Oh yeah Dave....
our species is right on top of quantifying goodness...
Look at the the increase of global mean temp as an example...
Scientists say "We cannot exceed a 2 degree increase, we must decrease instead"
Everyone else only hears "2 degree max"
So everyone else says "Right, 2 degrees....
and ignores it ...and goes beyond that ...thinking the planet and all on it can take another one for the team and bounce back.

Wildlife experts say "We need to save species XXXXX , because it is now in threat of extinction..."
Opportunists hear that and speed up the process by poaching and taking even more of species XXXXX young to profit from them while they can in selling off the now even further sped - up demise of said species.

A beach full of ignorant people catch a rare endangered porpoise infant, and pass it around out of water to take selfies with it while it is dying.

I hope that the brave new technological dawn that is to arrive, euthanizes nine tenths of the deliberately ignorant population on the planet to save any hope of survival for not only our species, but most of the rest of this place too.



As far as Brexit separation goes...
I have a good perspective...
Quebec for decades attempted to secede from Canada.
It would have hurt both parties ...the country as a whole , and Quebec,
But would have impacted far worse on Quebec economically.
We had our referendums, our voting, and after all the estimated cost was tabulated, Quebec decided to finally stay and give up the notion it was better off with out us.
It would have been devastating for the province.

Likewise...
There is one thing mentioned here by pichlo...
The voter angst isn't really against the EU
as much as it is based on regional, local issues pertaining to the opportunities available IN Britain , that has people upset (and for many many decades too..)
Brexit is a smoke screen, to distract from the issues the British Government needs to address.
The overhaul of their political, social, and economic systems.
But it is far more convenient to point elsewhere and blame.

Fact is, it is just blunt truth that being part OF a Bloc of countries or provinces is more beneficial than being left outside in the rain.

The currency is more stable than going it alone.
There is more protection under a larger umbrella.
There is more recourse to resolving regional issues within a Bloc
and as a Bloc Member State, one gets a fair and impartial hearing to rectify needs.
There is more policing of worker health, environmental, and health concerns, and much more.

Britain spent much of its existence going it alone.
It did well during its Empire days, when tribute from the planet poured in.
But those days are done.
Also like most of the old world, Britain has pillaged most of its natural resource base over the millennia.
Couple that with a bureaucratically weighted and seized up government that cannot effect change...
And Brexit is a golden calf to parade through the streets to distract from the real issues...
Issues which are localized to Britain...and have little to do with being a EU member.

I am not trying to say an of this smugly...
We have our own share of issues here in Canada.
But here ...in Canada...we don't have the luxury of allowing problems to just keep existing, it gets cold here, and people can suffer in ways that are not pleasant.
Here for the most part , endless debate with no resolution is the same as elsewhere, it costs...
We tend to see such cost in direct ways..
"the cost of endless debate could feed and house how many people?" and such similar statements.

Canada isn't perfect, we have our issues, but here fixing issues as quickly as possible is a must...
We can't enjoy the luxury of endless debate with no conclusion or rectifying of the issue at hand.