Referendum must be kept simple

“@hardielives: I think you make some valid points, but disagree with two aspects of your comment. I remember when De-Gaule kept on blocking attempts by Britain to join the EU (European Union). Unfortunately, while Britain remained outside of the EU the rules were being laid down, for how the EU would function. To say that we have a seat at the top of the table is a bit like saying you can change anything you want within the confines of cage. We had to abide by these rules, which still exist today. A good example of this is, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) for which various leaders of this country have objected to, has cost this county billions of pounds, and has not been changed. To the unknowing, this is a system which guaranteed a minimum price for goods produced and benefited the many small-holdings of France etc. and preserved the rural economy, to the detriment of Britain. It also led to the over-production of goods, leading to the, 'Milk Mountain', 'Butter Mountain' and others. To put this cost into perspective, the CAP consumed nearly 47% of the EU budget. In 2006 but is projected to be reduced to 32% in 2013.

The other topic I would disagree with is, 'Every British government for the past fifty years has considered that it is essential for this country to be part of the Common Market/EEC/EU'. Unfortunately, you fail to mention that the goal posts have moved in more recent times. For most of the period that you mention the maximum number of countries which were members of the EU was nine. It seemed to me that most problems that have brought the EU question of membership to the fore, was when the EU was enlarged to accommodate 27 countries, each with varying degrees of economic output. The relatively recent introduction of the Euro, in my opinion, has also made matters worse, in prompting the question of membership”

“@ nuig, wouldn't vote for 'noone' even if i knew the chap, and nevman don't let facts get in the way of a rational arguement otherwise Charlie will gain credence”

“Looks like the same two people are red-flagging everything I post. To save wear and tear on your mouse buttons, can we just take it as read that you'll automatically dislike anything I say, regardless of content? After all, you're not proving anything.”

“No, CharlieBob, it just sounds like you're a deeply confused individual because:

a) you keep claiming to be best mates with Jesus Christ, yet
b) you enthusiastically support a party founded on fear, distrust and hate but
c) you claim (without offering any explanation) to admire Chaz Singh, who has spoken out against exactly the sort of racism practiced by the far right - which you also admire.

No matter how many times people ask you to square these mutually exclusive statements, you never answer the question. Obviously you can't.”

“Niug said- "charlie So you vote ukip but you support the bnp at heart....thankyou for confirming a stereotype there'..

What you on about mate, I've said in more than one thread that Nick Griffin is a windbag who couldn't run a whelk stall!
I've also said more than once that I'd like to see Sikh Chaz Singh become mayor of Plymouth, does that sound racist to you?”

“..Neverman said- 'this Europe which you think "rules" us has just won a Nobel Prize for maintaining peace for sixty years'..

So what? Plymouth council has got the "Best performing council award" even though Viv and Evans haven't a clue, it's just meaningless luvvie backslapping same as the Euro's 'peace' award!
I mean, is "maintaining the peace for 60 years" somebody's idea of a sick joke? Haven't they heard of the Korean War, Suez, Vietnam, Falklands, Gulf Wars 1 and 2, Afghanistan etc..?”

“..Niug said- 'I will not sell out my beliefs for any politician I dont trust or respect'..

Good for you mate, Blair/Brown/Cameron/Clegg/Milliband are all no-hopers..:)
The only leader who impresses me at the moment is Nigel Farage of UKIP, that's why he'll keep getting my vote..:)”

“Perhaps you should study history from more sources than the BNP Bumper Book of Xenophobia, CharlieBob. When Britain "ruled the world" (or, strictly speaking, a quarter of it at the empire's zenith but hey, you're not a man to be bothered by facts) the vast majority of its population lived shirt, squalid lives, illiterate, worked to death and wracked by ill health.

Meanwhile, this Europe which you think "rules" us has just won a Nobel Prize for maintaining peace for sixty years, and is seen as a model for the future advancement of Latin America.

As for which party I support: that's my business and none of yours, thanks, but can tell you I don't support parties which exist to spread hatred, intolerance and bigotry. And if you really believed the supposed teachings of your professed religion's figurehead, neither would you.”

“And this isnt colonial times and the British empire is long in the past, as well it should be, the days where one country can `own` the world was an ugly time im glad is behind us.”

“charlie? So you vote ukip but you support the bnp at heart....thankyou for confirming a stereotype there :P”