Who cares what Farage thinks?

That was actually one of Nigel's more restrained performances.

I enjoy watching him lose his **** on the subject.

He represents a growing segment of the British population that think the EU has outlived its usefulness. It will be interesting to see how close the referendum comes to passing.

Farage is fun. I like how he cuts to the main point of his argument. He represents that British "fighting spirit" that they were once proud of. Sometimes he goes a little overboard, but frankly the EU has done far worse in the opposite direction.

(10-15-2015 12:32 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  Farage is fun. I like how he cuts to the main point of his argument. He represents that British "fighting spirit" that they were once proud of. Sometimes he goes a little overboard, but frankly the EU has done far worse in the opposite direction.

So, is he basically Britain's Trump?

It's nothing more than Europe being Europe. The Italians (via the Roman Empire) dominated the continent around the first years of the common era, then France around the 1000's, then Portugal in the 1400's, Spain in the 1500's, with France possibly retaking the dominant role in the 1600's, then Britain in the 1700's thru the first part of the 1800's, then back to France in the first part of the 1800's, then back to Britain in the mid 1900's thru the 1930's, then the American's (ironically) from the 1940's thru the 1970's and finally Germany slowly crept their way into the driver's seat thru economics from the 1980's thru the present. Nigel is irked because the German's were late comers to the European scene since it hadn't become a nation until Prussia consolidated power among the rest of the German states. When you're from a country that used to be top dog, i.e. the "Pax Britannia", "Sun never sets on the British Empire", etc and the upstart GERMANS of all people are now dominating European affairs...it can offend sensibilities when you are a "poor nobleman" from a once proud family...

Regardless of the politics and whether Nigel is right of Merkel or even if Britain is more capitalist than Germany, the real underlying anger is many centuries old and has only a moderate amount to do with the issues of the EU. JMHO.

(10-15-2015 01:23 PM)miko33 Wrote:  It's nothing more than Europe being Europe. The Italians (via the Roman Empire) dominated the continent around the first years of the common era, then France around the 1000's, then Portugal in the 1400's, Spain in the 1500's, with France possibly retaking the dominant role in the 1600's, then Britain in the 1700's thru the first part of the 1800's, then back to France in the first part of the 1800's, then back to Britain in the mid 1900's thru the 1930's, then the American's (ironically) from the 1940's thru the 1970's and finally Germany slowly crept their way into the driver's seat thru economics from the 1980's thru the present. Nigel is irked because the German's were late comers to the European scene since it hadn't become a nation until Prussia consolidated power among the rest of the German states. When you're from a country that used to be top dog, i.e. the "Pax Britannia", "Sun never sets on the British Empire", etc and the upstart GERMANS of all people are now dominating European affairs...it can offend sensibilities when you are a "poor nobleman" from a once proud family...

Regardless of the politics and whether Nigel is right of Merkel or even if Britain is more capitalist than Germany, the real underlying anger is many centuries old and has only a moderate amount to do with the issues of the EU. JMHO.

I think it really is as basic frustration over the fact that the EU simply isn't working. But the issues with the idea of the EU stems in part from the historical context you've laid out.

(10-15-2015 10:40 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Who cares what Farage thinks?

Do you not think the continuance or abolishment of the EU would effect us?

The title of this thread exemplifies the importance of using correct prepositions.

(10-15-2015 01:00 PM)VA49er Wrote:  So, is he basically Britain's Trump?

Farage has actually won some elections.

(10-15-2015 10:40 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Who cares what Farage thinks?

Who cares what you think?

(10-15-2015 04:37 PM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  

(10-15-2015 10:40 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Who cares what Farage thinks?

Who cares what you think?

I don't. Anyone raising their hands?

(10-15-2015 01:23 PM)miko33 Wrote:  It's nothing more than Europe being Europe. The Italians (via the Roman Empire) dominated the continent around the first years of the common era, then France around the 1000's, then Portugal in the 1400's, Spain in the 1500's, with France possibly retaking the dominant role in the 1600's, then Britain in the 1700's thru the first part of the 1800's, then back to France in the first part of the 1800's, then back to Britain in the mid 1900's thru the 1930's, then the American's (ironically) from the 1940's thru the 1970's and finally Germany slowly crept their way into the driver's seat thru economics from the 1980's thru the present. Nigel is irked because the German's were late comers to the European scene since it hadn't become a nation until Prussia consolidated power among the rest of the German states. When you're from a country that used to be top dog, i.e. the "Pax Britannia", "Sun never sets on the British Empire", etc and the upstart GERMANS of all people are now dominating European affairs...it can offend sensibilities when you are a "poor nobleman" from a once proud family...

Regardless of the politics and whether Nigel is right of Merkel or even if Britain is more capitalist than Germany, the real underlying anger is many centuries old and has only a moderate amount to do with the issues of the EU. JMHO.

I agree with most of your history except I won't say that Portugal domianted Europe in the 1400's. The 1400's were filled with regional conflicts that prevent the rise of a Spanish or English like power. I suppose the Holy Roman Empire was close enough to the definition.

None of those former empires (unless you count the British Empire itself) dominated the British people. The EU empire is (or, will be) very, very different in that respect, if the U.K. remains a part of it.