Big Government unravelling: Swiss ward off the EU, US counties want to abandon Blue States

We all need some good news and who doesn’t like seeing overbearing-undemocratic-parasites lose? In terms of the cycle of civilizations, perhaps we are past the peak of Big Government, and headed for decentralization. As state entities grow too big and get too disconnected from the voters, they inevitably became overconfident, and overplay their hand — micromanaging hair dryers and droughts at the same time. But  “the mood has changed”…

Nigel Farage predicts the EU will collapse within a decade.UK Flag

Speaking to Fox Business, the former Brexit Party leader said that Brexit’s success will become a model for other European countries “impressed” by Britain’s life outside of the EU. He said that many in Europe were looking on in jealousy after much of the EU scaremongering about Brexit failed to materialise. “There is now a 70 percent approval rating for Brexit now. “

After seven years of trying to get Switzerland under tighter EU control, the Swiss have abandoned the talks.

The Swiss talks with Brussels collapse after seven long years

Damian Wilson, RT

Switzerland shocked Brussels by walking away from a closer relationship and into an uncertain future, but MP Thomas Aeschi says the Swiss will not be a cash cow eternally milked to keep the EU alive, preferring Swissexit instead.

Switzerland today is celebrating its breakaway status from the European Union, having finally tired of the bullying and rhetoric from Brussels and walked away from a proposed framework arrangement after seven years of negotiations, preferring to go it alone in Swissexit.

Never a full member of the EU, that decision leaves its relationship with Brussels facing an uncertain future. The two are bound together by a collection of 120 bilateral agreements that, one-by-one, will lapse over time. However, choosing to walk away from deadlocked negotiations was, it seems, not so hard after all.

With clear echoes of Britain’s divorce from the bloc, an imperious Brussels once again massively overplayed its hand and the Swiss eventually tired of the bullying, the rhetoric and the threats. They laid their cards on the table, stood up and walked away. That’s seven years of talks that amounted to nothing. Nichts. Rien. Niente.

In recent polls nearly half of the EU said they hadn’t benefited from free movement and would be better off without it. And British buyers are buying up more goods from the rest of the world. Their purchases from the EU have fallen 30%.

US Flag, Flying.Meanwhile some counties in the US are so fed up with their woke State governments they voted to try to leave the state. Officials in the counties are now obliged to formally look into the idea.

Oregone?  7 Oregon Counties Vote To Back Seceding, So Citizens Can Vote GOP In Idaho

Bill Chappell, NPR

Greater Idaho Map

,,,

In rural Oregon, voters in several counties want their state to go from Democratic blue to Republican red — and to do that, they hope to leave Oregon altogether and join neighboring Idaho. Five counties approved ballot measures this week, joining two others that had already voted in favor of the idea.

“This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon,” said Mike McCarter, president of the advocacy group Citizens for Greater Idaho.

He added, “If we’re allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well.”

Ultimately a change in state lines has to be approved by Congress. And unless the Democrats see some electoral advantage, or are feeling suicidal, that seems unlikely. Will fed-up Oregonians march in the streets to make it happen?

There are many ways for repressed people to fight back.

h/t Bill in AZ

Red Fist: by Rafaelgr

*Dang Oops. Got the Red Blue thing wrong in the headline. Sorry. The US conservatives should never had let the Democrats steal the color Blue!

9.7 out of 10 based on 80 ratings

125 comments to Big Government unravelling: Swiss ward off the EU, US counties want to abandon Blue States

  • #
    ivan

    Oh dear, things aren’t working out how the members of the the World Economic Forum anticipated with their move to a world government total reset. Is that why the Chinese have found a new bird flu?

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  • #
    bhiggum

    US counties want to abandon the Blue states- not sure why the Democrats get Blue and how Republicans ended up with Red, but whatever. I also saw western Minnesota counties were investigating their options to get away from the Twin City death spiral, but I don’t think that went anywhere.

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    • #
      LisaGinNZ

      Obama / Dems purposefully “stole” the color Blue during his 8 years.
      However, historically, RED = Dems / communists / marxists and Blue = Republicans
      I find the red/blue confusing, too…

      TAKE BACK THE BLUE Republicans!

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      • #
        Rock

        In Reagan’s time Blue meant Republican and Red meant Democrat. NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd reversed them for the 2000 election. Evidently communist red was too close to home for the Dems.

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    • #
      beowulf

      Here’s Dr Steve Turley’s take on what is happening with the demographic shift, where Red = Republican. Turley refers to those fleeing Democrat states as “leftugees”. I don’t know whether he coined the term or not, but I find it appropriate and witty.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7SGaoFIhc0

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      • #

        I consider myself a California climate policy refugee. There are many places along the California/Nevada border where gasoline is as much as $2 more per gallon ($5.39 vs. $3.27) in stations separated by less than 50 miles. Can you guess which side has the higher prices?

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    • #
      dadgervais

      I was there, and still remember well! In the ’60s, when enough of the public, but not too many, had color TVs, a major network chose blue (light colored) for Republicans and red (dark) for Democrats because it would still be distinct on black and white sets. They commented that the choice was arbitrary and that the choice would be reversed each election cycle. It was reversed for the next election, then not reversed the election following. A commenter asked about the non-change, and a talking-head said that viewers claimed the change was confusing so they would no longer swap the colors. Another commenter asked about a study that suggested a psychological color-association (true-blue vs commie-red) could bias some voters. The talking-head said he never heard of it.

      It stayed Red=Republican/Blue=Democrat ever since.

      p.s. A pet-peve of mine: The Leftists are Democrat Politicians; definitely NOT DemocratIC Politicians.

