Democracy: The Experience of Growing Choice

"Mi Swing Es Tropical" ~ Apple's Ipod/Itunes' 2007 video advertisement

The above Applie Ipod/Itunes advert featuring stylized visuals of dance (latin/salsa) to the music of "Mi Swing Es Tropical" is a good example of the exception to the rule that I dislike adverts. This was probably one of my favourite adverts I've ever seen amid a sea of raw sewage of advertisements in general. I also really liked the Ipod (mine was an ipod mini version for my Birthday) with it's bright design. Later I then bought an Iphone and even if it was fairly expensive through the mobile contract I think I got my money's worth from this product that was so far ahead of anything else comparable on the market at the time:-

The above graph shows that over time Apple's growth coincided with more advanced technology sold to a public who were willing to buy even at comparatively higher market prices for the higher quality Apple was providing.

The Iphone is a really good example of what is called "Convergence" in technology. The phone combines multiple devices into one universal device:-

• Phone & Contacts
• Email, Calendar, Organization, Productivity
• Music, Video, Internet and multimedia
• Alarm Clock
• App utilities of a diverse range

It's also a good example of the public given a choice of a superior product even at a comparatively "premium product" price, if that product meets their needs and surpasses their expectations they will take to it very positively, as the numbers above prove. For people to have one device that performs all these functions which they can literally slip into their pocket and it fits comfortably instead of the previous alternatives of many devices - Wow!

Recap: The Market Solution only makes comprehensive sense with respect to all of it's complete components interacting with the other components and their derivative strands

We could go from this established statement onto various subjects: Advertising of ideas and communication, regulation of products and services to harmonize and converge a common standard for trade; the former an extremely low level topic and the latter more of an example of convergence with respect to the Single Market and the illustration of a potentially superior "product" for voters to eventually experience as per Dr. RAE North FLEXCIT: The Market Solution: STAGE 3: A Genuine European Single Market -  9.0 Regulatory Issues:

"In this third stage, we address, the defects of the Market Solution, and look to a more permanent solution to international trade and co-operation in Europe, as a whole. And in this first of three chapters in this stage, we deal with the regulatory consequences of remaining as an EEA member."

"In this even, the UK will be obliged to keep all Single Market regulation in place."

But instead of these possible subjects, let's look at the "product" we currently have as a member of the EU and it will I think help make eminent sense of the above quote considering the Single Market and the UK which removes so much of the nonsense communication of politicians.

Red = EU Opt-Outs (UK, Denmark & Poland)

Fortunately Wikipedia has done a lot of the hardwork already in this article: Opt-outs in the European Union:-

• United Kingdom (four opt-outs)
• Denmark (four opt-outs)
• Ireland (two opt-outs)
• Poland (one opt-out)

Let's look at the various areas of opt-outs:-

LHS = Schengen Variables (UK & Ireland Opt-Outs)

RHS = EUROZONE Variables (UK full Opt-Out, Denmark provisional Opt-Out)

The UK's current EU product has two very beneficial Opt-Outs from core EU integration policies. Other nations also have variable relationships with the EU on these two subjects.

LHS: EU's Common Security & Defence Policy CSDP (Denmark Opt-Out only)

Middle: Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (UK & Poland Opt-Out only)

RHS: Area of Freedom, Security & Justice AFSJ (Denmark full Opt-out, UK variable provisional Opt-Out only) 

There's generally very easily explained reasons why the UK should hold these opt-outs. The UK has a global history with the Anglosphere and Commonwealth from which it already is a multicultural/multi-ethnic high migration destination in Europe apart from EEA migration on economic provisions.

As for the EURO all I can say is that I find it baffling that any Sovereign nation would yield up control of it's currency. The UK is a major Defence contributor in either NATO or the EU/Europe:-

Clearly without the UK the EU’s Common Security Defence Policy (CSDP) is sizeably reduced.

