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mick silver
23rd June 2016, 08:39 AM
The B rexit Vote Will Be RiggedSource: Sprott Money (https://www.sprottmoney.com/blog/the-brexit-vote-will-be-rigged-jeff-nielson.html)

How important is the upcoming “Brexit” vote in the UK? In a recent commentary (http://www.bullionbullscanada.com/index.php/commentary/international-commentary/26693-madame-frexit-hillary-clinton-and-the-imprisonment-of-europe), it was noted that the current leader in French polling to become France’s next president is Marine Le Pen, of Front-National. Ms. Le Pen has already dubbed herself “Madame Frexit”, going back to the time of the “crisis” in Greece.
Given that the UK has never been fully “in” the European Union, a British vote to leave the EU would not, by itself, be a fatal blow for this fascist entity. But the effect of a Brexit vote on France would be twofold. First, it would undoubtedly provide a further boost in popularity for Ms. Le Pen. Secondly, it would strengthen the resolve toward Frexit among the large majority in France who already have an unfavorable opinion of the EU.
http://www.sprottmoney.com/media/magpleasure/mpblog/upload/c/d/cdf68478126609c7d194298df9c911c9.png (http://www.sprottmoney.com/media/magpleasure/mpblog/upload/c/d/cdf68478126609c7d194298df9c911c9.png)
The numbers above, cited in an article (https://mishtalk.com/2016/06/08/beyond-brexit-favorable-opinion-of-eu-plunges-in-germany-spain-uk-franc-greece/) by Mike Shedlock, paint a clear picture. In only one of the European Union’s founding members (Italy) do we see anything resembling a “strong majority” when it comes to supporting EU membership. Apart from two EU newcomers – Poland and Hungary – we see European populations which are either evenly split in terms of support for the European Union, or (like Greece) are strongly opposed to this political union.
A successful Frexit would undoubtedly trigger a wave of nationalism across Europe, and lead to further, fatal defections in this made-for-the-bankers political hierarchy. Thus in the eyes of the Big Bank crime syndicate, Frexit must be prevented, at any/all costs. Since a successful Brexit would greatly increase the odds of Frexit, it too must be prevented, at any/all costs.
This brings us to the title for this commentary. Alleging the “rigging” of any election is still considered to be a very serious charge in the minds of most Western inhabitants, because the majority of these inhabitants still cling to the myth that we have a political system which provides some bastardized version of “democracy”. What evidence is there to support allegations that the One Bank’s oligarch proprietors (https://www.sprottmoney.com/blog/the-mystery-of-the-one-bank-its-owners-jeff-nielson.html)are already rigging Western elections? The best kind: statistical evidence.
This evidence comes in the form of election polling. Here readers need to understand that political polling is a science. There is a very specific set of parameters which are used in gathering the data. The results released by the polling agencies are precise, statistical representations of that data.
Because the “data” involves only a sample of the electorate, there is a margin of error in such polling. That margin of error is also the result of precise, statistical calculations. Because the data involves the voting inclinations of human beings, this produces a second margin of error, known as “the confidence interval.” This is the possibility of an anomalous result, meaning something outside of the margin of error attributable to the mere size of the sample.
This confidence interval is also the product of a precise, statistical calculation. Typically, statisticians calculate a “95% confidence interval” as the level of certainty they seek to achieve in their polling. In other words, 95% of the time (19 times out of 20) the actual election result would fall within the specified margin of error, if voting occurred at that moment.
In aggregate terms, this means that polling agencies are able to “call” elections (within their margin of error) 95% of the time. Decades of practice in such polling has only improved upon the accuracy of this science. In the media, what we saw was a steady trend to announce election “victories” earlier and earlier on ballot night, based in large part upon the consistent degree of accuracy of pre-election polling, and the tendency for those poll results to be reflected in the early hours of tabulating voting.
Then, a few years ago, suddenly everything changed. Popping up in different spots, across the Western world, we began to see an increase in what were more than mere, anomalous results (i.e. elections which “defied the polls”). We suddenly began to see significant numbers of outrageous anomalies. Here we are not talking about election results which were merely slightly outside the margin-of-error boundaries of the polling, but rather results which were virtually opposite to these scientific polls.
For those seeking specific examples, let’s start with the domicile of this writer: the Province of British Columbia. In the last provincial election here (May 2013), the election result was supposed to be a foregone conclusion: a victory for the New Democratic Party.
[Liberal victor, Christy] Clark started the campaign as the clear underdog in the poll, trailing by 20 points.
However, the final result (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/christy-clark-leads-b-c-liberals-to-surprise-majority-1.1315526)was something much different:
Not only did Clark defy countless polls predicting her defeat , she increased her party’s majority in the legislature by five seats and became the first woman to be elected premier in a general election in B.C . [emphasis mine]
Countless polls predicting her defeat . Admittedly, the NDP lead in the polls shrank from the original, enormous 20-point margin. However, that was to be expected, as even among a polarized electorate we rarely ever see such an extreme margin of victory in the final result. What is of significance in this rigged election is that throughout the political campaign, “countless polls” from several, different polling agencies mathematically predicted Clark’s defeat. Not a single poll result, at any time in the election indicated even the possibility of a Liberal majority victory.
This was not merely an anomalous result, outside of the confidence interval of the polling. It is was an outrageous anomaly – i.e. an impossible anomaly. It was a rigged election. For Canadian readers unimpressed with this single example, how about our last federal election (October 2015)?
As the campaign began, political polls showed the election as “a three-horse race” (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Peter+Neil+parties+three+horse+race+poll+finds/11056548/story.html), too close to call. Toward the end of the election, support for the NDP faded somewhat, leading to polling agencies calling it a two-horse race (http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKCN0RU2YV20150930), but still too-close-to-call.