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  • #
    Kalm Keith

    The idea of U.S. regions being able to realign with a less threatening, more down to earth state is interesting.

    It provokes the thought that here in Australia there may be some regions of Victoria which would prefer to be part of an adjacent state.

    Might we soon be hearing of Vexit?

    Last weekend there was a review of the effects of the Lockdown strategy on the state of Victoria.

    It wasn’t unexpected; the human cost of closed businesses, closed education system, one track lockdown government “thinking”, was always there to see if you wanted to look.

    Not only Victoria, but Australia wide, the devastation caused by the blundering government crackdown on that little COVID19 bug has been kept from view, but like the Victorian expose, the full Australian impact will one day be revealed.

    Maybe we’ll get angry at things like dying humans being separated from family and friends in their last moments; who knows.

    KK

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    • #
      Ian

      “Maybe we’ll get angry at things like dying humans being separated from family and friends in their last moments; who knows.”

      You seem not to realise that Morrison’s closure of Australia’s international borders since March 2020, that’s 14 months ago, has perhaps had more impact on “dying humans being separated from family and friends” than has the closure of State borders, closures which have been, at most, for a few weeks and usually for only a few days. It seems highly likely that Australia’s borders will not be opened in July, as Morrison has intimated, and may remain closed till 2022. If that happens there will be even more impact in families.

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      • #
        Gary Simpson

        If the approach of the Victorian government, with 60-odd cases, nobody hospitalised except one 99 year old, is any guide, then I don’t think anyone would wish for the borders to be opened to hordes of arrivals from countries with far higher rates of infection.

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      • #
        Kalm Keith

        If I can borrow some of your words;

        “You seem not to realise that” my comment was about the performance of our elected state and federal governments.

        It’s always best to fix your own backyard first and Australia just took the sledge hammer to the bug.

        There should have been a controlled national border but no, just business as usual.

        The unloading of a cruise ship in Sydney was a joke.
        Obviously in that case money, for the cruise line owners, was more important.
        NSW and federal governments should feel shame; but it was just an “accident” or misunderstanding, ha ha.

        With controlled borders, temperature checks on entry, a mandatory medical check after two weeks and doctors all clear noted to immigration, the rest of Australia could have kept going. Any symptomatic travelers would need to isolate along with family and contacts.

        But no, that’s the sensible thing; politicians need control and high rise CV19 incubators to entrench their dynamic image; after all, “we’re all in this together”, ha ha say Scotty, Dan and StepDan.

        Victorians say it will take a generation to recover from the idiotic Lockdown.
        You might feel afraid of the disease but most of us should be greatly afeared of the cure.

        Last night I spoke to a woman, about 60 who had received her first Astro shot. She described a night of terror as she felt cold inside and could not get warm. Then later she was hot. Muscles spasmed all night. She later spoke to two other acquaintances who had experienced similar reactions.

        Yes, we can trust our governments can’t we.

        Can’t we?

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        • #
          Ian

          I had an AZ injection on April 7 without any ill effects whatsoever. However after her AZ injection my wife did have a similar experience to the that described. I wonder if anyone has collected data on the incidence of ill effects in men and women.

          You ask “Yes, we can trust our governments can’t we.”

          Yes, o course we can. We can trust them to focus primarily on how to retain power. On how to ignore the electorate at all times except just prior to an election when their currying favour is nauseating.On how to ensure any mistakes are blamed on anyone but them. On how to select the worse possible option for anything where there are choices. Think submarines. On how to disadvantage those who aim to be or are self supported retirees. Think franking credits (ALP opposition I know but would have been in had they won government) and Morrison’s transfer balance cap a cap based on a return rate of 5% on term deposits. Current rate is less than half that. On how to spend lavishly on “consultants”.

          Loads more as I’m certain you know

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          • #
            Kalm Keith

            Yes.

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          • #
            OriginalSteve

            The reason IMHO for shutting the borders to block entry of a virus with a 99% recovery rate similar to normal flu is simple…..

            It means its easier to chase people down with thier nasty little vaccines.

            Its ALL about making sure no one can escape OS.

            You watch…as the numbers of poor unfortunates and ignorant get vaccinated, all of a sudden cases will drop to zero, but all the police state stuff will be in place as well….and vaccine passports will be in place…

            Its all about power and control.

            I do think Victorians though are over the whole mess. I suspect those protesting against the vaccine caused the Satanists in control sufficient heartburn, so the old trick of inflicting more pain on the inmates was performed via lockdown. Now they have victoristanis on a leash, they just jerk the leash to make them come to heel…roll over…play dead…arrest that pregnant woman for thought crime…..good dog….

            Victoriastan appears to be a stalag now – people are confined to huts…random inspections, arbitrary arrest, extreme punishment…just like a concentration camp….work details….control of privileges…

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            • #
              Kalm Keith

              Fifty years ago it would have been unthinkable to contemplate this mess.

              Governments have always been corrupted, but it was largely kept low enough to be out of public view.

              The 80:20 rule applied, and we had 80% of government resources tasked towards improving and managing our lot.

              Currently we have at least 80% of effort going to the Wrong stuff. What’s so insulting is that they don’t even bother to try covering it up.

              They have the Media, education, the law, the police and our taxes firmly under control and if we have any complaints we have nowhere to go.

              Even voting is such a joke that they leave the engines running on their schemes during the elections.

              MalEx444 exemplifies modern politics; I can just picture our submarines training in the new Snowy mountains Hydro bath up there while a hacksaw is used in the great big barrier reef club to cut another kilo off the 7 tonnes of gold stashed up there for emergencies.

              They have only contempt for us. Absolute contempt.

