my notes on the EU referendum

Before I left UK for one of my regular trips to the middle east I wrote down 10 good reasons to stay in the EU to give to a colleague as part of a competition to swing his vote; just one vote, a co worker was undecided and open to opinions from both sides of the debate.

I scribbled down my ideas, they're not well informed or supported with facts and figures or political rhetoric, just my thoughts as they they appeared on a piece of scrap paper I picked up from a shelf in the warehouse.

MY 10 GOOD REASONS TO STAY IN EUROPE

1 GLOBALISATION HAS HAPPENED - so we need to organise societies according to our time, the way things are now - and that is that networks and organisations transcend those traditional national borders - corporations will exploit people and resources irrespective of small national concerns, laws, cultures languages.  We need to be united globally to combat the power of these massive capitalist enterprises - such as the one that exploits me and the other workers on less than a living wage (that is an addition, was not included in my original note) - that are focused on generating money for the benefit of growth, it is not reinvested in people and this must be redressed.

2  As part of Europe. Britain as a country has influence, globally and in the EU so we can affect laws and strategies - not leave policy making to France and Germany.

3  More effective security - criminal activity operates globally, so should security.

4  Democracy - we as Brits can participate in a democratic process through choosing candidates that  can and do act as our representatives in Europe (OK, could do with some reform); we can elect suitable representatives to drive the changes that we need for a more humane world and better equality - to stop this trend of a widening gap between rich and poor.

5 Europe is good in principle, a body of decision makers with representatives of a diverse group of smaller states, some very socialist principles others more liberal, provides be a balanced way to guide policy and legislation.

6  Freedom of movement - surely we benefit by easy access to Europe - & within Europe - education, sunny, southern Europe, unrestricted travel and the right to stay and work and live throughout Europe is a good thing, we should hold on to these benefits.

7  Economy - much UK business is with Europe, this could be governed by restrictions if we leave, also less investments in UK. We would be in competition with Europe!

8  Immigration - we need to deal with the root cause, which is global inequality brought about by greed of money making corporations - this imbalance could be better addressed through a united Europe.

9  Opportunity to lobby and change the EU to make it work better for us and become more accountable.

10 PIZZA 

and there you have it.