Brexit does seem to have been a general loss for Britain.
But I'm very distracted by Germany - what happened/is happening there that they're faring so much worse than, say, France? (And in several of the cited measures, worse than the UK too?)
I've generally heard it as manufacturing woes due to competition with China. in particular germany used to sell a significant number of cars to china, and now is being outcompeted (both in china and many other locations) by chinese cards. plausibly true in other manufacturing areas, I don't know.
One factor I think is the early EU days German growth was artificially high, juiced by cheap credit from German banks to peripheral countries which was then cycled into purchasing German industrial goods.
Previously peripheral countries had more indigenous industries protected by FX rate as well as some trade barriers.
The GFC broke this cycle, though it couldn't have gone on forever with or without the GFC.
Then Germany also kneecapped themselves in terms of energy policy, shutting down cheap nuclear power supplies and becoming dependent on Russian energy exports.
> Then Germany also kneecapped themselves in terms of energy policy, shutting down cheap nuclear power supplies and becoming dependent on Russian energy exports.
The only thin about this I wonder is when they'll turn around on that decision. It WILL happen, it's only a question of when. Nuclear is vital to the human future, even if environmentalists don't understand that yet.
Energy prices for Gas play a role as do influx of refugess feom Ukraine for metrics such as GDP per person, but the key thing is China having reached the level of manufacturing prowess to eat into the German main industries (cars, machinery).
Working people did not want brexit. Business owners did not want it. The numbers were tipped by old retirees who had died by the time it actually happened.
No, but the only two people that I personally know who voted for Brexit, my partner’s parents, were both retired. They did it as a protest because they never thought that it would pass.
They immediately regretted it once my partner explained how it would fuck up her/our future.
Ah yes I remember in 2001 reading on Slashdot how only old Christians voted for Republicans/Bush, and they will soon die and George W Bush will not get re-elected.
It was even said on HN/Twitter during Covid 2021, how Trump supporters were dying in great numbers from refusing face masks and it was again Game OVER for Republicans, only for him to get elected again in 2024.
The country is a complete mess - cost of living has gone up massively, wages have gone up significantly slower, no increase in income tax bands mean any increase in wages are eaten by taxes, soon to be 7 prime ministers in 10yrs. Opportunities squandered in energy policy. Right wing rising, with reform no doubt winning the next election. I despair at my kids future - I’m not sure what there is to be optimistic about.
An alternative view is here:
https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/06/23/farage-blasts-politi...
Brexit does seem to have been a general loss for Britain.
But I'm very distracted by Germany - what happened/is happening there that they're faring so much worse than, say, France? (And in several of the cited measures, worse than the UK too?)
I've generally heard it as manufacturing woes due to competition with China. in particular germany used to sell a significant number of cars to china, and now is being outcompeted (both in china and many other locations) by chinese cards. plausibly true in other manufacturing areas, I don't know.
Germany is an interesting one.
One factor I think is the early EU days German growth was artificially high, juiced by cheap credit from German banks to peripheral countries which was then cycled into purchasing German industrial goods.
Previously peripheral countries had more indigenous industries protected by FX rate as well as some trade barriers.
The GFC broke this cycle, though it couldn't have gone on forever with or without the GFC.
Then Germany also kneecapped themselves in terms of energy policy, shutting down cheap nuclear power supplies and becoming dependent on Russian energy exports.
> Then Germany also kneecapped themselves in terms of energy policy, shutting down cheap nuclear power supplies and becoming dependent on Russian energy exports.
The only thin about this I wonder is when they'll turn around on that decision. It WILL happen, it's only a question of when. Nuclear is vital to the human future, even if environmentalists don't understand that yet.
Energy prices for Gas play a role as do influx of refugess feom Ukraine for metrics such as GDP per person, but the key thing is China having reached the level of manufacturing prowess to eat into the German main industries (cars, machinery).
I'm not sure what's happening to Germany, but I suspect fax machines are involved.
Working people did not want brexit. Business owners did not want it. The numbers were tipped by old retirees who had died by the time it actually happened.
Are you saying that 52% of British people are retired?
No, but the only two people that I personally know who voted for Brexit, my partner’s parents, were both retired. They did it as a protest because they never thought that it would pass.
They immediately regretted it once my partner explained how it would fuck up her/our future.
They have subsequently both died.
Ah yes I remember in 2001 reading on Slashdot how only old Christians voted for Republicans/Bush, and they will soon die and George W Bush will not get re-elected.
It was even said on HN/Twitter during Covid 2021, how Trump supporters were dying in great numbers from refusing face masks and it was again Game OVER for Republicans, only for him to get elected again in 2024.
The country is a complete mess - cost of living has gone up massively, wages have gone up significantly slower, no increase in income tax bands mean any increase in wages are eaten by taxes, soon to be 7 prime ministers in 10yrs. Opportunities squandered in energy policy. Right wing rising, with reform no doubt winning the next election. I despair at my kids future - I’m not sure what there is to be optimistic about.
I've got a great idea, let's elect the architect of this brilliant money-losing plan to be our PM!
Nigerian Prince scam 101. Just send another payment to cover disbursement costs and the money will be with you real soon now.