or something as serious as being mugged by a gang.
Woah woah woah wait, UKIP [I]won?[/I] W-what does this mean, the burgers in my ears are stopping me from understanding. (could someone explain again)
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;44912605]It's because people voting for the Danish People's party most likely don't know much about what's actually going on.[/QUOTE] I wonder how many people read past their slogan
[QUOTE=Hardsurface;44912934]What even is this? You can't assert shit like that because [B]all problems are human-created[/B] and exist as subjects within perception. "There isn't an immigration problem" [I]that you percieve.[/I] Do you live in an area negatively effected by immigration? Do you go outside? These things might effect your perception. There is no divine 'problem' that exists in the universe, nor is there a non-problem. It's pure perception.[/QUOTE] What the fuck are you even talking about?
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;44913063]Woah woah woah wait, UKIP [I]won?[/I] W-what does this mean, the burgers in my ears are stopping me from understanding. (could someone explain again)[/QUOTE] UKIP now controls the entirety of EU. Prepare for nuclear war with Rumania More realistically, they won some amount of the total UK EU seats
[QUOTE=Teddybeer;44913051]You mean its not interesting to choose between pepsi and coke?[/QUOTE] I'd imagine that that is actually a more meaningful decision than choosing between Republicans and Democrats.
It's rare that I'm so ashamed of my country.
[QUOTE=Coffee;44913074]What the fuck are you even talking about?[/QUOTE] Dunno lol. You don't see an immigration problem. If you lived in a different place and your experience was different, what you see would be different. 'There's no immigration problem' [I]for you.[/I] Obviously other people see differently. You stated that [I]there's no problem[/I] in a manner eerily similar to someone claiming that [I]god is real[/I] so I attempted to explain that we're not talking about universal truths here - we're talking about things that involve perception, so there's no place for absolutes.
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