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        • #
          MP

          Kieth, the cruise ship treatment was the most disgusting thing I witnessed last year, is that how you wish to treat fellow human beings, not very Christian and the joke was that a huge ship snuck into harbour, do you really believe it was stealth, no pilot, tugs, Feds, customs, immigration and the harbour board, all took the day off.
          It was fear porn and a country stooped to the level of animals, called them petri dishes and floating coffins, pushed them all back to sea. There is no forgiving people who went along with that farce.

          This whole thread is screaming for more division, more segregation, more of the same.

          10

      • #
        beowulf

        Yes, Chairman Dan is so much more compassionate than Morrison . . . and still calling the shots from his sick-bed.
        https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2021/06/vic-govt-grants-film-crew-exemption-to-film-in-martin-foleys-electorate-while-denying-exemption-for-.html

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        • #
          Kalm Keith

          A classic “reveal” of their activity that’s hard to argue with;

          completely science free and all for them and none for us.

          In the words of maybe William Shakespeare;
          “will nobody rid me of this meddlesome Premier”.

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        • #
          Dennis

          What is not mentioned often enough is that the British Colonies negotiated and formed the Federation of States, Commonwealth of Australia, and those governments ensured that most of their powers were retained with the Federal Government established having external powers and limited internal powers in accordance with Constitutional Laws.

          For example, when interstate borders were closed the Federal Government objected and joined citizen Clive Palmer in objecting to border closure via the courts. The Federal Government acting on advice withdrew their support and later the courts confirmed that State Governments had the constitutional right to close interstate borders.

          Labor often argues that the Federal Government has responsibility for quarantine but Constitutional Laws expert opinion is that this has never been tested and States have control of quarantine, in fact it is State Health Services and others that manage (or mismanage) hotel quarantine and even contact tracing.

          The Keating Labor Government created COAG (Council Of Australian Governments) to try and create a forum where cooperation and agreement between the States and Federal could be achieved. The Morrison Coalition Government changed the COAG system to the now National Leaders Cabinet also attempting to achieve consensus.

          Our system, of government is considered to be one of the world’s best but there are many grey areas and handicaps, State sovereignty takes precedence over Federal in most areas of internal governance. Many Constitutional Laws have never been tested in a court of law and therefore State Governments are in positions of power that Federal cannot overrule.

          Of course politicians manipulate, abuse and use the State-Federal responsibilities and powers to take advantage as it suits them.

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          • #
            Kalm Keith

            I did talk about moving to other states , but only as a way of stirring the political class.

            Current borders should hold firm.

            The core issue is failure of the system to punish and keep our elected representatives honest.

            They aren’t, not by a long shot, and self correction doesn’t seem likely anytime soon.

            The real problem of accountability of politicians and public servants is lack of accountability and seeming immunity from the law.

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            • #
              Dennis

              Yes, too many examples of investigations going nowhere, like the AWU slush fund fraud involving WA and VIC jurisdictions, and the Trade Union Royal Commission into governance and corruption, referrals to courts of law and most have disappeared, and the Turnbull Government refused to extend the Commissioner’s inquiries when it was obvious to observers that there were many stones left unturned.

              And then the Constitution Section 44 inquiries into sitting MPs holding dual citizenship, once both sides realised they were in potential trouble it was dropped.

              The list goes on, and on.

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        • #
          yarpos

          The 1500 limit at the Shrine vs 10’s of thousands at the AFL on the same day did it for me.

          70

      • #
        Hasbeen

        The effect on those otherwise healthy who die from an imported new infection is probably greater than on families separated.

        The problem in the UK was caused by their keeping the airports open to maintain their tourist trade, & re importing new virus regularly.

        61

        • #
          Kalm Keith

          Yes.
          New York, that high turnover region of Italy and the U.K. all had big numbers that could be attributed mainly to a deliberate blindness on the part of government.

          80

      • #
        Dennis

        There is a lot of misleading information regarding Australia’s international border closure which does not prohibit Australian citizens from returning ….

        https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/covid-19/covid-19/trying-get-home/covid-19-re-entry-and-quarantine-measures

        20

    • #
      hypersonic

      I tried to start a petition to move the NT border two kilometres south of the Barossa Valley but it failed, its like how many STH Australians does it take to change a light bulb, none because they dont like change.

      22

    • #

      In our constitution there is a provision for the Queensland senate vote to be split into three regions instead of the whole state. This would allow for eg the the two northern regions to to send to the senate more country oriented senators in comparison to the city person in the south. A huge benefit would be to ensure no greens would get sufficient votes to have a representative in the Senate. There are provisions in the Constitution to have more states. Note USA has 50 states which each sends two senators (who have a staggered term of 6 years-hence midterm elections). Switzerland with there small population have 26 states (which actually have full taxing powers tansferring a proportion to the Federal government which does not tax as was the case in Australia at federation)
      An answer is to have more states (16 or even 20) with reduced number of senators say 6 servings 6 years with a staggered election with the house of reps every three years.
      This would help decentralisation, get a better senate which would be a true house of review and reduce the chance of minor parties in the senate. At the state level there would be better management in tune with the local public. There is no way at present for north Queensland and north WA (more than 1000km from Brisbane or Perth and over 2000km from Canberra )to be managed properly with the city interests. As with USA capital cities should be moved away from the largest cities.

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  • #
    PeterS

    Western governments are on notice. Unfortunately, they can change things to make sure they still survive to continue to put the screws on us. For example, Canada has a bill claiming it is unreasonable to ask people to put their lives in danger to vote during a pandemic. In effect they are saying all elections should be suspended during a pandemic(s) that might never end. Although the Western governments are on notice, I doubt enough voters at this time have woken up. In time I suspect they will but it will be too late to undo all the authoritarian power the governments will have on us by then. Time is fast running out to make a serious change under our current respective democratic systems to effect a real change. Welcome to the real world.

