I have studiously avoided making any reference to the Brexit fiasco until all of the dust had settled and the insane madness had died down a bit.  Now it has, and there is a sense of fatalistic acceptance across the whole of society (minus a few radicals who want a second referendum) that we must leave the EU because 52% of the country voted for it.  I was one of the 48% who voted the opposite way.

In my entire life (I am a few days short of my 50th birthday this coming Saturday) I have never known an issue that has divided families, friends – and indeed the entire country – such as whether to stay in the E.U. or not.  I experienced this division first hand.  It was not pleasant to fall out with someone over a political issue such as this.  But we got over it, just as Britain did; David Cameron, our Prime Minister, promptly resigned and through the usual Tory shenanigans we suddenly found ourselves living in the shadow of the second un-elected PM in a decade: Mrs. Theresa May.  She promised to make our departure from the EU as smooth as it was possible to be.  As of the time that I write this, she has already begun negotiations.

I, many of my friends and family, Great Britain – in fact, the majority of the ‘Western’ world expressed its shock at what the 52% had done.  The reason why so many had voted this way was simple enough: immigration.  You see, the UK has, and always will have, that ‘island mentality.’  We don’t like so many foreigners coming over and taking our jobs, claiming our benefits, and jumping in front of us in the queue at the doctors.  Of course, we don’t mind getting cheap flights to Magaluf, becoming absolutely rat-arsed, swearing and beating seven bells out of the locals.  Most people didn’t even bother to think that, after ‘Brexit,’ that might become a little more difficult, and those that did, simply didn’t care, as long as it stopped so many Europeans coming over just to claim the benefits that they could send back to their families in Slovenia, or wherever.

But, now that the vote is done, and the 52% have won the day, as far as I am concerned, that is it.  We must do as the majority voted.  We were fortunate to get a referendum in the first place, and to schedule another referendum, which many on the left of the political spectrum want to do, would be undemocratic.  This is what politics should be about: you have a vote, and whoever gets the most wins.  See?  It’s not difficult, but within minutes of the announcement of the result, many were shouting at the tops of their voices that the ‘Remain’ campaign – led by Boris Johnson & Nigel Farage – had all got it wrong and we must have another referendum so that we can correct it.

Huh?

No, I’m sorry, but in a democratic society the majority must win and the rest of the population must deal with the consequences.  We must now leave the EU and take the effects of that – good or bad – on the chin.  Sorry, leave campaign, I voted with you, but I am more prepared to accept its result than you appear to be.  I have been accused on Facebook of being ‘apathetic.’  If that’s what you call accepting a democratic result, then yes, I am apathetic.  There will be tears, there will be things I don’t like, but I prefer to accept democracy than try to circumvent it by calling for referendum after referendum until you get your way.

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