Originally Posted by captainflack (Post 12399549)

Firstly, you need to re-read the referendum question. It was simply about leaving the EU. It made no mention of what new arrangement Britain should seek. Brexitters are now twisting it, and using it to justify things that are simply not there and never were. Read it again. Carefully.

Johnson, Gove, Farage - they all frequently cited Switzerland and Norway during the campaign as successful countries outside the EU. Countries that are of course inside the single market and customs union. So it seems entirely reasonable to assume that at least some of those voting brexit wanted a soft-brexit. And yet now, the headbangers are twisting it, and arguing that everyone who voted brexit did so with the desire to go full tilt hard brexit with WTO rules. Sorry, but that is simply not the case.

And so, what kind of brexit should it be, and who gets to decide that? A small group of ministers hand picked by a PM who (in case you forget) went to the polls for a mandate to negotiate the deal she wanted, and was humiliated, losing her majority and having to do a seedy deal with bowler-hatted racists and terrorist sympathizers from Northern Ireland to stay in power? Or the full British parliament, sovereign, and holding a new mandate since the brexit vote to formulate what kind of deal should be instituted?

These MPs you suggest are 'thwarting the will of the electorate expressed in a vote'... are doing no such thing. They're not voting to cancel brexit, and you know it. You're simply using a referendum result to demand they act as a rubber stamp for a government teetering on collapse because the public in a general election stripped it of its majority over it's brexit direction, which it seems bent on pursuing regardless.

Originally Posted by morpeth (Post 12399014)

Well I have been in business situations where the other side acted crazy or so unreasonable to try to were one down to finally agree to something just to move on. I doubt this is the case, but trying to find a logical reason for the inane process that is happening is not easy.

Still waiting to hear any rational reason Brexit will result in better economic growth for Britain, or more opportunities for young people, or the NHS. There may be one but after a few months trying to learn from discussions on Brexit, haven't heard one yet.

Originally Posted by 007Steve (Post 12399623)

Yes, morpeth... I've come across the 'crazy ivan' stratagem too, the only trouble with it as you know, is that you can only use it once. To carry on with this on an irrationality basis will fail, as the other side (that's 27 of them) will simply treat it with (more?) derision.
IMO, The only opportunity here is for Trump, when he's an ex-pres. & his mates in the US health corporations.... :nod: :nod: :nod:
HAD the UK voted to remain any privatisation of a member's state's public services would have been subject to challenge both domestically AND by the EU; - especially when the end purchasers could be a non-EU state. But post 2019, that major hurdle disappears leaving only the UK parliament to rubber-stamp the deal and that extra £350 million a week to start going to the likes of US Health Corp.....
Creatures like Trump & his ilk only come out when they smell a profit, and here's a giant one. the NHS is still Europe's largest employer, with a drugs bill the size of many smaller nations' GDP.
See behind the 'crazy strategy'???

Originally Posted by morpeth (Post 12399718)

I dont know if the craziness is a strategy or not though it could be.

US spends 16% or so of GDP on health care, Britain 10%. I think instead of farming out NHS services to US companies to try to lower costs, the answer is the reverse : for US to authorize Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to treatment at NHS facilities as long as costs 15% below USA, and for NHS to deliver as long as revenue produced 20% more than costing currently. NHS gets more funding US lowers costs.

Originally Posted by 007Steve (Post 12400049)

Yes, could work it that way... :nod:
Another great trade deal.

Originally Posted by 007Steve (Post 12457006)

Update
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/...ence-1.3415499

The 'Special Relationship' strikes again :nod: :nod: :nod:
Can you just believe this........

Originally Posted by 007Steve (Post 12459307)

UPDATE
Now it's turning nasty :nod: :nod: :nod:.... I can't see him on the New Year's Honours List...
Ryanair threatens to ground planes post-Brexit - The Portugal News