What a crock of shit

[amberdreams]

Excuse my French.

Posting here because - well, just because really.  I haven't felt this dispirited and despairing since Thatcher got in for her third term in '87. Even more so after sitting there all day in the Polling Station, seeing people come in to vote who'd never bothered to get off their arses to vote in their tiny-brained lives before because, to quote one woman, "I love my country" and "for freedom". Right. They say they are incensed at being told what to do by unelected people and they want our independence back. Re: unelected people making decisions that affect their lives, are they going to finally get rid of the House of Lords then? I doubt it. And I wonder what percentage of these people will turn out to vote in our next local or national elections? Ooh let me think. None? Maybe 0.01% of them? Yeah, that sounds about right.

The caiblre of the Leave voters shows in the fact that they were the ones who came in hot from social media, complaining loudly about ballot papers being filled in in pencil. Because THEY (who the fuck are THEY?) can just rub it out, you know. So these people demanded pens (why didn't they bring their own if they were that bothered?) because of course if it's filled in with pen then THEY can't alter the vote. Right. So if this conspiracy theory is correct and all voting in this country is rigged, which is what these feckers seemed to think, all THEY need to do is either spoil the inked ballot paper or hey, shred the fucker - or better yet, not bother counting the paper slips at all and totally make up the desired result.

So here we have it, a victory for the small-minded, bigotted, nationalistic, borderline racists and fascists, who tell themselves (and anyone else who's ears aren't bleeding) they did it for democracy.

Gah! Words fail me.

Comments

[manzanita-crow.livejournal.com]

I despair, I really do

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Me too. It's just so effing stupid.

[big-heart-june.livejournal.com]

It's so damn fucking scary I just do not know what to say...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

They were saying this morning this opens the door for the Netherlands, and a couple of other countries who have large Euro-sceptic populations leaving the EU too. Including France! It's fucking nuts.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I give up *hands* *shakes head*

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'd rather shake those fucking idiots who voted leave.

[herminekurotowa.livejournal.com]

I really thought there was some kind of common sense left in people. Now I really have to reconsider my oppinion about the human brain capacity, looks like it's decreasing with yells of ME FIRST!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

indeed.

[zara-zee.livejournal.com]

The thing is, right, I'm originally from England (came to Oz as a toddler), and I have tons of family there and I don't know a single, solitary person who voted to leave. Not one. But then...being a bleeding heart liberal from a family of bleeding heart liberals, I don't tend to hang out with small-minded, bigoted, nationalistic, borderline racists and fascists, so there's that.

Hugs you tight. I've seen lots of tweets from Brits about moving to Australia and they make me laugh, because haven't they heard how much we despise migrants coming over 'ere, takin' our jobs? We've got loads of 'fuck off we're full' memes...but somehow methinks y'all will be white enough to get in...apparently we only hate brown migrants.

It's a sad, sad world. I too despair, I really do. [Hugs].

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought it was hilarious that a lot of these Leave supporters were talking about emigrating - why would any other country want them anyhow? And how come it was ok for them to be immigrants but not ok for people fleeing conflict to seek sanctuary? Oh yeah, that'll be because they are white, and the immigrants coming here black or brown - or, you know, just speak funny.

Now let's cap it off shall we? Trump for President, Putin in Russia and Boris Johnson as our PM. Great, the world will go to Hell in a hand-basket within a year.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I'm so gutted and saddened by this result, not to be mention terrified about what this could mean for our future.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Me too! I just had a random chat over lunch with an actor who's in A Midsummer Night's Dream at our theatre, wallowing in mutual horror and depression over this. One of his sons is editor in Chief at the Guardian and rang him this morning to say he was walking to work but didn't even want to look at the news today, let alone pull a paper together out of it.

