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right and wrong are relative values. If you open your mind to your opponents' arguments and work hard on following their reasoning, you would stand a far better chance of proven more right than them. In most of your replies to me, your starting point is that you are right and I am a fool. I...

my mind is not closed to arguments presented by people who disagree with me. It's only by analysing the reasons why they (my opponents) feel they are in the right that I can eventually prove to be more right than them. I learned that bit of a nugget from one of my physics teachers, in a lesson...

no, it doesn't. The EFTA court has limited power and it's only on economic matter. You can't take a HR or employment case to EFTA court for example. It has no legislative power either (no EP). and finally, it has a tiny budget (£17m a year). EFTA embodies the ideas of the original common market...

you are wrong on this. EFTA does not want political union, it's only a free trade zone, that's what the brexiters want. The only opponents to us joining EFTA are those fanatics on both sides (a poll estimates the opponents to EFTA count for about 29% of the votes) EFTA court is obliged to accept...

This is an interview with Carl Baudenbacher, a judge working at the EFTA court, in which, he demystified the issues if the UK wanted to join an alternative grouping. A recent poll favours EFTA to the EU by a very large margin. Can Britain sign its own trade deals if it joins Efta? The EEA is...

Only hard brexiters want you to think that. Members do have a veto. However, UK can join either EFTA or EEA after leaving the EU. At a recent meeting of EFTA, their ministers said the UK is welcome to join.

Finland is a case in point. Finland joins EFTA since 1986. We would fit better with EFTA that does not seek to enlarge like the EU. This is a quote from the Guardian a couple of weeks ago: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/02/uk-shortcut-free-trade-post-brexit Efta, set up in...

there is no reason for them to move out if we are in EFTA.

I believe that they do, because secretly, our successive governments know that they are needed and very much wanted so keep the perks to entice them to come. The number of hangers on is totally insignificant.

you should upload your pictures to your website then post their URLs instead of uploading the picture files.

AKW suggested that we can't raise our standard to the same level of the current EFTA members. I take it to mean living/environmental standard. Remainers may have wished that we won't fit in EFTA, but what if we do? I would have thought that our chance of success with the EFTA bunch is just as...

EFTA gives to brexiters: 1. No ECJ. Pick and choose which directives and how much to implement. 2. a greater control on EU workers (priority given to locals) and benefits (eg contribute 4 years before able to claim). 3. Can sign trade deals with non EU countries 4. Enjoy existing trade deals...

yes, I was, although reluctantly. I see issues with both sides and EFTA a good compromise.

you have made up your mind that EFTA is not the way. No point for me to try to change yours, is there?

I reckon the tax issue is the reason why many don't want to be permanently relocated. Personal tax has been substantially lower in the UK for all my working life and with lots of allowances. For France, E111 card does not qualify for non emergency treatments.

At present, to apply for Irish passport, one parent or grand parent must be Irish. About 6 million UK citizens have at least one Irish parent or grand parent, if the Irish government also allows great grand parent to qualify then that number would probably jumps up to 20 millions.

the rubix cube reminds me of good old days at uni - I used to impress the girls with my Rubix speed :) I give the cube to them and challenge them to make it as difficult as possible and wager I'd solve it in one minute or less. Much easier to break the ice than a drink or dare game.

brexit represents an aspiration. Many of those who voted for it felt that the EU does next to nothing for them and they want a change of direction. They are not going to change that view anytime soon.

that will inevitably be tested at the next GE. The stake is high for all political parties but although I think brexit is inevitable, I do think that soft brexit is an acceptable compromise and the EFTA route may deliver more cake on the long term.

NI/ROI border is a special case, don't blame me, it is considered by both the EU and the UK to be a separate issue. This thread is an echo chamber for remainers. I don't mind that it is, but I post what I think is the voice of the silent majority.