The Helplessness of the British Electorate: Lessons from Europe

The British electorate's sense of helplessness in shaping its own destiny has been eerily reminiscent of the "Learned Helplessness" phenomenon studied in psychology, where individuals become demoralized and listless when faced with uncontrollable stress. This condition was highlighted by the Danish referendum on joining European Monetary Union, where a high turnout of almost 90% defied expectations, unlike the French referendum, which saw a meager 30% turnout. The study of an old people's home also showed that those who took control over their lives were healthier and lived longer than those who were controlled by the staff.

Key Takeaways:

• The British electorate's helplessness in shaping its own destiny is a concern, as it may contribute to the country's economic and political decline.
• The EU takes only 11% of the UK's GDP, yet the government is committed to supporting EMU entry, citing various reasons, including the UK's small player status on the world stage.
• The figure of 60% of the UK's exports going to the EU is a misrepresentation, as it only accounts for goods exports, while the UK earns more from exports of services and investments.
• The government's focus on EU affairs comes at a high cost, with an excessive amount of time spent on Brussels' regulations, such as the infamous Regulation 1677/88 on good class cucumbers.
• The electoral turnout in Denmark was significantly higher than in the UK, with almost 90% of the electorate participating in the referendum, compared to the 30% who voted in the French referendum.
• The Danish electorate's decision to vote "No" to joining EMU defied expectations, demonstrating that even in the face of complex issues, the public can take control and make informed decisions.
• The study of the old people's home highlights the importance of taking control over various aspects of life, with those who took control over their lives being healthier and living longer.

Statistics:

• 11% of the UK's GDP is accounted for by exports to the EU (Table 2).
• 48% of the UK's overseas earnings come from goods, services, and investment income to the EU (Table 1).
• 90% of the Danish electorate participated in the referendum on joining EMU.
• 30% of the French electorate voted in the referendum on the term of the presidency.
• 82% is the highest turnout at a British general election in recent years (1951).

Sources:

• "Learned Helplessness" studies in psychology
• Danish referendum on joining European Monetary Union
• Table 1: UK earnings from the EU
• Table 2: UK exports of goods and services to the EU as a percentage of UK GDP
• Regulation 1677/88 on good class cucumbers
• Study of an old people's home
• Tony Blair's radio interview on the European Union
• British general election turnout figures
• French referendum turnout figures