Trilarion: What I think is that the EU needs reforms urgently, mostly much more democracy and representation and secondly a balanced approach to central power vs. local government. This is not simple but it needs to be done. Big changes are coming (either way).
I don't think Britain is better alone, even with the current state of the EU. Nationalism is not the answer to any problem we have.
Any changes are only happening because the European Union is in its own self-induced death throes, and exiting the EU, or threatening to, has been the only real way to "reform" it. By definition the establishment of the EU was a rejection of National and Local governance in favor of centralized collectivism. A little more reforms aren't going to fix the inherent problems of centralization and Brussels created and imposed EU Laws. Individual societies, through their National governments, are always going to be better served and represented by their own governments. Always.
Britain is better alone than in the EU as it was created. Any nation is. "Nationalism" for so many Europeans is an ever present boogyman that is wheeled out to deny denigrate entirely legitimate desires for real representation and decreasing the coercive imposition of foreign interests, through laws and regulations, over the real interests and needs of the people. The falsely used "Nationalism" is actually something other than mere patriotism or the promotion of some vague notion of national superiority.
Trilarion: What I really like about the EU is keeping the peace (100 years ago Europeans just killed each other) and offering free movement across borders and free work.
While this may seem like more competition at first glance it also offers more opportunity and this in the end is even increasing the welfare (otherwise big countries like USA, Russia, China, India would really suffer, wouldn't they).
Just that I can visit Britain without a VISA and that I can look for work there (and Britains can look for work in Germany as well) is a really great thing - and that is (plus the peace thing) what the EU is all about in my eyes. Basically I feel like I have a right to be in Britain (or France or Spain or Italy or Sweden) and that Britains have a right to be here all that. Without the EU, we don't have all that. It means less freedom to move and less opportunities for everyone.
This is really about you and your self-interests then. Not the interests of the British people if they desire to curtail the massive influx of EU imposed and directed legal immigrants. Restricting immigration means more opportunities FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT COUNTRY. Are the British people really expected to care for the demands of foreigners to British job markets over themselves and their own children? Or the laws and regulations of the EU that hurt British industries and remove cultural mores, protections, and legal standards in favor of ideals imposed from other countries? How is it that promoting specific British desires and needs over the collective needs of the entire EU is mere "Nationalism", while those pushing some "Pan-European identity" in favor of a supra-national superstate is not?? Why is that EU promotion not merely just "SuperNationalism" for EU Supranationalism?
Trilarion: The Brexit campaign is not aimed at improving the EU at all (which I could totally understand), it is a simple Britain for the Britains thing where everyone from abroad is seen as something completely different. I really don't like this.
Good. The entire purpose and existence of the British government is supposedly to serve the interests of its own BRITISH citizenry, not the citizens of foreign countries. Why shouldn't their needs supercede yours? Try doing the actual hard work of reforming or replacing the governments or policies of your own countries rather than seek to benefit from British hard work and success that results from the very different British systems and government that better favors economic prosperity than your own.
