the UK should not have to choose between its affinity with the US and its place in Europe.
Given a "Europe" devoted to individual rights, free trade, and democracy, there'd be no need for such a choice.
But given the "Europe" we actually have, it's a very real choice.
I agree with you... there have been enough populist revolts against the elitist EU to cause the elitists to sit up and take notice... but they done a good job of propagandizing the lie.
If Europe was built on the U.S. original model of limited Federal govt, EU would work. But it is being built more on a bureaucratic USSR-style model. cenral rules layered on top of national regulation. The loss of freedom is great.
One of the reasons that Europe was the center of civilization from 1200-1950 was that it was one Christian culture without a central government. Thus different ideas from the reformation on could bubble up; technology and science advanced thanks to freedoms unthinkable in, say, China of the Ming dynasty. As a consequence, Europe was far stronger than Ming Chinese by 1800. And Europe did it not despite but BECAUSE THEY LACKED A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
But during that time dictators have wanted total domination of Europe. The powers-that-be have finally succeeded with EU. And when they do, it will seal the doom of Europe's place in the world and EU will be a backwater.
It is freedom that makes the civilization strong, not a strong government. Strong centralized governments lead to weak civilizations. Britain can save themselves only by getting out of EU and staying out.