True, it's only been hours. And I have been a bit histrionic about it, but I have watched my former home (Hungary) turn into a pseudo-nazi state over the last 10 years, and so have some experience-based fear here... Plus, the "perspective" you are touting is the British one. What about the other side? Britain has just spit in the face of every single European nation, essentially called them morons and dupes, and told them "we don't need you." Can you fathom the indignation in France, Spain, Germany, Italy? If I were a British tourist heading to the Mediterranean this year, I would cancel my plans NOW. The people there are not going to be happy to open their doors to a bunch of superior assholes who were superior assholes before, but at least pretended not to be. Businesses throughout Europe accepted the Pound and the Euro. Will they still? With the Pound tanking, just tell the pasty English twit to go get Euros instead, and come back. I think the legal aspects of the separation will take a decade, will be a complete clusterfuck, and people will stop doing business with Britain due to the constantly changing rules, and that Brits will be unwelcome in EU states. People may even be openly hostile to them. Jeeze... the Brits just managed to make German tourists look good! Ouch. You guys need to step back and look at this in perspective.