With polling day round the corner, campaigning from both sides is finally reaching a climax prior to tomorrow's monumental vote on whether the UK should remain a member state of the European Union. For the most part the public discourse on the topic has been depressing to say the least, team tactics and post truth politics have left much of the voting public either in the dark or dragged from pillar to post on key issues such as immigration and the economy, and what would happen to either should we choose to leave the Union. Just as was the case in last years election and sadly in much of today's politics, facts have been shunned in favour of catchy soundbites served up with a side of straight up lies and truth distortions.
A key issue throughout the debate, and one that frankly has been treated sickeningly by some of those on the leave side is immigration. On this issue I think our current government is being severely let off the hook, with only a few voices calling them out. The reason the NHS is struggling and there are a lack of school places and houses in this country is down to the ideology of our government. In order to cut the deficit and "live within our means" we have been subject to years of, public service crippling, austerity. This austerity is imposed upon us by our own government because of their blind belief in neoliberal dogma, the belief that shrinking the state and reducing the deficit to eliminate debt will lead to growth, never mind the fact that even the IMF believe austerity is unnecessary in countries as stable as ours, and that austerity policies do "more harm than good". The party are so aligned to this belief that they seem completely oblivious to the fact that it is ruining millions of people's lives. Austerity is the reason for the lack of school places, austerity is the reason for the struggling NHS, austerity is the reason for the lack of housing, austerity is the reason for the closure of local services such as libraries and leisure centres.
I personally think a strong case can easily be made for remaining a member of this important union of countries without having to resort to scaring people, lying to people or trying to win them over with easily regurgitated meaningless catch phrases.
Being in the EU means our country works directly with government officials from other member countries to create legislation throughout, meaning we can create legislation together which twenty eight countries have to adhere to, instead of just our little island. Legislation which actually matters and makes a difference in the world. Legislation to tackle big polluters, reducing their harmful effect on the environment which we all inhabit. Legislation to promote the growth of renewable energy industries to protect the entire planet from the harm that we have so heinously caused over past centuries. Legislation which means people throughout Europe are treated with the same dignity and respect both in and out of work. Legislation that certifies the safety of products that people throughout these countries consume. Legislation that no matter which way the tide is turning in individual countries their government's cannot overrule.
It is an extremely selfish, inward looking thing to only care about the future of our own country and not others around the world, we should be tackling the world's ills together and not in isolation from each other. We should be trying to maintain the beauty of the world and all it's inhabitants. We should be trying to create a future in which people in every country can live a happy and fulfilled life, one where they do not fear for themselves or their children. We should be trying to fix some of the undoubted wrongs of the EU from within, rather than jumping ship and sticking two fingers up to those that remain on board.