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    • #
      el gordo

      ‘ … our current respective democratic systems …’

      Benevolent dictatorships are the only alternative.

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      • #
        GlenM

        Democracy and its polity need to be demolished in my view. It doesn’t work anymore and I’m sorry to say that. I totally agree with el Gordo.

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      • #
        Russ Wood

        The big trouble with that is how do you KEEP it benevolent? There aren’t may De Gaulles around these days!

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    • #
      Greg Cavanagh

      It seems to me that the people in the Western democratic governments are simply doing and believing the same as those in a communist government or a dictatorship government. They aren’t honest and they aren’t working for the people. They simply work with what they’ve got, and corrupt that as much as they can for their own gain, ego or power.

      The whole system of government of any type is by the very nature of the people within; corrupt.

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      • #
        PeterS

        That is true to a certain extent. However, unlike places like China we do have the power of voting a government out of office. The problem we have at the moment is the alternative party most people consider voting for is not much different. Hence, we are stuck ping-ponging between two rotten parties. The result is we will end up in a pseudo dictatorship when we might as well dispense with elections as people finally realise they have no value other than to give the illusion that people have the power. We do have the power to make a difference for now but that window is rapidly closing. Most people simply don’t know how to use that power or they don’t want to use it because they don’t give a damn or a too lazy to use their brains. In other words, we get the government we deserve.

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        • #
          Gary Simpson

          It has been pointed out before, that no matter which party you vote for, the only result you can be sure of is that you will have a politician in charge.

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          • #
            Bruce

            When the punters can vote out the public serpents as well, there might be an improvement.

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        • #
          el gordo

          In the new world order Australia could eliminate the federal parliament, but keep the states and local councils within our democratic orbit.

          07

  • #
    Penguinite

    Swissexit! Uplifting news to start my Day! Yesterday was Ivermectin. Please keep it up Jo!

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    • #
      Richard Owen No.3

      The EU bureaucrats have always had an over-blown sense of their own importance and what they are entitled to get. Hence their fury at the British walking out of their “kingdom”. **
      Now that the UK is out more countries will start to think like the Swiss, “is it really worth being a member?”

      **I remember when I was in Brussels in 1978, the ‘perks’ were already high. Large air-conditioned office blocks for the ever-increasing horde. Salaries taxed at the EU rate (about 3%). ‘Duty free’ supermarkets in the office block open to all employees (and their relatives who came with them). “Duty free” in Europe meant much cheaper food items; on the ferry to Sweden there was such a market and people were filling trolleys with coffee, cheese etc. not alcohol. And the now departed 7,000(?) British bureaucrats who got to travel ‘home’ in working time i.e. leave for the train station midday Friday, then ferry to UK. Reverse Monday morning so arrive in time for lunch. I suppose the Chunnel put an end to that arrangement but I wouldn’t bet on it. Recall the case in 1959 when a newly elected MP wondered why a Commons staff member stood at the foot of the main staircase (with tea & meal breaks) doing nothing. Persistent enquiries finally unearthed that his grandfather had been hired back in the nineteenth century for 6 weeks in summer to tell MPs not to walk on the steps as they had just been varnished. Somehow the job had become permanent for 3 generations.

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      • #
        Graeme#4

        Also worked in Brussels for six months – that was six months too long. Chauffeur-driven car for the boss of the small company, large coffee vending machines on each floor dispensing free coffees, free pastries every morning for the project management team, nobody turning up to the many meetings on time, and nobody cared much about working all of August. In fact, nobody seemed to care much about anything, except their expected Christmas bonus and vehicle tax breaks.

        10

    • #

      Brussels is trying to make life as difficult as possible for us Brits as when we make a success of our new found freedom other countries will wonder what the purpose of the EU is.

      We have stopped buying so many EU goods and the bloc is at last realising that they were foolish to try to bully a country who bought£ 100 billion more of goods a year from them as they bought from us.. We have at last introduced tariffs on their goods that they imposed on us in January

      I assume the UK and Swiss govts are currenttly just about to talk to each other

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  • #
    David Maddison

    If the EU takes 10 years to collapse that will be far too long.

    Europe in its present form will already have destroyed itself by then. There will be nothing worth saving.

    How long do you think a nominally free, industrial civilisation can last with:

    -Expensive and useless “green” solar and wind power, only kept afloat for the moment by French nuclear power and Norwegian hydro power.

    -Ongoing and deliberate destruction of traditional family and moral values based upon Judeo-Christian ethics.

    -Hatred of one’s past achievements and revision of history including destruction of statues and renaming of buildings, places and institutions etc..

    -Allowing the Chinese communists to infiltrate institutions, government and politicians.

    -Allowing Marxist values in general to permeate society and institutions as per Rudi Dutschke’s “long march through the institutions”.

    – The suppression of free speech that is true, only because it is deemed to cause supposed “offence”. (The Left can’t tolerate alternate opinions, hence censorship.)

    – The limitless importation of non-genuine “refugees”, who are among the world’s least educated people and who have no understanding or respect for Western values.

    -Ongoing racism against white people, especially hetero males, and particularly those with traditional education, work ethics and who are achievers. From the present day or the past.

    -The targeted destruction of anyone who promotes conservative values.

    – The list is endless.

    Civilisation doesn’t just “exist”. It requires constant hard effort to preserve it. When conservatives remain silent dark forces from within and without will destroy it. That’s guaranteed. And that’s what’s happening in Europe, USA, Canada, NZ and Australia.

