As the March 29 deadline nears for Great Britain and the European Union to agree on how the former will extricate itself, I feel increasingly sorry for Theresa May, who by virtue of being prime minister is committed to carry out the peoples will.
In 2016, Britons voted on what is commonly known as Brexit. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted by overwhelming margins to remain; but were outvoted by a majority of those in England and Wales.
The outcome surprised the world, and in retrospect many blame virulent hate speech against immigrants as a reason for its success. Russia played no small role in the promulgation of divisiveness, including the funding of anti-EU leader Nigel Farage and his We want our country back campaign mantra.
Nothing would please Russia more than a destabilized Europe.
Because the plan to leave the European Union was no deeper than a slogan, its implementation has been fraught with hazards.
Many say if the vote were given a second chance it would fail because more now realize whats at stake by losing the European Union as a trading partner.
But at the time, industries such as fishing and farming, who had to share quotas with EU member states, said they were hamstrung by regulations and would be better off if they could singularly negotiate deals primarily with the former Commonwealth countries of Canada, Australia, India and South Africa.
Those homespun voices played on the heartstrings of Brits, much to the alarm of those involved in banking, automobile, retail, technology, oil and gas industries.
And ever since, the prime minister has been walking a fine line by trying to ensure some kind of trade agreement is maintained while also placating hard-line isolationists.
While Ms. May did not vote for Brexit, shes tried to make it work.
Brexit means Brexit, and we will make a success of it, she said after the referendum passed. Meanwhile, those initially at her side have fled so as not to be held responsible for what is likely to be a bad deal. In the last 18 months, the headquarters of 75 major industries have left England for safer shores.
BY WITHDRAWING from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and threatening NAFTA, the United States is also trending toward isolationist policies, going against the post-World War II philosophy of greater cooperation between world governments.
After he became president, Donald Trump lauded Brexit, saying he thought the UK was so smart in getting out.
We can all take away lessons from Brexit and its repercussions. The more we can share in terms of talent and resources, the lighter will be everyones burden.
