Originally Posted by
Malacrass
It's a sword of Damocles, that's for sure. But this is not necessarily a bad thing when everyone knows it's coming, as opposed to letting the pot boil until it suddenly errupts... into an uncoordinated Brexit.
I think of it as a motivation for everyone to make sure that no member draws the short end of the stick in this union, because the next referendum will come. Guaranteed, with the announcement coming 25 years in advance.
Just one example I'm thinking of:
During our elections this year (Germany) the topic of geriatic care came up every now and then. As everyone knows, Germany has a huge demographic problem, just like Europe in general. Some members more, some less. But it's a clear trend.
So both candidates competing for chancellorship had to answer how they intend to fix that problem: Who cares for our old?
Of course they professionally answered with mostly nebulous bullshit phrases like "more money for nursing staff" (not specifying how much) and "more nursing staff in general".
But one of their answers blew my mind. I would have never imagined that they would outright say this: "We will get the nursing staff from east europe". They literally said that, I'm not making this up.
They intend to cannibalize the workforce of other EU members. Which in itself is okay, the world is and will always be competing for people, the most precious resource. But here we are not talking about top senior managers, scientists or engineers. We are talking about primary healthcare staff needed for the provision of basic medical care - on a grand scale. From countries that are also bound to struggle in that area.
I mean what kind of fucked vision of Europe is that? What's going to happen in 25 years when basic services aren't met anymore in some parts of East Europe? Act surprised when far right nutjobs are winning elections? More sudden exits?
I don't know if my suggestion of auto-referendums every generation (25 years) would fix that, but at least I would assume that the leading figures would at least try to act more foresightful if they were in place. Or more likely, the economy doing their part when they can calculate and anticipate certain unpleasant events.
Btw you don't have to reply to any of this, I'm just letting this out lol.