The European Union

Fair dinkum, are you for real? I said:

"What i find annoying...is the sheer hypocrisy of the US government in telling the UK to stay in the EU for no US politician would ever agree to giving up any power to a third party".

I NEVER mentioned ANYTHING about the US joining the EU. I was speaking about the US telling UK voters they should continue to give significant power to an external body. Something the US doesn't and wouldn't do (in any meaningful way). Can you comprehend that?
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“What I do find strange is that he is asking the British people to accept a situation that he patently would not recommend to the American population. If he believes it would be unacceptable for the American people - those he is actually elected to guide - I fail to see how it is appropriate for him to recommend that the British people continue to relinquish their right to democratic self-governance.”

Nice to hear what someone from the UK thinks!

Whether or not his comments have any impact is irrelevant. As they say, it's the thought that counts.

You obviously can't see any difference btw a nation's leader endorsing or criticising another nation's leader (or potential leader) and what Obama has done. So I am not going to waste any more of my time trying to explain something to you which is obviously beyond your ability to comprehend. To do so would be like putting wheels on a potato...time consuming and ultimately pointless!

For me personally, regardless of whether or not the UK decides to remain in the EU, i just hope that the outcome of the referendum proves beneficial to the nation as a whole.

One thing the vote is unlikely to impact upon is the following...

More than a million people are so poor they cannot afford to eat properly, keep clean or stay warm and dry, according to a groundbreaking attempt to measure the scale of destitution in the UK.

A study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) found that 184,500 households experienced a level of poverty in a typical week last year that left them reliant on charities for essentials such as food, clothes, shelter and toiletries.

More than three-quarters of destitute people reported going without meals, while more than half were unable to heat their home. Destitution affected their mental health, left them socially isolated and prone to acute feelings of shame and humiliation.

In 2015, there were 668,000 destitute households containing 1,252,000 people, including 312,000 children. The study said this was an underestimate because the data did not capture poor households who eschewed charity handouts or used only state-funded welfare services

Julia Unwin, chief executive of JRF, said: “It is simply unacceptable to see such levels of severe poverty in our country in the 21st century. Governments of all stripes have failed to protect people at the bottom of the income scale from the effects of severe poverty, leaving many unable to feed, clothe or house themselves and their families.”

Destitution was defined by researchers as reliance on a weekly income so low (£70 for a single adult, £140 for a couple with children after housing costs) that basic essentials were unaffordable.

People who met at least two of six measures over the course of a month, including eating fewer than two meals a day for two or more days, inability to heat or light their home for five days or sleeping rough for one or more nights, were also deemed to be destitute.

Note - this problem is certainly not restricted to the UK. All nations that i can think of have similar problems.

Jonathan Arnott:

I find it interesting that President Obama is currently in the UK in an attempt to influence our upcoming referendum. President Obama has been telling the British people to vote to remain in the EU, which makes me wonder if he would consider bringing the USA into an organisation similar to the EU.

Would America allow a parliament in Guatemala to overrule the US Congress? No

Would America allow a court in Peru to dictate to the US Supreme Court? No

Would America allow its citizens to be extradited to Cuba without trial? No

Would America allow another country to control its military? No

Would America allow a foreign power to undermine its healthcare system? No

Would America throw its borders and green card system open to an entire continent and allow uncontrolled immigration from overseas? No

For those who point out that the USA is a federation itself, so is Germany: there is a big difference between a nation and a supranational institution like the European Union. How can President Obama stand before the British people and with a straight face try to influence them into voting to deny ourselves the freedoms and sovereignty which the American people hold so dear?

Seeing as our auzzie friend is glad to hear what someone in the uk thinks, I will chip in with my tuppence worth.

I have no problem with Obama telling us how the US will respond to a UK departure from europe. Its the sort of thing we need to know. Obama didnt interfere with british politics indeed he went out of his way to state that the final decision is one for the british people to make. Its not for americans (or australians come to that) to tell us how to vote. But what he can do is inform us as to how his own government will respond and this he did. he told us fair and square and without any flowery language that business with the EU is important to america and if push comes to shove then britain will go to the back of the queue where america is concerned.

The brexit bunch obviously dont like this because it is not the message they want voters to hear. If obama had said america would like britain to leave then boris johnson would have been shoving his tongue down obamas throat.

america will do what is good for america. they always do. the thing i like about obama is that for once mr president isnt telling us how much he treasures the special relationship and wants to stand by the old country, blah blah blah. he is being refreshingly and uncommonly honest with us. i can handle that.

Let me try to understand you.

What Obama has done...

As the president of the USA he, at least in theory, has the best interest of the USA as his primary purpose.

For whatever reason he thinks that it is in the best interest of the USA that the UK stay in the EU.

Even though he has no power to support of enforce his opinion, he made public statements about this.

His statements upset you greatly.

Very sad.

As far as i can tell the democrats echo Obama's view whilst the Republican's strongly oppose it. Obviously no surprise there. Infact the Republican's are saying that if the UK left the EU they would go to the front of the queue.

I suspect that those who favour remaining in the EU are happy enough with what Obama said whilst those who support leaving arent.

Note - Obama wont be president when any potential trade deals with the EU (or even the UK) are thrashed out. So not sure how he can even say how the US government will react should the UK vote to leave the EU as he wont be a part of the US government!

Let's be honest, the UK has already dropped several places in the queue with the US, and everyone knows it.

Unless the Queen is having another birthday, or Kate is doing something that Diana did, we hear absolutely nothing about the UK on television these days. We hear far more about China, Mexico, Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, and the Middle East. The UK has almost no power, and therefore almost no influence. There is nothing of note, good or bad going on there, so as far as the US is concerned, you simply don't matter.

It's a fact.

Anyway, it was good to hear the views of hitting40 and lordg

Note, you'll be dead by the time this all washes out, so I'm not sure how you can have an opinion either.

As an aside, from 2012-2015 the US imported more goods from the UK than they exported.