"Will today be Ukip's 'political earthquake'? [...]" [edited title]

[Boiler 46,276]

It is more an issue of what has happened over the last 30 years,

[Peikko 1,575]

What has happened over the last 30 years? UKIP may have made some gains in some local council elections but their policies will not be implemented ,whatever those policies might be. Local councils do not make immigration law, now can they discriminate against those who are legally residing in the UK. Nothing will change, the disgruntled minority will piss all over Farage and UK politics will resume normal function.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Farage? That name sounds foreign...

[Boiler 46,276]

What has happened over the last 30 years? UKIP may have made some gains in some local council elections but their policies will not be implemented ,whatever those policies might be. Local councils do not make immigration law, now can they discriminate against those who are legally residing in the UK. Nothing will change, the disgruntled minority will piss all over Farage and UK politics will resume normal function.

The Local elections are small beer, really only of interest as an indicator to the General Election.

UKIP are more interested in the Euro elections results to be announced on Sunday.

Farage? That name sounds foreign...

He is, neither Israeli or American.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Score one for the entertainment that will be the EU this year :thumbs:

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What entertainment would there be? 7 out of 10 votes went to pro-Europe parties. And the rest of the vote is so splintered that I doubt they'll amount to much of an opposition force. So the UK might leave. I say let them. They'll be back soon enough.

[Boiler 46,276]

It is much more complicated and more interesting than that.

France was the most interesting,

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

What entertainment would there be? 7 out of 10 votes went to pro-Europe parties. And the rest of the vote is so splintered that I doubt they'll amount to much of an opposition force. So the UK might leave. I say let them. They'll be back soon enough.

It is always entertaining how you can look at any set of circumstances and see whatever you want.. They received more votes than the other two parties. First time in 100 years one of the two major parties have not won.. It would be like a national election here without a republican or Democrat winning and you are quibbling that they didn't get 50% .. They got the most! I think.. well ####### I really didn't check the numbers that closely. The other two parties are upset.. That is what matters.

They get a voice.. I get to hear Farage.. You seem to think I'm trying to push an agenda or be part of some viral movement.. I'm not, I jam just going to enjoy seeing the speeches as they try to sort it all out. Take a few seconds away from your lifelong obsession of agenda pushing and let me enjoy the moment.

yeesh!

Edited May 28, 2014 by OnMyWayID

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It is much more complicated and more interesting than that.

France was the most interesting,

There will be implications for national politics in some of the member states - France and the UK first and foremost - but the European project will move on just fine. The xenophobes and Eurosceptics will not stop the train - which has long left the station anyways.

It is always entertaining how you can look at any set of circumstances and see whatever you want.. They received more votes than the other two parties. First time in 100 years one of the two major parties have not won.. It would be like a national election here without a republican or Democrat winning and you are quibbling that they didn't get 50% .. They got the most! I think.. well ####### I really didn't check the numbers that closely. The other two parties are upset.. That is what matters.

They get a voice.. I get to hear Farage.. You seem to think I'm trying to push an agenda or be part of some viral movement.. I'm not, I jam just going to enjoy seeing the speeches as they try to sort it all out. Take a few seconds away from your lifelong obsession of agenda pushing and let me enjoy the moment.

yeesh!

That's the UK, So what? They'll work this out. Worst case, they leave. It'll hurt them more than the rest of Europe. Let 'em try.

[Boiler 46,276]

There will be implications for national politics in some of the member states - France and the UK first and foremost - but the European project will move on just fine. The xenophobes and Eurosceptics will not stop the train - which has long left the station anyways.

The thousand year Reich!

How did that end up. The way Euroland was set up all was good as long as everything was going well. Coincided with a historically odd economic growth period that has concluded. It is much harder for any civilization to manage fall, disparate societies more so.

I can think of none that has prospered in such circumstances.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

There will be implications for national politics in some of the member states - France and the UK first and foremost - but the European project will move on just fine. The xenophobes and Eurosceptics will not stop the train - which has long left the station anyways.

That's the UK, So what? They'll work this out. Worst case, they leave. It'll hurt them more than the rest of Europe. Let 'em try.

I agree.. A strong and vibrant Europe is the best for humanity in my opinion... more-so than for any other area or group of countries on the earth.

I am more concerned with their immigration problems than ours. We are a nation of immigrants that adopted much of their culture - we should be changing more than them.. Sometimes I think we forget that while the US/Australia/Canada/etc is a somewhat hodgepodge of borrowed culture the same is not true of Europe... They should be able to protect their cultures with less criticism than we would receive.. Similar to say Japan or other long standing country with a unique culture.. It is in that light I think the UKIP has a valid argument and that the (entertaining) dialog should take place.

In the end the EU populace is going to side against those who support the UKIP and open the doors because that is part of the enlightened culture of Europe.. I just wish that those that come through those doors would adopt the culture instead of bringing their baggage with them.

[Boiler 46,276]

In the end the EU populace is going to side against those who support the UKIP and open the doors because that is part of the enlightened culture of Europe..

I am not aware of any party that stood on that platform.

[IB6UB9 42]

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The thousand year Reich!

How did that end up. The way Euroland was set up all was good as long as everything was going well. Coincided with a historically odd economic growth period that has concluded. It is much harder for any civilization to manage fall, disparate societies more so.

I can think of none that has prospered in such circumstances.

The thousand year Reich? Seriously? Maybe you go back and do a little reading up on history before posting. It'll prevent you from going public with ridiculous comparisons like this.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I agree.. A strong and vibrant Europe is the best for humanity in my opinion... more-so than for any other area or group of countries on the earth.

I am more concerned with their immigration problems than ours. We are a nation of immigrants that adopted much of their culture - we should be changing more than them.. Sometimes I think we forget that while the US/Australia/Canada/etc is a somewhat hodgepodge of borrowed culture the same is not true of Europe... They should be able to protect their cultures with less criticism than we would receive.. Similar to say Japan or other long standing country with a unique culture.. It is in that light I think the UKIP has a valid argument and that the (entertaining) dialog should take place.

In the end the EU populace is going to side against those who support the UKIP and open the doors because that is part of the enlightened culture of Europe.. I just wish that those that come through those doors would adopt the culture instead of bringing their baggage with them.

Absolutely. No disagreement here. The integration of migrants is a big challenge in today's Europe. But remember that that integration was not always easy and painless in this country either. They're at the beginning of this process in Europe. It will work out. It largely has in these parts in the past. Though we're still seeing friction in the US when looking at today's wave of migrants from south of the border and the perceived or real integration challenges that come with it. Those challenges will be overcome, too. Same goes for the old continent.

The long and short of it is that no EU nation - not one - can survive without immigration. People in Europe know this to be true but they have a hard time accepting it. And they have an even harder time accepting the consequences - namely that Europe will be less white, less western and less northern. The continent looks different today than it did a generation ago and it will look different still a generation down the road. Some will try to make political capital out of that reality but changing that reality, they will not.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog