The response by American conservatives has been one of jubilation at the results of the Brexit vote in England.
I love the smell of #Brexit in the morning
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) June 24, 2016
How dare a sovereign nation decide to be a sovereign nation.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) June 24, 2016
#Brexit will be cause to celebrate on both sides of the Atlantic since it rebuilds Britain as a true global power.
— Jim DeMint (@JimDeMint) June 24, 2016
One voice said it all on Fox News' Outnumbered this morning, when Fox Business' Charles Gasparino voiced the opinion that many US conservatives have taken when he said, "I don't believe any free people should just offshore their sovereignty to a bunch of eggheads in Brussels."
This whole push to leave the EU was a nationalist movement, similar in tone to Trump's core principles of hating immigrants and blaming them for all their problems. After the global financial collapse caused by the mortgage grifters, conservative leaders forced cruel austerity measures on England and rammed them down the throats of the working class.
So it was an easy con to say "England for England" and "we're taking back our country" and all that, but now they're faced with reality.
As far as I can tell, Leave was popular because enough people believe that all of the immigrants are on the UK's secret welfare system, even as they get squat. Labour under Blair, despite his rather extreme flaws, was actually pretty good at giving goodies to people. Brown was, too, though he was mocked for his supposedly ridiculous spending after the financial crisis, because even most serious lefties believed that austerity was necessary. Spending during the recession? On things other than bailing out banks and rich people? Crazy talk. Brown got it right, even though he was genuinely doing some "ridiculous" spending because shoveling money out the door as fast as possible was actually good policy.
As austerity became the dominant philosophy what could Labour offer? We'll cut your goodies but continue the (nonexistent) secret welfare system for immigrants! The Tories promised to cut goodies but at least cut the (nonexistent) secret welfare system, too. Easy choice, really. England for England and all that.
Unlike our right wing colleagues, I do hope this vote doesn't cripple England in the future just to prove I'm right, but the glee that conservatives are enjoying is downright despicable.
