As a supporter of the Brexit, I am not super happy about the success of the Brexit referendum. In fact, my emotions are weirdly mixed. And strangely enough, it is not for the reasons being currently cited. I am not filled with Regret-xit. Nor do I now acknowledge my Brexit beliefs to be more of a protest belief.
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A graph in March indicating the intentions of age groups to vote[/caption]
Democratic principles
I think it comes down to my belief in democracy. It has been well and truly established that the younger generation, which will have to live with the Brexit consequences for much longer, were not in favour of this cause. They overwhelmingly opposed it. Brexit relied on the votes of the over 65 year olds. It seems unfair that those who have to live 50 years with a decision receive the same say as those who have to live 5. Theoretically put, if people who were within five years of the average life expectancy (or had it exceeded it), were not allowed to vote, wouldn’t this be more just? But on the flip side, if the under 35 years olds voted with the same amount of turn out as the older generation, the remain vote would have won. It was reported that straight after the results came out, there was a spike in google traffic regarding what the EU is and what it does. I highly doubt this spike comes from 80 year olds. Therefore, there seems to be two generational discrepancies that is at the heart of the Brexit. Firstly, there is a remarkable difference in political engagement, and secondly, the EU is obviously perceived differently.
Massive changes
I am also not happy about changing the status quo on simple majorities. In Australia, we require a double majority. In 1999 when we voted to become a Republic, there was neither a federal nor a state majority, therefore we did not become a republic. This adds another protection to the constitution or system of government. However, even if a double majority was required in Britain, the Brexit vote would have still won, at 141 to 129 states. Yet still, simple majorities for things of this magnitude irk me. I truly believe that big political and social changes can only occur seamlessly if there is enough support on the ground. And 51.9 to 48.1 percent is not big enough.
All in all, while I am hopeful and excited about Britain’s future out of the EU, I am saddened that it came to this. I can’t help shake the feeling that it was largely due to the EU becoming too political while taking in too many poorly vetted countries, without the proper support of its population. If there was a box that would have changed the EU into what it originally was, the European Economic Community with only 12 member states, I would have been in favour for that.
But democracy is what it is, one vote for one person, irrespective of how far reaching those consequences will be to you personally. And the choice in the ballot gives only two possible answers. Therefore, to all those Millennials complaining about the dire consequences leaving the EU, make sure you and all your friends vote, even when the weather is shitty!