European Union and its future

[dd74]

Was this ill-conceived? I saw a report on PBS about how France, Germany, Britain and many other countries are actively voting themselves away from the EU - i.e. rejecting it. Germany seems to have its own particular reasons for stepping away from the EU in that it does not want Turkey - a Muslim country, as part of the group.

So I'm wondering, particularly as currency once again might become country-specific, what effect this will have on the U.S.

If at all, collectivity never seemed part of the Euro structure. Oh, well, you can't force partygoers to party with each other, I guess.

Any thoughts?

[stevepaa]

Sort of like trying to get Afghan warlords to work together?

[EdT82SC]

They probably think the E.U. will become some draconian state similar to what is happening over the years here in the U.S. It's a slow process certainly, but the federal government has slowly taken control of more and more things that were once under the control of the states. The same would likely happen in Europe. What would Germany and France think if the E.U. were to force them to legalize the sale of Nazi artifacts in the interest of free trade? Or even worse they could get something similar to our "Patriot" act. Europe doesn't need to band together to fight off the British like the U.S. did. There really is no compelling reason for the more economically developed European countries to join the E.U.

[Paco Anton]

In fact France and the Netherlands have voted not to adopt the new EU constitution but rather to continue with the existing (obsolete) governing rules.

This does not mean that they do not want to be parto of the EU, but that they do not like the new regulations agreed by the politicians.

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by EdT82SC
They probably think the E.U. will become some draconian state similar to what is happening over the years here in the U.S.

Like banning head scarves in public shools? Oh, that is France. Like national ID cards that have your religion noted? Oh, that is Greece.. Like police cameras on every block? Oh, that is London. Like....

[Superman]

The EU is all about European countries pooling their economic clout so that the USA does not dictate world economic policy. And it's unravelling because they can now see that won't be necessary.

[dd74]

Originally posted by Superman
The EU is all about European countries pooling their economic clout so that the USA does not dictate world economic policy. And it's unravelling because they can now see that won't be necessary.

Hmmm...good point. Something to this effect was mentioned on NPR this morning.

[928ram]

The EU is all about European countries pooling their economic clout so that the USA does not dictate world economic policy. And it's unravelling because they can now see that won't be necessary.

Not that it could be about their desire to dictate world economic policy; wouldn't be anti-US enough for your agenda, huh?

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by stevepaa
Sort of like trying to get Afghan warlords to work together?

Ha! Or like herding cats! Good one Steve.

The people of Europe (righty) like their own countries and enjoy their own cultures. What is so broken as a little cross border deregulation would not fix??

Oh, can you imagine the heartbreak of the French elites? They have been waiting to run all of Europe since before Waterloo - through Empire, the horror of WWI, WWII, the Le Car - and their own people say "Non".

I am going to see Les Misérables again and give a good cheer to those at the baracades!

[island911]

Originally posted by Superman
The EU is all about European countries pooling their economic clout so that the USA does not dictate world economic policy. And it's unravelling because they can now see that won't be necessary.

That evil USA. Every liberal knows that the EU should dictate world economic policy.

Okay seriously; The countries of the EU are quickly finding that it will cost a dollar to save a dime. (note; no "Euro" there either) That is, they have much more to lose, in their pursuit of dictating world economic policy.

[dtw]

Everyone knows it's China that will soon be dictating world economic policy...just read in one of the car rags an interesting factoid...that in something like 20 years, their daily petroleum demands will equal the current daily OPEC production.