Brexit: A Victory for Decentralization

My hat is off to the British people for recognizing with the Brexit results that government that is the closest governs best. As you may have seen the United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union.  A majority of Brits see that determining their own laws, borders, and fiscal policy is a good thing and that it is better for these things to be decided from London than Brussels.

It appears that this is something that is lost on elites within British society, as well as, with President Obama.

Last April during his visit to London President Obama said, “The United Kingdom is at its best when it is helping to lead a strong Europe. It leverages U.K. power to be part of the European Union.”

Today he’s singing a different tune.

The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision. The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy. So too is our relationship with the European Union, which has done so much to promote stability, stimulate economic growth, and foster the spread of democratic values and ideals across the continent and beyond. The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world.

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that he will resign by October, I have to commend him for resigning after making a bad decision and realizing that he not the leader needed for Britain. What a concept.

Republican reaction has been supportive. Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement applauding the vote.

The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free peoples. They have declared their independence from the European Union and have voted to reassert control over their own politics, borders and economy. A Trump Administration pledges to strengthen our ties with a free and independent Britain, deepening our bonds in commerce, culture and mutual defense. The whole world is more peaceful and stable when our two countries – and our two peoples – are united together, as they will be under a Trump Administration.

Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence. Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first. They will have the chance to reject today’s rule by the global elite, and to embrace real change that delivers a government of, by and for the people. I hope America is watching, it will soon be time to believe in America again.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said the United States can learn from this referendum.

“The British people have spoken clearly: They choose to leave the European Union,” Cruz said. “The results of the ‘Brexit’ referendum should serve as a wake-up call for internationalist bureaucrats from Brussels to Washington, D.C. that some free nations still wish to preserve their national sovereignty. The British people have indicated that they will no longer outsource their future to the EU, and prefer to chart their own path forward. The United States can learn from the referendum and attend to the issues of security, immigration and economic autonomy that drove this historic vote. In addition, we should treat the ‘Brexit’ as an opportunity to forge a closer partnership with our historic friend and ally, including immediately starting negotiations for a targeted US-UK free trade agreement.”