Originally Posted by
Slant
Well, I don't see anyone on this planet that would understand the EU putting itself at the mercy of the UK. Given... virtually every metric humanity can think of, that is just not the natural outcome of this drama. Under any circumstance.
But, having said that, we will most likely not end up in an adversarial role. Why am I so optimistic? Well, it's not because of politicians, that's for sure. But from business contacts to people in know in the UK and how the conversations go... there's one thing I can say: The people of both sides have no interest in an adversarial role. None whatsoever. The British that aren't zealots are fiercly European. Oh, they may dislike the EU as a concept, but they are deeply rooted in Europe. If only to be the class clown or special snowflake or whatever they want to be. But they need continental Europe, either as friends or at the very least as a background to their eccentric theatrics.
People like Dribbles and their rhetoric are worth nothing without Europe. We wouldn't even be having this conversation if it wasn't for the continent. And vice versa, with all the upset the UK is causing and no matter how pissed off we may be, Europe just wouldn't be the same without Britain. So no, the adversarial role that you fear is not going to happen. That doesn't mean, though, that the UK won't pay a price for its Brexiteers. But that'll be more or less an internal conflict limited to the British isles. Once we're in no-deal land, as far as the continent is concerned, we have hit rock bottom and know what's what. Whatever follows after that is going in a positive direction.