I can't say I was surprised - curious though. I always thought the Brits truly enjoyed a good political discussion, but maybe this one is too serious or scary. I have faith that it will all work out in the end on both sides of the pond but I know only time will tell.

I'm chimnig in again to say that I added an ETA to my comment early in the thread but will reiterate here... Apologies to Gaylene( and others) ...I realise this is Off Topic and any subject is fair game but I dislike political discussions and dont wish to join this one even though I'm from the UK
Carry on though ladies!

Just read a very interesting piece by Anthony Lane in the New Yorker on this. Most of it written pre-vote but the prologue written after the vote.

I am sickened by the results and am very anxious about how this will impact the entire world. It already has significantly impacted the market. Some of the coverage today has reported on a lot of people who voted "Leave" as an expression of protest, but never dreamed that it would actually pass - and now they regret their vote. A good lesson for us in the US to remember in the coming months.

Duty appearance noted, Diane. You are now free I feel that way about Ms Pac Man.

A very interesting time in history. Being one of the older persons here on YLF, I have witnessed and experienced many political issues that have affected the world. All have made me feel anxious. I see this conversation more about feelings than political view. My most anxious time was when President Kennedy was assassinated.

I am kind of erring on the side of Di's views, in that best not talk about politics. That said, I am so pleased to share some observations within a safe environment, and I was pleased when I saw this thread.

London yesterday was very quiet and subdued yesterday. People talked in hushed tones on the train.

Those who I spoke to, largely property or construction related people, were very surprised. There is anxiety that the London property market will suffer considerably, having only just emerged from the 2007 / 2008 crash.

The main leaders on the Brexit vote were Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.

Boris Johnson is could be the next Prime Minister. He went to Eton School along with David Cameron, same year, so were friends. Both went to Oxford University, both were members of the very elite Bullingdon Club.

Nigel Farage makes out he is more the "common man" approach. He also went to a fee paying school, but you generally see him in a pub with a pint, smoking, so more of a working class approach.

So, there is an element of the British class system coming into play I think.

I think there are some tough times ahead, but I am sincerely hoping that people like the Chair of the Bank of England, a Canadian, will have a wise steadying influence.

Within a year, I think new trade associations will be developed, and other trading relationships reinforced.

I am really worried about refugees, because I thought that the Pope's influence, amongst others, had resulted in a new level of kindness and support, by the whole of Europe, towards those escaping dreadful regimes.

The domino effect in the rest of Europe is going to have significant effect. The lesser number of countries there are, the bigger the financial burden of those with large debts will be. So, Germany, who are in a strong financial position, may have to carry a larger proportion of weaker members, such as Greece.

I spoke to my dear mum yesterday morning, very early. She was devastated and couldn't understand it.

I am worried about the outcome of the US elections, because I fear a time where there may be a time ahead where there is a lack of rigorous intellect in our leaders in the international political arena.

Thank you YLF for letting me share some thoughts.

I am conserned about consequeces on the global level but I also have a very personal one. My son was just accepted to UK university under EU terms and now I just don't know what to do about this.

Wow anchie, I hope it will all work out okay for your son.
Everyone else, I really appreciate learning more about this from all of you.

Let me give you a small snapshot .... I voted to to stay my hubbie voted to leave he is happy with the result iam fearful of the repercussions . To be honest i feel devasted to leave more so than i thought i would.Britain feels a very different place this morning.

Deb, that's an interesting thing you bring up - events of the past. I have wondered what they felt like, if they felt the same or if (and how) modernity changes things. About frame of reference. I had a friend in first grade whose father died in the Vietnam war. When she told me, it seemed like a very long ago thing, but the war was on, not over. I don't think we quite got that. We were six. The death of parent at that age...well that seemed the final period in the sentence...

Jane, thank you for your observations and background brief. What you said about the train is very expressive. I appreciate that. And I feel like I can place Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage a little better.

Anchie, I hope also it sorts out.

Clara, I very much appreciate the snapshot of the mood. Thank you.

Inge, also thank you. For describing the sense of things from the continental side, if you will.

I guess I might mention I've worked in a number of companies headquartered outside the US - where colleagues in the same department are spread around the world and where different regulations are navigated on a daily basis. And I question my sense of things from that perspective too.

Jane, thank you for your thoughts. Very helpful for this American to hear this from the perspective of regular citizens, not just pundits and reporters.

I think many of us are in a state of shock at the moment. Although many expressed a desire to leave the EU, this result still came as something of a surprise. We just have to sit tight and hope things will pan out.

I appreciate hearing the thoughts of those of you who are in the UK or have close ties. It seems like we are so removed here in America, my coworkers weren't even aware there had been a vote! This does seem like a time where the world is in transition.

I was just thinking how some of the very real day to day repercussions such as less freedom to travel, probably no healthcare coverage in other EU countries and loss of the ability to easily work or easily purchase real estate in other EU countries will be impacted. I imagine these will be some of the biggest hurdles for the average person, right?

I hope I am wrong, but what I find most upsetting are the eerie parallels to 1930s Europe with the rise in Nationalistic parties and movements. (Globally, not just the UK.)

