by Calvin Harris H.W., M

Last night, Thursday 23 of June, 2016, I had an opportunity to watch a Country decide its fate by a popular vote of its people.  I got to watch 4 hours of announced results of ballot counts, as they happened. This was coupled with interviews of political statesmen, of the various political parties, as well as short interviews and statements from the general public. All live on a cable feed from London as we watched in Laguna Beach, CA.

This was truly a ‘Every’ person’s vote will count decision. I did observe that some who voted had voted with their feelings and left their brains at home. For these people the vote seemed to be more in part about the dissatisfaction with how their elected officials, over the years, had handled or voted on various issues to their outrage or displeasure.  The EU vote then became clouded with issues, some not at all related to the EU vote at hand, but then the vote became a tool to send a message, a way to give the finger to their elected political officials. The question is then begged to be asked, was the vote tilted? Due to feeling of rage or fear rather than careful deliberation of the issues at hand.

England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are the countries of Great Britain that were involved in this vote to leave or remain in the European Union because these were the countries that border the other European Countries. The European Union, acts as a single market of all the Countries that belong to it since 1992. The concept behind the EU was to boost trade, create jobs and lower prices. It allows for the free movement of goods, services, money and people within the European Union, as if it was a single Country. Meaning, as a member of the EU, you could possible set up a business or take a job anywhere within it.

The UK’s EU referendum vote: gave the people a choice to remain in the EU or to leave it. I watched the results of the votes come in county by county, it was like watching a tennis match, the vote went one way and then the other with more to gain or lose than a trophy. I could not stay till the final results of the broadcast, but I got up this morning and checked the BBC News report article by Brian Wheeler & Alex Hunt on my computer. The reported revealed that Britain had voted to leave the EU, by a vote of 52% to leave vs the 48% to remain. That 48% means a large margin of people did not agree with the vote, but not enough to turn the tide.

I would suggest that when we Vote, in this Country, that we do so with both our minds and our hearts meaning giving the issues careful deliberation as to their benefits and long term ramifications.  I saw, while watching these events unfold, one or two folks faces, who had wanted to make a statement by their vote, and then when they realize that their vote might win, then came the look of realization that their vote might not bring the outcome they really wanted, as the broadcast news reported economic uncertainty looms as the value of their dollar (the Pound Sterling) rose and fell during the announced results of each of the counties throughout the night.