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    • #

      Unfortunately your last para graph summed it up.

      We are talking about the entire western world who seem to have gone collectively mad at the same time

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      • #
        Murray Shaw

        Aided and abetted by an incurious MSM!

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        • #
          another ian

          I’d suggest that should be

          Aided and abetted by an incurious AT BEST MSM!

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          • #
            OriginalSteve

            The answer is simple….start fighting back at a grassroots level.

            Vote out the lefties in local councils.
            Vote out lefties in local community organizations
            Vote out left wing govts everywhere
            vocally challenge the marxist thought at schools and universities
            Speak out about leftist infiltration of media

            And dont stop. Ever.
            Use Alynskis own tactics against them.

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    • #
      David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

      G’day David M,
      I reckon our form of election is rather good, but could be improved by one change at the Federal level, something I’ve advocated before and used in our state by-election a few weeks back: optional preferential voting for the house of reps.
      That provides voters with the option of ensuring their vote never reaches anyone they consider fit for the office, whereas now that’s not true. And I can put several equal last. Great.
      Cheers
      Dave B

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    • #
      Bruce

      Read “The Camp of the Saints”.

      A jolly little tale it is not.

      20

    • #
      yarpos

      You will have to convince a generation or two of people who seem to think the modern world fell from the sky in the 1990’s and hasnt taken many generations of hardwork to build and sustain.

      Reminds me a genius seagull manager who disbanded a group of people that had just completed an Asia Pacific network with a bunch of distributed offices and factories because “oh thats just a one off piece of work, its all running now” didnt last all that long with no support, neither did he. He could have been saved but he had pi$$ed off so many people their was a lot of malicious compliance with his stream of great ideas.

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    • #
      William Astley

      In reply to: “The Left can’t tolerate alternate opinions, hence censorship.”

      This is not Left wing Vs Right Wing problem. This is not politics as usual. This is not ‘politics’. This is an attempt to get to one policy government everywhere… ….. where it is no longer possible to change or criticize ‘policy’.

      The weird, toxic ‘Left wing’ agenda/policies that has taken over almost every Western government including ‘conservative’ parties is fake/evil.

      The Left wing Zombie agenda is a not so sneaky plan to destroy our countries. It carries with it toxic plans like weaponizing past issues like first nations or skin color. The real issues are not even talk about. Like Vitamin D deficiency of Black people and the rest of us.

      The problem is not ‘opinions’. A plan that will destroy a country is not an ‘opinion’. This is an attempt to stop logic, reason, democracy… Stop us solving problems and making our countries better.

      The Left are doing a 1984 trick they control/change ‘facts’. Where 2+2 does not equal 4. The Left(with Chinese help and with the help of large soulless, corrupt companies have sufficient control of the media… to enable them to implement irrational policies. Spending more and more money on green scams regardless of results and with no long term plan will result in economic collapse.

      The Left have enable super monopolies… Google, Amazon, and friends now have control of almost of the ad revenue, that was twenty years ago financing independent media outlets, such as local newspapers.

      Ten years ago…. Twenty years ago… The media included thoughtful patriotic, independent people, who criticized stupid government policies which help stopped stupid country destroying policies, like spending our country to death. You know… Logical constraints which apply regardless of Left or Right Wing governments.

      A country needs to grow our GDP to spend more.

      The Left are Chinese puppets. This weird agenda of CAGW and Critical Race Theory… Was designed by the Chinese to destroy/weaken our countries.

      We live in multi-‘racial//multi-ethnic’ countries. China is mono-ethnic. China does not allow any immigrants or any criticism of any of their policies. China has almost complete control of their people/media.

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      • #
        Kalm Keith

        That helps, a lot.

        Seeing the problem clearly is the most important step towards solving it.

        00

  • #
    el gordo

    If wars are eliminated it makes good commercial sense to decentralise political power. West Australia would like to break from the commonwealth, but because its our quarry they’ll have to postpone the idea.

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    • #
      Greg Cavanagh

      I don’t think decentralising power is the answer. Look at tribal people in any country. They fought and wared against one another to a higher degree than a larger government does.

      Lord of the Flys is the demonstration that a group of people of any size will separate into a two groups, one person or persons will assume power over the others no matter what. Decentralising will make zero difference.

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    • #
      PeterS

      Carving up a rotten apple only ends up with smaller rotten parts.

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        el gordo

        Give us a break, humans are only glorified apes with the power to go extinct in a moment of madness.

        Once the threat of international war has subsided then devolution would become more popular around the world. Assuming its financially viable and in compliance with accepted norms.

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        • #
          Serp

          It’ll be awful if we go extinct, all that essential human activity left undone.

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        • #
          PeterS

          So, you really believe some long distant relative of yours was an ape. I refuse to accept such a ridiculous assertion even in your case.

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          • #
            hypersonic

            Well half an ape and half a God like alien visitor which gave us 23 chromosomes instead of 24

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          • #
            el gordo

            Darwin got it right and hypersonic is correct, we are made in the image of the gods.

            04

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              PeterS

              If Darwin were alive today I am certain he would reject his own theory, provided he were honest to his word as per his writings.

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    Roger Knights

    In November there’ll be an election in which 27 of Oregon’s 35 counties will have the option to vote for secession. Presumably a few will join the six already favoring that action.

    The next step would be for rural eastern counties inn Washington state to express a wish to also join Idaho. Or to match up with the eastern counties in Oregon and form a new state. This could get through congress by allowing Washington DC to become a state.

    Then for eastern California counties to express a wish to join Nevada. Or to mate with the new state I suggested above, in a new stringbean state east of the Cascades.

