‘Brexit’ lessons for the Philippines

THE recent referendum vote held in the United Kingdom seems straight forward enough. The ballot had two choices: “Remain a member of the European Union” and “Leave the European Union.” The final result of last Thursday’s voting was 51.9 percent to “Leave” and 48.1 percent to “Remain.”

The outcome was fairly close, but still decisive, with the Leave getting 7.8 percent more votes than Remain. However, those numbers are deceptive.

The vote for Remain won in an absolute landslide victory. The vote for Leave won in an absolute landslide victory. It all depends on where you look.

 The United Kingdom is composed of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, through centuries of treaties and to a certain extinct kingly conquest. And like every diverse nation, there are many viewpoints and biases.

In a postmortem of the vote, the Remain-inclined press pointedly mentioned that in an area of England with higher education, Remain was a big winner. London, for example, voted 60 percent to 40 percent in favor of Remain, a landslide. However, London is also home to the financial institutions that have a vested interest in staying part of the EU. Obviously, multinational banks tend to employ higher-educated people. So, of course, London would vote Remain, but not as a result of being “smarter,” but because it was in their financial interests.

The West Midlands region of England voted the opposite way—60 percent for Leave. The city of Birmingham is in the West Midlands and is England’s second-largest city. Birmingham used to be a manufacturing and engineering center. Today, its economy is dominated by the service sector, which in 2012 accounted for 88 percent of the city’s employment. Economic inequality within Birmingham is greater than in any other major English city.

The North East region of England also voted 58 percent for Leave. Thirty percent of the people there consider themselves in the “D” or “E” segment of the UK’s economic classes. England’s eastern area also went heavily—57 percent—for Leave. Here, youth unemployment is 33 percent.

This referendum was about an issue that significantly affected every citizen of the United Kingdom and a critical national policy. Yet, when you look at the results, the voters cast their ballots exactly as people always do: Based on their own personal interest. London bank employees voted for what was best for London banks. Lower-income classes in depressed areas voted for a change from the current situation, which they believe has failed them.

 In a short time, the Philippines will face deciding about some critical issues from the status of Muslim Mindanao, perhaps, a change to a parliamentary or federal form of government to changes in the Constitution regarding foreign ownership of businesses.

Will Filipinos push for a decision that they think will be best for the entire nation or for what will be best for their own personal interests?

source:  Business Mirror