The NDP, historically Canada’s most socially progressive party, had looked federally electable for the first time ever, buoyed by the Alberta win and a shift away from the far-left policies that had previously alienated voters.
But it has failed to distinguish itself from fellow center-left party the Liberals as the best alternative to the nine-year government of Conservative Prime Minster Stephen Harper.
As all Canadians know, the actual result was a Liberal landslide majority. Once again, we are not dealing with a mere “anomaly” outside the confidence interval. We are dealing with another outrageous anomaly, an election result which according to all the polls, from all the polling agencies, over the entire duration of the campaign, was not even possible.
Are we to believe that (at least in Canada) polling agencies have suddenly abandoned their scientific methodology, or become too inept to follow that methodology? Or, has the Canadian voter (for no reason) turned into a politically capricious beast, whose electoral whims have suddenly become completely unpredictable?
We don’t have to even bother asking the mainstream media for its opinion. We see these sorts of suspicious anomalies across all facets of our lives. Whenever something makes absolutely no sense, and/or cannot be explained, we’re always told the same thing: it’s “the New Normal” (http://www.bullionbullscanada.com/index.php/commentary/canadian-commentary/26124-the-new-normal-sedating-the-sheep)– meaning there is no (legitimate) explanation.
There is no explanation for these Canadian political anomalies, in back-to-back election results (for all residents of this province). But this is far from being just a made-in-Canada form of Western corruption. For those readers who doubt that the Brexit vote can/will be rigged, just look at the UK’s last national election (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2015/05/david_cameron_s_conservative_party_wins_a_stunning _victory_labour_and_liberal.html)(May 2015). In that election, we saw a virtual carbon-copy of what occurred in Canada’s most-recent national election.
After months of election projections showing the main parties deadlocked in a neck-and-neck finish, the final poll said something utterly different: British voters want Conservative rule . [emphasis mine]
“Utterly different” than all of the campaign polling. Not just outside the margin of error. Not remotely close to the margin of error, of any of the polling, at any time in the campaign. The subtitle of the article containing the excerpt above summarizes yet another rigged election in the realm of Western politics:
Britain’s Conservatives win big, beating no one more than the pollsters and election experts.
In the real world, politicians can’t “beat” pollsters, because political polling agencies do not compete against politicians. They are impartial observers (at least, the respected ones). They get paid just as much for their work no matter who they announce as leading a political race, or how large or small the margin. There is no rational explanation for the sudden appearance of all these extreme political anomalies, where (in every case) an Establishment candidate has emerged victorious – and with a “majority” mandate.
Of course if the oligarchs continue rigging elections to such an extreme degree as to obviously “defy the polls”, reasonable people will begin to get suspicious. Thus, as Brexit nears, we see the oligarchs attempting a new tactic: falsifying political polls. Last week (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brexit-polls-show-growing-support-for-uk-to-leave-the-eu-2016-06-06); three, separate UK polls were released on the Brexit campaign. All three polls showed a statistically significant majority in favor of “leaving” (the European Union). Just one day later; the Corporate media (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fresh-polls-show-brexit-vote-could-go-down-to-the-wire-2016-06-07)came out with this headline.
Fresh polls show Brexit vote swinging back to ‘remain’
Imagine that! Just 24 hours after several independent polls showed a significant majority in favor of Brexit, we’re told that there are two “new polls” which show British voters flip-flopping in their support. Or are there?
A Daily Telegraph/ORB poll published late Monday put support for retaining EU membership at 48%, versus 47% for those wanting a Brexit, among those who intend to vote.
Meanwhile, a Times/YouGov poll out Monday found 43% of respondents planning to vote to stay, while 42% support a departure, and 11% are “don’t know.”
The first observation of note here is that neither of these political polls are statistically significant, in contrast to the three polls (showing the opposite result) the preceding day. For those readers unfamiliar with statistical terminology, a brief explanation is warranted.
As previously noted, all polling (of any kind) has a margin of error attached to it, typically somewhere around 3%. Thus any poll result which reports a difference which is less than the margin of error is not “statistically significant”. Instead, it is mere statistical noise, where the polling provides no clear indication of a leader.
The three polls released on June 6[SUP]th all indicated majority support for Brexit, and all were statistically significant. With the two polls released on June 7 th, which supposedly showed support to “remain”, both were just razor-thin 1% margins, and thus neither result was statistically significant. Yet the Corporate media reported the “noise” on equal terms with the actual statistically decisive polls from the previous day. Note also that both of the polls which showed supposed support to remain in the EU were manufactured by known mouthpieces of the Establishment: the Daily Telegraph and the London Times.
Then there is the math. If only one poll had been released on June 6 th showing significant support for Brexit, the possibility of two polls coming out the next day where both (supposedly) indicated even an indecisive outcome would have been less than 25%. However, given that three polls from June 6 th all showed significant support for Brexit, the possibility of two polls coming out the next day supposedly showing an indecisive outcome is somewhere well below 10% .
In other words, the two polls from June 7th were extreme anomalies – poll results which were so improbable as to raise immediate suspicion in the minds of those with statistical inclinations. We know the oligarchs have rigged elections. We know they intend to rig the Brexit vote (just like they rigged the UK’s last, national election). Now they appear to be rigging the political polls, as well.
If our elections are now rigged, and the political polls involving these elections are now being rigged as well, then the phrase “Western democracy” has clearly descended to the level of an oxymoron.


