Have your cake and eat it.

**amanwhoisquiet** · 16 February 2017, 08:45

Probably that you'd like to avoid all the perceived negative aspects of a thing, yet keep the positive ones (that may only be available due to the results of said perceived negative aspects).

**GB9** · 16 February 2017, 09:08

Originally posted by amanwhoisquiet View Post

Probably that you'd like to avoid all the perceived negative aspects of a thing, yet keep the positive ones (that may only be available due to the results of said perceived negative aspects).

But in terms of the EU and UK, what does that actually mean?

Things the EU see as a benefit are regarded by Breiteers as negatives, so I'm not sure exactly what we are having and eating.

**amanwhoisquiet** · 16 February 2017, 09:21

Originally posted by GB9 View Post

But in terms of the EU and UK, what does that actually mean?

Things the EU see as a benefit are regarded by Breiteers as negatives, so I'm not sure exactly what we are having and eating.

I don't know - you asked what I thought it meant. I'm in an enviable position of being in a particularly vanilla slice of the population and have no first hand experience of seeing what the EU does and doesn't do. I'm not an economist. I'm not a diplomat. I don't deal directly with that many people or organisations in 'Europe'. I don't live somewhere that appears to be negatively affected by immigration, or european directives (not that i know about them). I really shouldn't have been allowed to decide on the future of the UK in the EU really.

**BlasterBates** · 16 February 2017, 09:28

basically if you go into a supermarket or bakery and buy a cake, you have a cake. If you eat the cake then normally the cake disappears.

For example

The UK eats the cake

The cake disappears

**PurpleGorilla** · 16 February 2017, 09:44

Originally posted by GB9 View Post

But in terms of the EU and UK, what does that actually mean?

Things the EU see as a benefit are regarded by Breiteers as negatives, so I'm not sure exactly what we are having and eating.

The EU calls the bits we want to leave as 'obligations'.

So there are benefits and then obligations.

**PurpleGorilla** · 16 February 2017, 09:48

The benefit of NATO membership is shared defence, the obligation is 2% of GDP spent on defence.

Have your cake and eating it would be to want the protection of NATO but not pay the 2%.

Oh hang on a sec...

**GB9** · 16 February 2017, 09:57

Originally posted by BlasterBates View Post

basically if you go into a supermarket or bakery and buy a cake, you have a cake. If you eat the cake then normally the cake disappears.

For example

The UK eats the cake

The cake disappears

But what is the cake we are having AND eating? Surely the EU currently has its cake from us and eats it?

**GB9** · 16 February 2017, 09:58

Originally posted by PurpleGorilla View Post

The benefit of NATO membership is shared defence, the obligation is 2% of GDP spent on defence.

Have your cake and eating it would be to want the protection of NATO but not pay the 2%.

Oh hang on a sec...

First proper example, thank you.

I need an EU example though.

**Antman** · 16 February 2017, 10:09

Originally posted by PurpleGorilla View Post

The benefit of NATO membership is shared defence, the obligation is 2% of GDP spent on defence.

Have your cake and eating it would be to want the protection of NATO but not pay the 2%.

Oh hang on a sec...

Wasn't UK spending actually similar to France spending, just that the UK figure includes Pension liabilities?

Have your cake and eat it.