DO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING?

DO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING?

The gradual process for UK devolution to its smaller countries was not followed for leaving the EU or, in converting a mainline railway into a tram line, a test track, a trail of trees and an extended cycle-walkway.

The 1990's and 00's careful, sensible and gradual process that led to eventual devolution was not followed for a matter of even greater import - our future membership of the EU.  For something more complicated than devolution, all the checks and balances built in to get, eventually an assembly and one parliament was not followed over the matter of the UK leaving EU membership.

On 5 April 2019, 'Have I Got News for You', Ian Hislop commented, "Thatcher said we shouldn't have a referendum on Europe.  It was too complicated an issue to put to the public. She was right."

Similarly, for something so game changing, expensive and, therefore, climate breaking as the decision to convert a safeguarded, 120 Kms mainline railway into two very short sections of tramway, on that matter too, none of the checks and balances were followed.  There was not even any kind of debate or even discussion beforehand, let alone a vote. Not even one of the constituent councils of the WMCA had a debate and vote.  The elected members were content to have the decision imposed upon them by the UK pressure group for trams that has infiltrated Transport HQ.  This, to spend nearly half a billion to destroy the middle section of a mainline railway that reduces capacity.  Yet, £56 billion is spent to increase capacity on our railways with HS2!

Brexit makes us look odd.  Out of step when being in step and collaborating is vital.  It discourages inward investment from overseas. It puts other countries off.

"An analysis of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects by the Department for International Trade for  2018-19, shows the UK attracted 1,782, compared to 2,072 in the previous 12 month period, representing a decline of 14% ."  from businesslive@email.trinitymirror-news.co.uk   27 June 2019 

Never mind!  That will make £92 billions of benefits for the UK, says the business case!!  Are we living in Alice in Wonderland? Or, do we know what we are doing? This must be dishonest, crooked economics when all the crucial, fossil fuel resources are finite and, when burnt, screw up the planet's climates in changing the composition of the atmosphere for the worse?