http://www.sprottmoney.com/media/magpleasure/mpblog/upload/e/9/e95c01d79d309ec6ab2b7d8beb427944.jpg (http://www.sprottmoney.com/media/magpleasure/mpblog/upload/e/9/e95c01d79d309ec6ab2b7d8beb427944.jpg)
Jeff Nielson is co-founder and managing partner of Bullion Bulls Canada; a website which provides precious metals commentary, economic analysis, and mining information to readers and investors. Jeff originally came to the precious metals sector as an investor around the middle of last decade, but with a background in economics and law, he soon decided this was where he wanted to make the focus of his career. His website iswww.bullionbullscanada.com (http://vlr.tynt.com/?format=txt&key=284d869ffe43382ebe88a02cabb697ab&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bullionbullscanada.com%2F&subId=w!2xuz9cluavaq&txt=www.bullionbullscanada.com&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blacklistednews.com%2FThe_Bre xit_Vote_Will_Be_Rigged%2F52116%2F0%2F38%2F38%2FY% 2FM.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fblacklistednews.com%2F&title=The%20Brexit%20Vote%20Will%20Be%20Rigged).






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aeondaze
23rd June 2016, 09:23 AM
Its my assertion that the favourable Leave polls prior to Ms Cox's death were no accident.

When they came out with such a high percentage of polled respondants in the Leave camp I thought to myself something is up. No way in hell would the elite criminals publish those reults without having some plan in mind, then when I heard about this MP's death it all made sense...this is how it played out.

