So the UK official triggered Article 50 today to get the heck out of the EU. It has finally begun.

Are you happy or sad?

Also, just wondering for the UK gamers, on GOG do you pay in Euros or with the Pound Sterling?

Rather indifferent personally though I'm enjoying following it. It's amusing to see how the pro-brexiteers are trying to convince themselves they have good leverage to broker a good deal with the EU. Particularly their 'We have a special relationship with the US' to offer to the EU feels very "Eh". I doubt Trump cares one iota about the UK beyond them licking his heels because the UK absolutely *needs* the US right now. If the US had been in a stable place the UK would've been in a much better position throughout the Brexit.

Well I'm going to place bigger orders with Book Depository before we have to deal with customs. I'll probably buy a lot less from UK sites once they are offcially out of the EU.
Kinda wondering what will happen to those british people that move to Mediterranean regions when they retire (for example will they need passports to go from Spain to France?)

I'm very happy for my Brit friends. This was a much needed step in the right direction for everyone. :D

Funny, the vast majority of economist don't agree with you.

Here, have some pizza, that always cheers me up.

I am both happy and sad.

Happy that UK can finally end bitching about EU.

Sad because I can't. The first reaction from EU leaders seemed to be that now that UK is leaving, rest of the EU needs to be even tighter together than before.

NO! It should be the exact opposite. UK left because EU tried to increasingly dictate about things that should be left on national governments. I am unsure what is the current situation, now it appears EU leaders are suggesting there are several different directions EU could be heading, like some two-tier system where different EU countries are either in the inner or outer ring. It appears it allows countries like Sweden also stay out of the monetary union, those damn lucky bastards (they don't have to care about losing bilions of euros on Greece etc., just because they don't belong to Euro; and just wait when Italy falls).

I have to say that if Finland was in a similar situation as Sweden (ie. we are in EU but have our own currency), I would be much more positive about EU. I'd still feel though it shouldn't try to dictate how much asylum seekers each country should take from Greece and Italy (Austria is already saying it won't take part into that lunacy), the whole EU Emissions Trading System is an abomination, etc.

I am quite convinced it is only getting worse for EU, and it is heading to disassembly eventually. Just not sure how fast. This is not the first (also monetary) union within Europe, the earlier attempts have eventually failed as well.

Ps. I am not quite sure why US folks seem to be so much against EU? What is in it for them? Is it somehow bad for US that EU exists? I'd figure that if I was an American, I'd be all "meh" about EU, it wouldn't affect me at all. I can better understand Russia is against EU because they want Europe overall to be as weak as possible, as they see Europe as their adversary. That's why Russia is funding the far-right parties in EU countries, which are usually campaigning against EU.

I've yet to even see a Euro or the option to pay with Euros.
Blighty is GBP centric.

I'm happy for it as I view the EU as a trade pact that went way too far and started taking away sovereignty from it's member nations particularly the smaller ones. Also no one in the UK public voted to join the EU in the first place so it's a win for actual democracy.

I don't know about that, the UK is the second largest country in the EU in terms of GDP.

It might not hurt the EU all that much economically, but it could start a spiral of countries exiting or threaten its stability.

People are getting pissed off everywhere and feel disempowered, this is the last thing the EU would want.

:D

I have to wait till Saturday to actually eat any more pizza though...

Not actually true, the British people voted in 1975; admittedly after having already joined, but they were still given the choice and voted in. I kind of imagine it's to do with the same reason many US citizens dislike their own federal government (which is what the EU is like really), though I don't understand that myself...

Well, actually the EU is a nightmare to deal with [url=https://euobserver.com/economic/135609]failing.

Plus, as an American, I am a strong supporter of individual freedom and liberty and the EU is staunchly opposed to these values. So I am very happy to see the people of Great Britain take back their sovereignty, borders and to determine their own future and fate and decide their own economic policies and interests.

And, yes, America will have a free trade deal with Great Britain, which will be good for both countries.

And the EU is what is destroying Europe and making Europe weak. The EU always bragged about overtaking the USA in economic clout, but it has failed miserably. That IBD piece is short, to the point and correct.

The USA is coming off an idiotic Obama who is the FIRST AND ONLY President to NEVER have one year of at least 3% growth. Yes, even FDR as President during the Great Depression, managed to achieve a 3% growth rate during his time in office.

Lastly, I want our allies to succeed. Theresa May is not Margaret Thatcher (who is?), but she can most certainly be the UK's best leader since the late great Lady Thatcher.

No it won't, these so-called free trade deals always screw someone over.

I can also see some other "union" very close to Britain that is close to breaking point.