On the Homefront the EU vote has created possible tension for continued peace in Ireland, no borders between the north and republic formed an instrumental part of the Good Friday Peace Agreement.

Scotland's First Minister held an emergency cabinet meeting and the outcome is a lobby group to maintain ties with the EU. A second independence referendum feels inevitable.

Until David Cameron is replaced there will be no clear negotiation plan for the UK. (I don't wish to be left in limbo whilst the Conservative Party squabbles).

and yet there remains some people who are jubilant, regardless of how a person has voted i think the instability should be pause for thought.

Thanks for posting this, Rachylou. I welcome this opportunity to learn in a respectful environment.

Suz, thanks for the New Yorker Anthony Lane article. I might have missed it, and I love Anthony Lane (usually film reviews).

Can someone explain what a referendum is? We don't have an equivalent, I think, in US politics. Can anyone call one on any subject at anytime? And why would one be called, is it necessary to do something? Or can things also be passed through Parliament without a referendum?

A referendum is used to gather the consensus of people for important matters. In the UK they are rare and not legally binding, however, it would be extremely controversial for the results of a referendum to be ignored.

A referendum usually forms a yes/ no answer.

Laws in the UK are usually discussed in the House of Lords (unelected officials) and voted upon in the House of Commons by the elected MP's.

The startling thing about the EU referendum is there was no real public appetite for it to occur. David Cameron promised a referendum if the conservatives were re-elected to settle in party fighting. It was expected the conservatives would not win an outright majority (the more seats in the House of Commons the easier it it is to pass the party's motions) and the referendum would never have passed the floor.

I don't know if this helps or adds further confusion.

Yes, your explanation helps a lot! Thank you!

Note: We have state-level referendums in the U.S., depending on the state. No federal. Using the term to mean 'direct democracy' - a vote by the public.

Angry and upset doesn't even begin to describe it. I've been walking around in a daze since Friday morning.

As a UK citizen resident for almost 20 years in Europe, you can probably guess my sentiments. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to express them at the ballot box, because I've been out of the country too long to cast my vote on an issue that affects me directly.

I'm heartbroken that this has exposed such divisions and created chaos in my country of birth, also horrified that voters were so wilfully misled about the consequences. In my opinion, such a complex question should never have been reduced to a straight Yes or No, particularly when it was done to settle internal squabbling in the Tory Party. It's a huge failure of leadership.

The EU isn't a perfect organisation, far from it. But this overblown bureaucracy has kept the peace in Europe for the longest period in history, and its collapse would be catastrophic. This isn't just a disaster for Britain, it's a seismic event in global politics.

Nobody knows what to do next, least of all Nigel Farage, Michael Gove or Boris Johnson. David Cameron will go down in history as the British PM who wrecked the European project and for an indecent act with a dead pig. Even if the government gets away with not invoking Article 50, it's likely the other EU member states will give them such a hard time they'll wish they'd left. Most worryingly, it paves the way for some seriously unpleasant nationalist movements to gain momentum in other countries.

My next move will be an application for Dutch citizenship. It's painful to have to renounce one's nationality, but this is my home and I need to protect my status. If there's a referendum here I want to make sure I can vote against Geert Wilders.

It's almost surreal how fast the number of signatures calling for the second referendum changes:

EU Referendum Rules triggering a 2nd EU Referendum

In the time it took me to write this comment (less than a minute):

2,599,309
2,599,938
2,600,559
...

Jane, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Very helpful. Clara, you too -- it's a real snapshot of how personal the divisions may be, and how wrenching.

Liz, I am sorry this instability is affecting you so personally and directly.

Isis, so wonderful to see you.

All welcome in Canada!

I admit, the winters are awful, but perhaps if more of you joined us we could improve the options?

Winters aren't awful in the more populated areas of British Columbia ;-). All are welcome out west (good luck with the housing market, though!).

approprio has said much of what I've been thinking. It was irresponsible to reduce this issue to a yes/no vote, and the implications of this could be very far-reaching, for the UK and the world. I also get the feeling that now that the vote has taken place, no one is particularly clear on where to go from here. It appears that even those in favour of leaving didn't have a solid plan on what to do if the vote came down this way.

My heart is with all of you in the UK, no matter what side you are on. I do not see how anyone can win in this type of a situation. Please take care of yourselves and those you love. They are the most precious.

That was an angry rant. Let me try again.

I hope you understand why I'm taking this so very personally. I know there are many in the UK for whom Britain is not part of Europe, and no doubt they had their reasons for voting out. I get that.

I'm a Londoner by birth, but I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make a life in another country. Several times a year, I leave home to fly home and I realise now that I've always taken that freedom of movement for granted. Now that the connection between the British Isles and mainland Europe will be severely weakened (if not completely broken) I feel very cut off from the people I love.

I'm deeply concerned for my family and my nation of origin. I know there are difficult times ahead for all of them. None of them will blame me for changing my nationality, but today I feel like a rat deserting a sinking ship.

Approprio, what does the process involve and how long will it take?

The Dutch citizenship application involves a language exam and takes about a year. You have to have been resident for at least five years. There are financial costs but I don't know how much yet.

Some of my family are eligible for Irish citizenship and possibly other nationalities. They're shopping around too.