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    • #
      yarpos

      Depends on who is running Congress by the time this gets there. Idaho could become quite a large State in land area.

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    David

    Jo shouldn’t your headline be counties want to abandon blue states?

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    Robert Swan

    Switzerland shocked Brussels by walking away from a closer relationship and into an uncertain future

    Always love these worries about an uncertain future. We have heard the same terrible prospect many times. Remember how a carbon tax was going to give Australian businesses certainty? It’s odd that the certainties on offer are fun things like new taxes to pay and the opportunity to fund hordes of bleak bureaucrats.

    Nope, nothing special about an uncertain future. What is special these days is that new science from the BOM has made the past just as uncertain.

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    • #
      Greg Cavanagh

      Using fear of the unknown to gain control. An age old tactic.
      Kinda like giving up one’s freedom for security isn’t it.

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    • #
      yarpos

      When the certain future is getting mugged, robbed and stood over I can understand a certain comfort with uncertainty.

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    Ronin

    We have a similar thing here in QLD, rural and regional QLD would love to get as far from George St as possible, they have had enough.

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    Ross

    Northern Queensland and Northern California have been talking about splitting from their respective states for a long time. Farage even went to Northern California to provide advice after his Brexit experience. Overall, I think people are just sick of being over governed. Look at what is happening at local council/ municipality level in Australia. Every councillor appears to want to be aligned with some political party and then when elected behaves like a politician. Years ago people went on council to actually achieve things locally (and also to get the gravel road outside their farm sealed with bitumen – apologies, I digress). For a country of 25 m Australia is way over governed. Endless funding disputes between the feds and states is just juvenile. Personally I think state governments could go, leaving maybe a slightly expanded federal government representation and then enlarged council areas. State governments are a relic of the pre- Federation past. Perhaps needed when communication were poorer, now an anachronism. Victoria could probably be broken down into less than 10 council areas (maybe even less). Would it ever happen probably not, but I wish those Oregonians the best of luck.

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    • #
      Richard Owen No.3

      Ross,
      I cannot agree with you that enlarged council areas are the answer. Far more likely they would lead to an expanded bureaucracy. And nothing expands a bureaucracy faster than ‘correspondence’ with another bureaucracy.
      My ex-abode was in an amalgamated Council of 4 rural ones. The result has been more and more employees and no decisions ever taken. Last year we had a public meeting to discuss “plans” for the town, and I left at halftime. Nothing at all was proposed by the Council employees (and this was the fourth ‘supposed’ plan in 11 years). Nothing has come out of this since.**
      Case in point: the local pharmacy was involved in a road accident (the pharmacist claims that he wasn’t speeding at all), a passing truck took the corner too narrowly and smashed the awning. The corner of the roofing is propped up with steel supports and wire safety mess blocking the footpath. That was months ago. What is the delay? The pharmacy owners want to slightly reduce the width of the awning to avoid it happening again, this change requires Council approval, which any normal person would take less than a minute to decide.

      **Sorry, it has come to my notice that the Council is talking about a pedestrian safety island in the main road, where the cycle track crosses (without widening the narrow road).

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      • #
        Ross

        I have no argument with you regarding the expansion of bureaucracies. The expansion of public servants at all levels of government has been ridiculous. Also, the peoples reps for those establishments whether they be councillors or politicians have really no power over the council workers or public servants anyway. My cynical view of government has been shaped by watching Yes Minister all those years ago. We’re overgoverned -either you slim them all down or you get rid of one of the levels. My experience with company life is middle management always cops it first. For me that’s state governments. But will it ever happen – not likely. Your example of the pharmacy etc- amazing. But those same types of examples were also happening with smaller size councils. On of the best things Jeff Kennett ever did was council amalgamations. it was a shame he didn’t actually take it a little bit further.

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    • #
      Disco Stu

      Though I agree that we are over-governed and that states are a historical relic, to remove states would be a massive constitutional change. It would require massive changes to councils as well as the federal government. Don’t forget that the Senate is composed of State/Territory representatives. Who would we replace them with? Any massive constitutional change like this would naturally bring up the republican movement. Most people will not have the attention span to understand the changes and select the best approach so chance of change is low.

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      • #
        Hasbeen

        Come on fellers, think it through. Every council would need a Police department, Health department, Education department & the list goes on.

        The number of bureaucrats, & heads of departments would expand exponentially, & we would pay through the nose.

        At least it would solve any unemployment problem we might have.

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    • #
      Dennis

      United we/they stand, divided we/they fall.

      The Commonwealth of Australia and the United States of America are far stronger with member states working together.

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    • #
      yarpos

      Aus States and US counties if a false equivalence or comparison even. US Counties have more significant roles than rates, roads and rubbish. Some serious changes to something like the Swiss system would be needed to make it attractive/viable. Imagine the recoil from most Aussies to giving the local government more say over their lives.

      20

    • #
      el gordo

      ‘State governments are a relic of the pre- Federation past.’

      The three tier system works effectively and if it ain’t broken don’t throw it out.

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    • #

      Ross
      Have to disagree here. Local councils are the worst of the worst in feather bedding , nepotism and just plain waste. I believe they should be eliminated and we have the State Govt handling all of the so called local matters. Yes its probably not perfect but nothing is. But something has to be done to stop the death by public servant syndrome.

      20

      • #
        Kalm Keith

        The good thing about the discussion above is that all comments agree that there’s a huge problem with all levels of “government” and that they have one thing in common; they are dysfunctional.

        The solution is to recognise that the “activities” of each tier are currently in urgent need of serious change.

        there must be a great reset of the organisations that have morphed from good public service institutions to the present graft and self service towers of Babylon.