1. Poll released showing leave camp takes slight lead.

2. GBP takes a beating on FOREX accross all curencies.

May 31 Pound Drops as New Brexit Poll Shows ‘Leave’ Camp Taking Lead (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-31/pound-halts-rally-amid-signs-that-brexit-camp-is-gaining-ground)

3. Further polls indicate leave voters gain substantial lead

June 10 Poll reveals 10-point swing towards Brexit as Leave campaign gains momentum (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-poll-brexit-leave-campaign-10-point-lead-remain-boris-johnson-nigel-farage-david-a7075131.html)

3. Global markets go into free fall.

June 11 Stocks slide on Brexit fears as investors seek safety (http://in.reuters.com/article/global-markets-idINKCN0YV015)

June 12 'Leave' Takes Shocking 19-Point Lead In Brexit Poll (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-12/leave-takes-shocking-19-point-lead-brexit-poll-if-it-happens-gold-will-be-worlds-str)

June 13 Europe Stocks Slide for Fourth Day as Brexit Concerns Intensify (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-13/europe-stocks-slide-for-fourth-day-as-brexit-concerns-intensify)

June 14 Leave campaign storms ahead in polls by seven points as Jeremy Corbyn finally makes the case to Remain (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/14/eu-referendum-new-polls-boost-brexit-campaign-as-the-campaign-to/) Why did it take them so long, or a better question would be why did they leave it until that point in time to make the case to remain...?

June 15 Polls show increasing support for Brexit; Murdoch's Sun backs 'Leave' (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-poll-idUSKCN0YZ2FY) Holle fuck! Even Murdoch is backing this, it must be for realz :rolleyes:

June 16 Ms. Cox is killed...

__________________________________________________ ______________________________

June 18 New Brexit Polls Give Lead to Those Wanting to Stay in EU (http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/new-brexit-polls-give-lead-those-wanting-stay-eu-n595026)

GAME OVER

This charade was stage managed from the very first poll showing a lead for the Leave camp. The whole puporse was to coerce the voting public through fear and intimidation while masquerading as honest and trustworthy news outlets. It was all a scam from the very beginning.

StreetsOfGold
23rd June 2016, 09:40 AM
Of course it will be rigged, the heads of the EU are JESUITS!

Murder (Jo Cox) IS THE CATHOLIC ANSWER

hello?

it's not "da joos"

aeondaze
23rd June 2016, 09:43 AM
Of course it will be rigged, the heads of the EU are JESUITS!

Murder (Jo Cox) IS THE CATHOLIC ANSWER

hello?

it's not "da joos"

Yeah, you keep saying.

The lady doth protest too much, methinks

:rolleyes:

mick silver
23rd June 2016, 10:12 AM
It’s Not Just the UK – Widespread Support for EU Referendums Seen Across the Continent Michael Krieger (http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/author/mkriegs/) | Posted Monday Jun 20, 2016 at 11:58 am 1 Comment (http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/06/20/its-not-just-the-uk-widespread-support-for-eu-referendums-seen-across-the-continent/#comments)
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-11.36.45-AM-768x406.jpg
Actions have consequences, and people can only be pushed so far before they snap. I believe the Paris terror attacks will be a major catalyst that will ultimately usher in nationalist type governments in many parts of Europe, culminating in an end of the EU as we know it and a return to true nation-states. Although I think a return to regional government and democracy is what Europeans need and deserve, the way in which it will come about, and the types of governments we could see emerge, are unlikely to be particularly enlightened or democratic after the dust has settled.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of these horrific events, but the Paris attacks didn’t happen in a vacuum. The people of Europe have already become increasingly resentful against the EU, something which is not debatable at this point. This accurate perception of an undemocratic, technocratic Brussels-led EU dictatorship was further solidified earlier this year after the Greek people went to the polls and voted for one thing, only to be instructed that their vote doesn’t actually matter.
– From last year’s post: A Message to Europe – Prepare for Nationalism (https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/11/14/a-message-to-europe-prepare-for-nationalism/)
If you aren’t paying close attention to what’s happening in Europe, you may be surprised by the extent of “elite” panic at the notion that the British people could decide to leave the EU. Here’s just one example, from Donald Tusk, president of the European Council.

