Did Britain Have Its Own Version of the Boston Tea Party?

When the American colonies broke from British rule, it was all about "taxation without representation".  Angry over the tax on imported tea from Britain, several colonists known as the Sons of Liberty staged the now famous Boston Tea Party by dumping chests of the tea into Boston's harbor.

Interestingly, the recent vote by the British to exit the European Union has some very interesting parallels to our own break with British rule.

While our rallying cry was "taxation without representation", the Brits complained of being ruled by "unelected bureaucrats" in Brussels.  A somewhat similar complaint.  But, there's one more thing.  Interestingly, the EU was on the verge of banning the Brits beloved electric tea kettles.  As a result, this became the symbol of the Brexit vote.  Once again, tea was at the heart of the objection to excessive rule.

Maybe the British should have remembered the American Revolution before they originally agreed to join the European Union.  A lesson that apparently went unlearned.


References:

Boston Tea party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party

Brexit may be the start of something big. 'Unelected bureaucrats in Brussels controlling individual countries clearly is not working': http://www.wnd.com/2016/06/brexit-may-be-the-start-of-something-big/

How a Ban on Tea Kettles Could Drive Britain to a Brexit: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2016/06/15/How-Ban-Tea-Kettles-Could-Drive-Britain-Brexit

EU bureaucrats want your tea and toast. Arm yourself with a Dyson:  https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2016/jun/21/eu-refrendum-british-traditions-under-threat-brexit-leave-remain

Obama's Trade Threat With Britain May Hurt Trade

While touring Britain, Barack Obama publicly admonished the Brits for entertaining the idea of exiting the European Union in what is affectionately known as "Brexit" in that country.  He said that any trade negotiations between Britain and the United States would "go to the end of the queue".  In other words, we would deal with everyone else first before dealing with Britain.

A lot of Brits didn't appreciate that statement, nor his attempted meddling in Britain's affairs.  Like a lot of things Obama does It could easily have a negative effect by hurting our trade with Britain. Some may simply stop buying U.S. goods in retaliation; putting us at the back of the queue.  It already may have backfired since more Brits now seem to be supporting Brexit than before his remarks.  Nice going, Barry!

Reference:

Barack Obama's trade threat to Britain has increased support for Brexit as a string of polls show voters are ignoring the US President's claims: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3559099/David-Cameron-s-election-guru-accuses-pro-EU-campaign-celebrating-victory-Obama-s-threats-trade-warns-s-soon-bunting.html