One of your better articles, Umair Haque.

Yes, Brexit was a stupid mistake which Britains now have to live with -- for a very long time. There are lessons for America -- should we care to take note. Disconnecting from a world full of goods, services, people, arts and culture, does not bring prosperity, safety or more enjoyable lives. That the fear of Syrian families landing on their beaches could raise the UK drawbridge is astonishing.

Back in the 1960's New Zealand, through no fault of its own, lost access to the British market because it had joined European Common Market. It took New Zealand 20 years of agonizing and difficult work to finally replace that lost British customer (mainly with Japanese). The result is a New Zealand completely changed and now aligned more with Asia than Europe. This example of what can happen when suddenly a big chunk of your market disappears was out there for all to see -- too few did, of course.