Whether it will make any difference to the outcome is unlikely; and I'm sure there may be some whose opinions I respect who might question my judgement. However, as the clock ticks down to what some say will be the most important decision this county will make in recent times, I can reveal that I will be joining those who are voting to leave The European Union in a few hours time (as I write).
No doubt, some will say that, at my time of life (I'm 77), I don't really care what effect my vote will have on future generations and, like many (if not most) of my own generation, my motives are based on sentiments rooted in the past. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I don't recall ever paying quite so much attention to any issue as I have to this one; and I, certainly, didn't pay this much attention last time around in 1975.
I suppose (if I really needed to), I could go into some detail to explain my reasoning. However, to cut a long story short, I have been influenced by three main factors......
(1) The Remain campaign has relied heavily on the opinions of so-called experts and academics; whereas the Leave campaign have been supported by some very successful businessmen, entrepreneurs, and industrialists; and, basically, I am more inclined to believe (and trust) those who have experienced living in the real world than those who have not.
(2) It is ludicrous to imagine that European manufacturers are going to refuse to sell their goods to us if we leave the union; and, insofar as punitive and spiteful tariffs being imposed on our products is concerned, we should be able to compensate for whatever losses may occur by being free to sell to all those other nations in the world which EU regulations prevent us from doing so at the moment.
(3) I harbour an increasing suspicion (or, perhaps an inevitable acceptance of the fact) that politicians are far too often economical with the truth. However, although it would serve no purpose at this stage in the process to name individuals, on balance - and IMHO, the Remain politicians have been significantly more disingenuous that their opponents and I reserve the right to express my reaction at the ballot box.
...........and finally, as an afterthought, I lived north of the border for the best part of ten years and I know how much the English are despised by many there; so, it doesn't surprise me that it is supposed that the Scottish vote will be significantly in favour of remaining in the EU. However, the possibility that their vote might outweigh that of the rest of the country is disturbing.
No doubt, some will say that, at my time of life (I'm 77), I don't really care what effect my vote will have on future generations and, like many (if not most) of my own generation, my motives are based on sentiments rooted in the past. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I don't recall ever paying quite so much attention to any issue as I have to this one; and I, certainly, didn't pay this much attention last time around in 1975.
I suppose (if I really needed to), I could go into some detail to explain my reasoning. However, to cut a long story short, I have been influenced by three main factors......
(1) The Remain campaign has relied heavily on the opinions of so-called experts and academics; whereas the Leave campaign have been supported by some very successful businessmen, entrepreneurs, and industrialists; and, basically, I am more inclined to believe (and trust) those who have experienced living in the real world than those who have not.
(2) It is ludicrous to imagine that European manufacturers are going to refuse to sell their goods to us if we leave the union; and, insofar as punitive and spiteful tariffs being imposed on our products is concerned, we should be able to compensate for whatever losses may occur by being free to sell to all those other nations in the world which EU regulations prevent us from doing so at the moment.
(3) I harbour an increasing suspicion (or, perhaps an inevitable acceptance of the fact) that politicians are far too often economical with the truth. However, although it would serve no purpose at this stage in the process to name individuals, on balance - and IMHO, the Remain politicians have been significantly more disingenuous that their opponents and I reserve the right to express my reaction at the ballot box.
...........and finally, as an afterthought, I lived north of the border for the best part of ten years and I know how much the English are despised by many there; so, it doesn't surprise me that it is supposed that the Scottish vote will be significantly in favour of remaining in the EU. However, the possibility that their vote might outweigh that of the rest of the country is disturbing.