        Tear them down Now. Clean them out Now.

        There are heaps of examples of the contempt that we suffer.

        Local government here in NovoCastria has a Lord Mare who has fashioned herself as a Member of the United Bloody Nations; she and her staff recently moved to a magnificent multi storey office block with an open roof top area for the employees to destress in. It’s very stressful knowing that there are unfilled potholes out there but being unable to deal with it because the rates have been spent on the United Bloody Nations trip.

        At all levels there is this sort of abuse of trust. Once upon a time these activities would have seen the perpetrator put behind bars.

        We have a big cleanup to start.

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  • #
    John R Smith

    At the heart of this lies a deepening cultural divide.
    One side isn’t interested in a political resolution.
    In the US the Democrats are literally seeking to eliminate the opposition.
    So far it’s just from participation.
    We all know Republicans cause Climate Change (besides war, pestilence, bigotry and misogyny).
    So Net Zero makes me a little nervous.

    I live in a very Blue state and city.
    I am surrounded by hysterical religious zealots that are one social justice bestseller away from becoming the Khmer Rouge.
    Not kidding.

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    • #
      hypersonic

      Dr Fauci is about to release a book which will surely be a best seller, although after the information gate keepers have done an unexpected hand brake U turn at 100MPH on the lab leak theory he may not sell so many.

      I can only imagine what it must be like for you and i dont take comfort in the knowledge that Australia lags the US by a couple of years so what you are experiencing is my near future.

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      • #
        John R Smith

        Pfizzer, Googie, John Hopkins and untold other MIC (medical industrial complex) actors will buy crates of the Fauci’s books, rocketing it to the top of the bestseller list.
        Those crates will go unopened to landfills causing climate change.
        Few will read it.
        The NYT and CBS will then proceed to tell us all how insightful and important it is.

        20

        • #
          John R Smith

          Once again, interesting to be in moderation.
          The more I’m moderated, the less moderate I become.

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      • #
        John R Smith

        Lest anyone think I’m being hyperbolic about Fauci’s potential book grift …
        Former Baltimore Maryland mayor Katherine Pugh published a children’s book (without the benefit of proofreading).
        One of the major health care providers in the state made between 5 and 7 purchases of said book at $100,000 a shot.
        No books ever changed hands.
        She resigned.
        Went to country club jail.
        The purchasers went to lunch.

        30

    • #
      Dave in the States

      One of the surprising aspects of the recent election were the data logs from the NOVA counties. Even in Northern Va. they had to cheat. This has to scare them to death. The epicenter for the push back against CRT and 1619 is Arlington, with moms of color among the most outspoken. This is surely causing some cognitive dissonance among the urban elites.

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  • #
    hypersonic

    A man in eastern China contracts what might be the world’s first human case of the H10N3 strain of bird flu, but the government says the risk of large-scale spread is low.

    I have seen this movie before, didnt like it the first time.

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    • #
      Greg Cavanagh

      Is that the movie that has been playing in empty cinemas around the world for the last year and a half?

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      • #
        hypersonic

        Yep thats the one, its on a loop

        30

        • #
          OriginalSteve

          The next vaccine will be the “final solution to the problem”….

          What problem you ask?

          From a globalist perspective – humanity.

          You can see the permanent chinese-proven control grid being put in over freedom of movement, freedom of association etc. You wont be allowed out without your papers….er….vaccination proof….

          People will be tracked and locked down…

          Covid is the LAST test run.

          The next one it gets truly ugly. Expect stuff that will really blow your mind.

          Question for law enforcement – you may be asked to do things that are horrific. Are you prepared to “just follow orders” like the failed Nuremberg Defence?

          Time to decide.

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          • #
            Greg Cavanagh

            I read just today on Brietbart that the Chinese have implemented a 3 child policy.

            Why they just can’t leave people alone was my first response. But it also begs the question; just what do they have in mind when they’re clearly thinking of a controlled expansion, not just staying equal.

            The Chinese don’t do anything without a purpose, which scares the hell out of me. Whereas the Western government are just plain stupid, bizarre, inverse, reverse, reactionary, and corrupt. I mean, they have no strategy whatsoever.

            50

            • #
              Ronin

              Maybe they just realized they will need the extra troops if they are to rule the world.

              20

            • #
              yarpos

              Seems a good example of central planning. When allowing people to have two children doesnt get the expected response , make it three, that will fix it!

              Some think China will rule the world but they have significant internal challenges, are alienating themselves and have a history of shooting themselves in the foot on a regular basis. Maybe this time will be different.

              10

  • #
    Peter C

    Americas Audit in Maricopa county Arizona is proceeding despite the best efforts of the Arizona Governor, Arizona Electoral Officer and the Arizona electoral staff and all the democrats trying to derail it. Two more weeks should see it finished.

    Then we will see what happens.
    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/

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  • #
    Flok

    All headlines have the shock value.

    After so many wars and millions of deaths for freedom. Question is what does freedom harbour?

    It appears that freedom is a time frame that allows plotting of cunning plans for another war.

    What is this thing called politics within the boarders?

    It appears to be a free range animal species roaming paddock attached to a carnage place called the parliament house.

    We live in a nanny state. What does the nanny have to say? That will be $100 for today. See you tomorrow.

    10

    • #
      Dennis

      “A ring of steel around Melbourne” is VicGov’s latest sales and marketing hyperbole and puffery.

      They who practise to deceive the people using scare tactics for party political purposes.

