I have been tempted to post here for weeks - not that I intended to (or could) influence anyone. But I genuinely believed it would go in favour of remaining. Imagine my surprise when I flipped on the TV this morning
The reason I think many 'remainians' have been hostile is because of frustration at the same old arguments from the other side: "need to curb immigration", "EU pushing us around", "We want Britain to be great again!" and the result will only impact on one of those (clue, its not the first or third). The worst was several neighbours (who are retired) claiming they wanted Britain to be like it was when they were growing up. I had to bite my lip because I couldn't believe relatively intelligent people honestly think we can go back in time. And I don't see why the EU would try to stop refugees or dare I say 'illegal' immigrants leaving the EU, they're far more concerned with them entering and moving around within it. So if anything, surely it would make it harder for the UK to 'stem the tide' (that is of course assuming that we get "too many" despite no official figures coming out from either camp, it is merely assumed that its too much and damaging to our economy, when for the most part all the evidence I've seen points to the contrary
http://iasservices.org.uk/how-does-immigration-benefit-the-uk/).
I think the UK government will fight to remain in the EU single market, but what happens in the interim I haven't read any predictions except it will have to trade under the WTO rules.
I'm fairly sure the vast majority of voters, from either side, didn't actually know what to expect which is why the campaign to leave was so loud and nationalist, and the leavers scare mongering - the powers that be were uncertain, and so fell back on the main driving force of public voting - short sighted, emotional and political persuasions. The trouble with referendums is they must take a very complicated issue with all manner of possible consequences and break it down to a 'yes/no'. Some have stuck by the 'well, its simple, we're either in, or out!' and these are the people - those who think everything is black and white - that piss me off the most. So they might as well have just flipped a coin.
Ultimately the public is responsible for what the government does, but I'm willing to bet, just like in government.. if things go well those who voted to leave will be loud, if things don't - they'll refuse to accept responsibility, claim they were misled or simply keep quiet. And its likely that it'll be a heady mix of both.
I'm curious as to what little known or relatively minor laws/restrictions the EU impose on the UK will change, and what will come of it. Will all the problems people have with Brussels, they did stand firm with regards to Google, Microsoft, and Apple, and also capped the charges phones companies make. I guess we'll find out in the following few years!