Nctnico,
We shall agree to differ. I do not foresee the Armageddon that you seem to predict within the UK as a realistic view. We are a small but potent country, like it or not, we can be VERY resilient. The Thatcher years and Miners Strike etc, are not a good example of how the UK operates. I lived through those years.... It was a war between our Government and the Labour Unions. The Falkland Conflict was very controversial but our response caught the Argentinians completely by surprise. They expected us to roll over and accept their actions unchallenged. Never underestimate a Briton, we can often surprise our adversaries.
You describe us as a "small" country, true, but as I said we can be a potent country as well. It is all about the make up and attitude of the population, not the square metre area of the turf
We are a centre of excellence in technology and engineering. If we are as insignificant as some would like to believe, why has our decision spread shock waves across the World markets and political arena ?
I welcome overseas workers in the UK, provided they have something to offer rather than just abusing our hospitality. We have enough problems without importing new ones ! I am a Briton to the heart and proud of it. I worked for my Government to advance our countries interests. I am a patriot but that does not make me narrow minded or wrong to want the UK to stand alone when it comes to its governance and leadership.
It is unrealistic to believe a small country must be part of the EU in order to prosper. The EU is not the panacea to success that some may think. Not all countries are the same or offer the same capabilities
Finally, In my job I worked closely with the EU in Brussels on specialist topics. We were seen as the experts in our field yet I was mortified at some of what I witnessed around the meeting table when there.
Fraser