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  • #
    John Hultquist

    About 15 years ago I searched for a place with decent weather most of the year. Retirement was approaching.
    I liked Josephine County in SW Oregon – one county and a smallish mountain range in from the coast. Cave Junction is a small town there. It is not colored on the linked to map, but it is within the outline of “Greater Idaho”.
    The problem is – it is in Oregon.

    50

    • #
      OriginalSteve

      As long as you have a clear line of sight for 200 yards all around and a well ..all good…

      10

      • #
        hypersonic

        you dont want to soil your water supply, all you need is a wood chipper and some pigs 🙂

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    • #
      another ian

      Keep an eye on history

      IIRC just pre WW2 a bloke made his decision and retired to the safety of Guadacanal

      And there was an ad for a large sheep operation in a nice peaceful place – just before the Falklands War

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  • #
    Philip

    Regarding the Oregon story, is this not the conundrum of democracy ? My hometown was, and still is, a rural ag and forestry town, but demographic influx now sees it completely run by far left greens. Much like Oregon and it’s hipster city problem. And no, there is nothing you can do about it. And should you be able to? Isn’t that the game of democracy? It’s a pretty good system democracy but it has its flaws.

    I guess the city state concept might be plausible, where Portland and the few other hipster cities could be separate administrations.

    50

    • #
      another ian

      There are some tips on handling that in

      Eco-Fascists by Elizabeth Nickson

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      I don’t know the solution but rule by 50% + 1 is a tyranny by the masses. Once they realise they can steal from you legislatively and put you in jail if you resist you may as well be in a dictatorship. That, indeed. is what the democrats want for the US.

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  • #
    Nicholas (Unlicensed Joker) Gray

    Maybe the world needs more places like Hutt River Province! He was the farmer who seceded from his surrounding state. I don’t know if his act is valid, or if the whole thing is a crafty political stunt, with Perth and Canberra in on the act, but he is still there.
    Personally, I think that Local counties and shires should be independent governments. I have thought it through, and I think they should all be run on Meridocratic principles. Meridocracy is made up of two Greek words, and means ‘Share Power’. If an adult wanted to participate in the local government, then one would need to join in a part-time volunteer activity, such as Fire Brigade, or local militia, or Road Patrol, or whatever ones’ county needed, for 11 months of the year. Then, for 1 month of the year, all who had joined at the same time could meet and be the local government. They would be called ‘voters’, able to directly vote on any and all laws, and could send delegates to Inter-county Conventions. I also think we would need size limits, perhaps between 10,000 to 100,000 people allowed within each county- a county that falls below 10,000 people could join a neighbour, and a county of more than 100,000 people could split into two distinct counties. With all voters sharing powers on a rotating basis, no person should be able to gain too much power.

    21

    • #
      robert rosicka

      Prince Leonard passed away I think it was last year and with him out of the way the Government was finally able to take possession of the Principality of Hutt .
      This man in life had the better of both Labor and Liberal state and Federal governments and the more they tried to get him through the courts the bigger the hiding he dished out until they realised the only way to get him was wait until he died and then they could finally win an all but hollow victory .

      30

  • #
    Dave in the States

    The vast differences in point of view between rural and urban in America has been percolating for a very long time. It’s two completely different Americas now. Climate change is symbolic of the differences. Urbanites take it as a matter of fact. Rural people don’t believe a word of it. The urban elites are desperately trying to retain power. Trump was/is an existential threat to urban elites. Almost all the Biden policies so far are in reaction to this. There is a cold civil war in progress.

    30

  • #
    CHRIS

    Prince Leonard was a mad authoritarian dictator. The USA has never grown up from the post – Civil War ( and never will). Just like in Canada, where the Secessionists in Quebec keep demanding a separate state, people are never satisfied with their lives. They don’t realise that a separate state means having their own laws, taxes and legislature.

    10

  • #
    Gerry, England

    Damian Wilson is talking rubbish. ‘never a full member of the EU’ – Switzerland have never been ANY kind of member of the EU. Switzerland is not even in the EEA – they rejected joining that. They are members of EFTA. Yes, Switzerland has lots of agreements with the EU that they were looking to combine in into one new agreement that may have been better for Switzerland in the long run. There is no reason for any of the agreements to lapse as Wilson states. As with any trade agreement it helps to have a mechanism for dispute resolution and the EU does prefer the ECJ as this is something that already exists and avoids setting up a duplicate. Something that the new agreement is likely to have included is an opt out clause if there is stress in any area. The EEA agreement has this as Article 112. The Swiss had a problem recently when one of their guiding referendums voted to stop free movement from the EU. However, implementing the vote would have collapsed the relationship with the EU. Had the Swiss been in the EEA they could have used Article 112 as Liechtenstein does for free movement of people and Iceland for free movement of capital.

    With freedom of movement being a big issue for the UK during Brexit and the EU offering nothing to help Cameron prior to the referendum, the delicious irony is that prior to the Lisbon Treaty there was a relief clause in the EU Treaty that could have been used. But come Lisbon they decided that everyone was committed to the superstate project and removed it but put in Article 50 which meant if you didn’t like anything you could only leave – so we did!

    Sadly as for Farage, nothing he has ever said has been worth spending much time on.

    01

  • #

    Victorian state of Greater Melbourne, and every other Shire can operate under its own constitution! It would stimulate competition between shires, Melbourne can go and get &&*^%##, They can be as green and lefty as they like, I’m just not going to pay for them!
    We get direct federal funding for roads, with out “State of Victoria: Melbourne” sucking the cream off the top!
    Every shire official in my electorate I can go see personally and tell them what I really think of currently policy’s! (And there’s a chance if a local poly gets a sandwich from local cafe, and keeps voting for stupid green policies, might get a 5hit sandwich!

    00