Why is it so dangerous? No one can foresee what the long-term consequences would be. As a historian, I fear that Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the E.U., but also of Western political civilization.
While there’s no doubt that a Brexit will result in major disruptions to the status quo system, isn’t that the point? Moreover, that’s some downright apocalyptic talk by Mr. Tusk. What’s driving it?
The truth is that most of these EU technocrats continue to dream about a closer EU, i.e., more centralization and less democracy for the people of Europe. In their minds, the idea that a major member of the EU could ever leave wasn’t even comprehensible. Their goal has been, and continues to be, a push toward a European superstate fantasy in which national sovereignty is completely subjugated to their incontrovertible undemocratic decrees. As such, they subconsciously recognize that even if Brexit is avoided, any effort to further consolidate power in Brussels will be extraordinarily difficult. This recognition is too devastating to come to terms with, so they will fight it.
This is also why they can’t see that the reason anti-EU sentiment is on the rise not just in Britain, but across the entire continent, is a direct response to their own actions. Specifically, how recent issues of enormous consequence, from the Greek “bailout(s)” to the refugee crisis, were dealt with.
For example:
German Study Proves It – 95% of Greek “Bailout” Money Went to the Banks
(https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/05/05/german-study-proves-it-95-of-greek-bailout-money-went-to-the-banks/)
Does the Migrant Crisis Represent the End of the European Union? (http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/09/15/does-the-migrant-crisis-represent-the-end-of-the-european-union/)
(http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/09/15/does-the-migrant-crisis-represent-the-end-of-the-european-union/)
(http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/09/15/does-the-migrant-crisis-represent-the-end-of-the-european-union/)As such, it should come as no surprise that rather than learning lessons from any Brexit, governments across the EU plan on punishing the Brits in order to warn others about getting any rebellious notions. Just like a schoolteacher would take the rod to a intransigent child.
The New York Times (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/world/europe/britain-referendum-brexit-european-union.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&referer=https://t.co/pfXFXZBIfm) reports:

PARIS — The rest of the European Union nations are looking at the possibility of a British departure from the bloc (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/world/europe/britain-european-union-brexit.html) with disbelief, trepidation and anguish. But they are also preparing to retaliate.
If Britons do vote in a referendum on Thursday to leave the European Union, they can expect a tough and unforgiving response, with capitals across the Continent intent on deterring other countries from following the British example, European officials and analysts said.
In other words, Britain will be made to suffer for its choice.
Preparing for a British vote to withdraw, France and Germany are debating the immediate announcement of a joint initiative on European security, perhaps an operational command headquarters, to show, at least symbolically, that the European Union remains solid and will continue to progress without Britain.
But Germany has rejected some ideas from the European Commission, the permanent bureaucracy in Brussels, to respond by moving quickly toward more European political or fiscal integration, understanding that with Spanish elections this month and French and German elections next year, “more Europe” is not what voters want.
Incredible that the European Commission would even consider such a move, but that’s how ideologically attached and insane these people are.

“There is no appetite to be nice on the day after,” said Camille Grand, the director of the Foundation for Strategic Research in France. “Whatever the British say or feel, there will be a price to pay, if only to prevent further attempts to exit the E.U.”
The Germans and the Dutch, Mr. Grand said, “might be tempted to be more flexible, but in Paris, it’s a divorce, and we must be tough with the British to prevent the Czechs or whomever from trying to make their own deals.”
No one in Germany thinks it would be good if the British left, said Daniela Schwarzer, the director of the Europe program at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. “If the European Union is not able to prove that membership is worth having, and that in the end emotion wins over rational debates, this not only tells you something about public sentiment in Britain, but will have a contagion effect in other nations,” she said.
Even if the British vote to remain, “this Europe of multiple speeds may continue to disintegrate,” said Emmanuel Macron, France’s economy minister. “But if the U.K. leaves, we will have this risk squared. Are we capable of keeping the founding promises that led to the union’s creation — peace, prosperity, freedom?”
The effect on the bloc of a British departure would be threefold, Mr. Grant said.
“It’s not that the right will win power, but they’ll feel they have history with them, and pro-European elites in government will be on the back foot and afraid of moves toward more integration,” Mr. Grant said. “Federalism would be dead, and there would be no more referendums and treaty changes for generations, so it would be a new period of national power and not the federal future the European Commission wants.”
This is the bigger panic. The ultimate endgame for all these EU technocrats is a further centralization of power. The fact that the Brexit vote is happening at all puts this fantasy on permanent life-support since other countries will inevitably demand their own say.
As Quartz reported in its post last month, Nearly Half of Europeans Want Their Own Referendum on Staying in the EU (http://qz.com/679354/nearly-half-of-europeans-want-their-own-referendum-on-staying-in-the-eu/):