Looking at both The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and Area of Freedom, Security and Justice these areas show distinct difference in the UK as per:-

 UK's alternative legal history and systems in comparison to the rest of Europe (Common vs Civil Law)

In 2016 David Cameron has suggested that he has added to this obvious trend of "Opt-Out" in the EU with:-

The key points of the deal are EU deal gives UK special status, says David Cameron:-

•     An "emergency brake" on migrants' in-work benefits for four years when there are "exceptional" levels of migration. The UK will be able to operate the brake for seven years

•     Child benefit for the children of EU migrants living overseas will now be paid at a rate based on the cost of living in their home country - applicable immediately for new arrivals and from 2020 for the 34,000 existing claimants

•     The amending of EU treaties to state explicitly that references to the requirement to seek ever-closer union "do not apply to the United Kingdom", meaning Britain "can never be forced into political integration"

•     The ability for the UK to enact "an emergency safeguard" to protect the City of London, to stop UK firms being forced to relocate into Europe and to ensure British businesses do not face "discrimination" for being outside the eurozone

However what is quite noticeable with the previous "Opt-Outs" is:-

1. They were achieved around "Treaty Change" time.
2. They were not fully permanent (Social Charter and Rebate & variable opt-ins)
3. They failed to reduce or remove political integration "Ever Closer Union"
4. They were communicated as great achievements when in comparison to the Treaties they are very very small exceptions and low in number.

But the trend does continue with David Cameron's so-called "Special Status". Apparently we the UK voting customer are getting "more choice" which is exceptional in the EU. This can be illustrated:-

There's a clear trend of the politicians attempting to wedge the UK (a square peg) into the EU (a round-hole).

But look at how much more reform or "opt-outs" we can actually get by being outside the EU but inside the EEA Single Market. Also the question of their legitmacy as compared to David Cameron who exceptionally has not secured his "opt-outs" DURING TREATY CHANGE is unquestionable ie Full Political Confidence in what is said in the rules is actually so and not a political deception.

Let's consider the above. What is happening is that with more democracy, the voters are achieving more choice over what components of the EU we find acceptable and what we prefer not to "spend our money on" as careful consumers in an open market of political products. We know we chose well avoiding the EURO despite the best laid plans of our politicians.

Now remember what happened to the iPod when it become a major musical app on the iPhone? Convergence. A great deal of the Single Market acquis communautaire rules have been influenced/made at global top tables as convergence of standards and regulations increases towards harmonization of sets of standards to global level:-

FLEXCIT: Figure 20: Breakdown by policy areas of EU legal acts in the EEA Agreement: As of December 2010 (share of the 4,179 incorporated acts in force) Source EFTA.

"We leave the EU, we start making the law in Rome and elsewhere and Brussels does as it's told." ~ Dr. RAE North FLEXCIT presentation

If we continue with our idea of Convergence and the idea that this is leading to an improvement in consumer choice as it were in comparison with iPhones, then we look at:-

 FLEXCIT: WTO - Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

Here what we're saying is that if we're withdrawing from the EU, we're participating in this whole "convergence" process of globalization directly and hence we GAIN INFLUENCE on regulations and legislation by withdrawing and reconnecting with the global world forums.

SUMMARY:-

1. The logic of opting-in from outside the political EU increases our selection of immediate "opt-outs" we find preferential eg CFP.
2. The biggest boon perhaps is to clarity of communication and removal of deception by our political class, because this new status is very clear and is in anycase an extension of a long-drawn out trend due to our dishonest politicians about the nature of the EU political integration project.
3. Withdrawing not only achieves the above but also gains us more real influence in the area that the UK does want to participate and in fact lead on: Economic-focused trade relationship with Europe and the EU and the rest of the world on the global standards making bodies.

If you think about what has happened to the iPhone from bakelite to pocket computer it's a quantum leap of progress.

EU Referendum: open that DOR:-

"Hence, enter the open DOR strategy: Debunk; Offer; and Reassure. The first priority is to Debunk Mr Cameron's deal, and ensure that the public are fully acquainted with the fact that he is perpetrating a fraud on the British public."

If we look at our ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP with the EU already as it stands, then we merely extrapolate that factual and obvious trend, it seems to me to be a very reassuring and consistent to choice to vote to LEAVE in the upcoming Referendum and merely gain more "Opt-Outs" via "opting-in".

A more honest relationship than we've ever yet known with the EU: That itself I find the most reassuring reason to choose a "Leave" vote.