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

I was aggrieved enough by the result overall, without the anger of our entire country voting remain (Scotland) yet having no say in doing so, but then I saw how badly it's fucked Gibralter over and I could cry for them. Less than twenty four hours and we are already back in dispute with Spain over them. It scares me how world-wide the politics of hate is growing in momentum and how helpless we are to stop it.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It sounds highly likely that Scotland will have another referendum and leave the UK to join the EU. And how is that going to benefit the stupid idiots who voted Leave? Maybe I should move to Scotland.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I think you are absolutely right on the kind of people who were loudest in this referendum; where were they during democratic elections? We had a similar result in a recent EU related referendum and I fear the worst if the right wing fraction manages to push through a people's vote on leaving the EU as they now plan to do with this result from the UK. (We only have an option for 'advisory' referenda, but that's where the chaos starts).
I'm gonna give you an extra big hug when I see you in two weeks (there will still be free travel at least until then, right? o_O)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

They are talking about a two year exit plan - though how the hell that works I've no idea. I heard about Netherlands and a couple of other countries who might now try the same 'let the people decide' tactic and try and leave the EU. It's just so much crap. I do actually feel physically sick about this.

I'll take that extra hug!

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

You have all my sympathies.

I am just hoping I'm not going to be asking the rest of the world to return the favor come November.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I hope so too. Trumpapocalyspe is not the way I want the world to end, thanks very much.

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

Yep, this is horrifying. I've never felt ashamed to be Welsh before, but today I do.

And it's honestly terrifying how quickly something that was mostly a right-wing fringe project a few years ago has gained political legitimacy and come to pass. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I honestly feel as though we're sliding down the road toward right-wing extremism here.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's rife - with Trump in the US, Le Pen and co in Europe, Farage and this whole Leave campaign here - it makes me want to scream with frustration. People are pointing out the parallels with Hitler, but nobody wants to hear it.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Utter crock of shit. I haven't felt this dispirited and despairing since Thatcher got in for her third term in '87. - same here, it was unbelievable then and is unbelievable now.

And of course we all know who they are! They killed Pricess Di, they let in all these bleedin' foreigners, they sabotaged the result (but only if it was remain), they keep the Daily Mail readers full of anger...!

I am so ashamed that my two oldest sisters voted to leave, but it seems a lot of the older generation did too - the 'I never wanted us to join the EU' 'Britain is full!' and 'I don't want the Germans having power over me' reasoning, aaargh!

It's a sad and scary world *hugs*

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

yes, my mum voted leave too, her reasoning being she didn't think the leave vote would win but hoped it would be close enough to scare the EU into reforming itself. *face palm* And Brenda (who's in her mid sixties) also voted leave because she believed all the lies about leaving being the best way to get extra funding for the NHS. Because of course all the money we paid to the EU was going to be earmarked for the NHS and not have to go into the Treasury pot to fund all the other things we need to fund. Gah! How can people be so gullible?

But having said that, the Remain campaign was bloody useless. They woffled and lied and exaggerated but without the buzz words and phrases that would fire up voters. Why the fuck weren't they out there making the actual stats clear instead of lying? For instance - 5 % of the population of the UK is EU migrant workers. 10% of the NHS doctors are EU citizens. So take away that 5% - to relieve the pressure on the NHS services ha ha right - you also take away 10% of the doctors we need to deliver that service. Hmm - even I can do that sum!

[frozen_delight]

I still can't believe it! Pardon, but what a bloody mess! My heart really goes out to all the young people in the UK, whose futures are now more insecure than ever, thanks to the stupidity and blind egoism of the 65+ generation.
Sending you lots of hugs! <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'll take the hug today, I need it!
Apart from a successful email to JIB this has been a pretty miserable day. Are you trying to book tomorrow?

[rockstarpeach.livejournal.com]

Yeesh.

Dude, between you guys and the whole Trump situation, I'm getting a little worried.

The local news here in Toronto this morning was interviewing people about what they thought of it and while nine out of ten were wondering what the hell is wrong with the UK all of a sudden, there were two or three who were all "Good for them and patriotism and back to their roots" and whatever the fuck that means. Those were, of course, the ones they put on television. I think it's because we like to laugh at the crazy and really right now, the only way to deal with it is to laugh.

And despite those few crazies, I feel comforted that at least my country right now seems to be headed in a pretty good direction.

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

We are all counting on Canada heading in a pretty good direction because a bunch of folks will be headed your direction if the US Trumps the election...... Maybe seeing the UK vote will make people take the US election seriously if they aren't already. I don't know, it's all just really scary.

[blythechild.livejournal.com]

I feel you, luv. Couldn't believe the news when I woke up and checked the results o_O

[sillie]

*hugs* :/

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

*clings*

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I rarely talk about politics for the simple fact that I'm not particularly interested, but I have to say that I had a few palpitations this morning when Barry woke me up with the news that we had voted to leave.

I still feel a little bit shell-shocked, but I guess that's the pros and cons of living in a democracy - we're not always on the winning side :(

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

When the lowest common denominator is this low we rarely are on the winning side. Unfortunately. Now lets just hope the US doesn't follow our example and do something even more stupid - elect Trump.

[synn.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry.
I have some idea of the frustration/despair/anger you're facing, as we're seeing similar here in Trump's popularity (I can only hope he doesn't actually win).
I don't have the words. Rationally, I get the reasons people voted for brexit (wrong as I believe them to be) or support trump, I just don't really *comprehend* it. If that makes sense.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Absolutely it makes sense! That's exactly where I am - I understand but don't comprehend!

As for Trump, well. If he gets in there won't be anywhere far enough away to escape unscathed, I think.

[reggie11.livejournal.com]

And the stupid people dance to the tune that puppet master Murdoch sings as he pulls their strings via his media empire. The same thing has been happening in Australia for quite some time. I despair for the youth of Britain, and what the legacy they'll be left with. Many of us here are upset right along with you. The thing that was the most frightening about this is that google released the top search term for AFTER the the referendum had taken place. That term was "what is the EU?" So many fools voted without even a basic understanding of what they were voting for, and then thought, 'well shit, I wonder what it was all about'...after the fact. I feel for you.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yep, I saw that and despaired. What with that and the whole - why's it in pencil, I want a pen - business... if you are that worried about ballots being altered, bring your own bloody pen. Apparently someone my hubby knows had a bunch of these idiots come into their polling station and actually followed her when she took the ballot boxes into town to be counted to make sure she wasn't going to stop off somewhere and rub out their stupid pencil marks.

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

I was absolutely OoO when I heard the results and even though the lead up only touched me peripherally here in Germany I still managed to get informed on what a collossally shitty idea "Leave" would be by watching 20 mins of John Oliver and saying... yeah no. Just goes to show that we're EXACTLY where we were a hundred years ago, the age of the demagogue only on globalized social media steroids, re: Trump, re: ISIS, re: Boris Johnsons 350 billion dollar bus.

And I hadn't even considered things such as the Northern Irish peace process and shit like that which I read apparently might now be invalidated or at least suspended? Talk about SCARY.

What's the scariest thing I've heard about however is how many British people started googling "What is the EU?" AFTER VOTING TO LEAVE. I admit that unfortunately I'm not always the most informed voter when going to the polls in my own country, but damn if I haven't voted in every single election I was eligible to vote in since I turned 18, even the shitty little communal ones, because in my book everyone who doesn't vote loses the right to complain about the outcome.

I really hope that Britain and Europe get through this clusterfuck with bloody noses but no broken legs, because if we start to seriously founder in our stability things will be batshit crazier in Eurasia before we can so much as blink.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm sure things will settle down again eventually - this whole leaving process is apparently going to take at least two years! But in the meantime, all this uncertainty and instability is very damaging. The most rational argument I've heard so far from someone who voted leave was that the EU wasn't working, there is a lot of corruption, and the Remain campaign weren't offering any solutions to the problems, so he changed his vote to leave.

However, I still don't understand why he didn't vote stay, then pressure the Government to take action within the EU.

[kribban.livejournal.com]

When I listened to the Swedish pre-referendum coverage, they had dug up a well-educated, articulate lawyer to represent the Leave side. I'm guessing he wasn't representative of the average Leave-voter?

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Sadly not. At the lower end of the spectrum are the people scum who are now going round shouting you're next to muslims...

[etrix.livejournal.com]

Have you seen this?

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/people-are-really-really-hoping-this-theory-about-david-cameron-and-brexit-is-true--bJhqBql0VZ

If true, then Cameron is a lot smarter than I thought...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I did! It makes Cameron both cleverer and more stupid than I thought - clever because he's manoeuvred Boris between a rock and a hard place, but stupid because if he believed this could happen why the hell didn't he and his idiot cronies campaign harder to get the public vote to stay IN?