When a recent survey asked voters in eight big European nation whether their own country should hold a referendum on EU membership, nearly half answered yes (https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3731/Half-of-people-in-nine-European-countries-believe-UK-will-vote-to-leave-the-EU.aspx).
They Ipsos-MORI survey is based on interviews with 1,030 adults aged 16-64 in 14 countries, including nine EU countries that represent approximately three-quarters of the EU’s population and 80% of its GDP
When asked how they would vote if their country held such a referendum, a third of respondents said they’d vote for their country to leave the EU, though this differed dramatically between different nationalities.
While 48% of Italians and 41% of French respondents said they’d vote to leave the EU if they could, only 26% of respondents in Poland and 26% of Spanish respondents said they would.
Here are a couple of accompanying charts:

http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-11.19.33-AM-1024x553.jpg
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-11.19.38-AM-1024x563.jpg
Meanwhile, the Pew Research Center recently conducted a survey which confirmed much of the above: Euro-skepticism is on the rise generally.
From Pew (http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/06/07/euroskepticism-beyond-brexit/?utm_content=buffera9431&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer):

The British go to the polls at a time when a new multi-nation survey from Pew Research Center finds that Euroskepticism is on the rise across Europe and that about two-thirds of both the British and the Greeks, along with significant minorities in other key nations, want some powers returned from Brussels to national governments. Whether favorable or not toward Brussels, most Europeans agree that a British exit would harm the 28-member EU.
A median of just 51% across 10 EU countries surveyed have a favorable view of the European Union. A median of 42% in these 10 nations want more power returned to their national capitals, (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http://pewrsr.ch/Brexit2016&text=A%20median%20of%2042%25%20across%2010%20EU%20 nations%20want%20some%20powers%20returned%20to%20n ational%20capitals) while only 19% favor giving Brussels more power and 27% favor the status quo. Nevertheless, a median of 70% in the nine EU nations surveyed that don’t get a vote June 23 believe it would be bad for the EU if the UK decided to depart. Only 16% say it would be a good thing.
These are among the key findings from a new survey by Pew Research Center, conducted in 10 EU nations among 10,491 respondents from April 4 to May 12, 2016. The survey includes countries that account for 80% of the EU-28 population and 82% of the EU’s GDP.
The British are not the only ones with doubts about the European Union. The EU’s image and stature have been on a roller coaster ride in recent years throughout Europe. In a number of nations the portion of the public with a favorable view of the Brussels-based institution fell markedly from 2012 to 2013 as the European economy cratered. It subsequently rebounded in 2014 and 2015. But the EU is again experiencing a sharp dip in public support in a number of its largest member states.
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-12.53.26-PM-768x738.jpg
EU favorability is down in five of the six nations surveyed in both 2015 and 2016.There has been a double-digit drop in France (down 17 percentage points) and Spain (16 points), and single-digit declines in Germany (8 points), the United Kingdom (7 points) and Italy (6 points).
The drop-off in overall EU support in key countries in the past year has been driven by a fall in favorability among older people in particular. In France, EU backing among those ages 50 and older fell 19 points. In Spain it declined 16 points and in Germany 11 points. In each case this was larger than the decline in support among those ages 18 to 34.
Much of the disaffection with the EU among Europeans can be attributed to Brussels’ handling of the refugee issue. In every country surveyed, overwhelming majorities disapprove of how Brussels has dealt with the problem. This includes 94% of Greeks, 88% of Swedes and 77% of Italians. The strongest approval of EU management of the refugee crisis is in the Netherlands, but that backing is a tepid 31%.
The EU’s handling of economic issues is another huge source of disaffection with the institution. About nine-in-ten Greeks (92%) disapprove of how the EU has dealt with the ongoing economic crisis. Roughly two-thirds of the Italians (68%), French (66%) and Spanish (65%) similarly disapprove. (France and Spain are the two nations where the favorability of the EU has recently experienced the largest decline.) Majorities in Sweden (59%) and the UK (55%), including 84% of UKIP supporters, also disapprove of the EU’s job in dealing with economic challenges. The strongest approval of Brussels’ economic efforts is in Poland and Germany (both 47%).
The 1957 Treaty of Rome, the founding document of what eventually became the European Union, pledges its signatories, and all the nations that later acceded to it, “…to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.” In early 2016, British Prime Minister David Cameron negotiated an agreement with other EU governments that the founding treaty’s “references to ever closer union do not apply to the United Kingdom.” Nevertheless, disagreement over whether governance in Europe should be more or less centralized is at the center of the UK referendum debate on whether or not to exit the EU. The Pew Research Center survey finds that in six of 10 countries more people want devolution of EU power than support the status quo or favor giving more power to the Brussels-based institution.
Roughly two-thirds of Greeks (68%) and British (65%) want some EU power returned to Athens and London. This is particularly the view of British ages 50 and older (73%); only 51% of those ages 18-34 agree. Pluralities in Sweden (47%), the Netherlands (44%), Germany (43%) and Italy (39%) also want to curtail EU power.
Conversely, there is little enthusiasm for transferring more power to Brussels. As the British head to the polls, just 6% of the public in the UK wants such an outcome. And only 8% of Greeks favor more power for the EU. The strongest backing for an ever closer Europe is only 34%, in France. In most countries a quarter or more of the public prefers to keep the current division of power.

Now here’s the graphic that will make EU technocrats downright suicidal:
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-12.53.42-PM.jpg

There is overwhelming sentiment across Europe that Brexit would be a bad thing for the European institution: 89% in Sweden, 75% in the Netherlands and 74% in Germany say the British leaving would be not good for the EU. (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http://pewrsr.ch/Brexit2016&text=89%25%20in%20Sweden%2C%2075%25%20in%20the%20N etherlands%20and%2074%25%20in%20Germany%20say%20th e%20British%20leaving%20would%20be%20bad%20for%20t he%20EU)
France is the only country where more than a quarter (32%) of the public says it would be positive for the EU if the UK departed.
Pretty interesting considering that the French are also the ones who appear most in favor of inflicting harsh punishment against the British should they vote to leave.
So what can we conclude from all of this?


Euro skepticism is on the rise.
EU technocrats will fight back with sticks instead of carrots, furthering euro-skepticism.
Great Britain will be the first, but probably not the last country to hold an EU referendum over the next 5-10 years.
The EU as it stands is a failed experiment. This is proven by the inept and corrupt handling of both the Greek “bailout” program and the refugee crisis.
The only solution is to increase decentralization and restore national democracy within the framework of some of the popular attributes the EU offers.
EU technocrats are obsessed with a further centralization of power and will continue to push it against the will of the people.
The EU will ultimately disintegrate as a result of overwhelming popular dissent to technocratic scheming and incompetence.

The only question is whether what comes next is better or worse.
For additional EU-related articles, see:
German Study Proves It – 95% of Greek “Bailout” Money Went to the Banks
(https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/05/05/german-study-proves-it-95-of-greek-bailout-money-went-to-the-banks/)
Does the Migrant Crisis Represent the End of the European Union? (http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/09/15/does-the-migrant-crisis-represent-the-end-of-the-european-union/)
Video of the Day – Here’s What Happened When a Member of European Parliament Tried to Read the TTIP Text (https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/05/09/video-of-the-day-heres-what-happened-when-a-member-of-european-parliament-tried-to-read-the-ttip-text/)
The EU Wants to Impose a Tax for Sharing Links on the Internet (https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2016/06/14/the-eu-wants-to-impose-a-tax-for-sharing-links-on-the-internet/)
Head of the European Parliament Warns – EU at Risk of Falling Apart (https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/12/08/head-of-the-european-parliament-warns-eu-at-risk-of-falling-apart/)
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger