Should the European Union be dissolved? (Italians, population, developed, citizen)

[enquirement]

I want to point to similar political entities in Asia, like China or especially India.

[easthome]

Originally Posted by beachrr

Of course it's a two way thing. But the UK has consistently been trying to shift more burden to the rest of the EU while still reaping the benefits. That's a pretty lame thing to do.

Maybe my "ungrateful pricks" statement was too harsh, but you need to understand that in order to mean something in the world, you need to get off your island and collaborate.
Come on. The UK and the EU are perfectly complementary. Add the US to it as equal partner and we could bring stability to the world again.

By the way, the problem the EU public has with the EU as an institution is not with the basic idea of it, but with the politicians who run it. It's the exact same story in the US. I don't mind the federal gov't, I just hate politicians.

In what way exactly has the UK been 'trying to shift more burden to the rest of the EU'? In what way do you mean 'in order to mean something to the world' don't you think the UK has 'done its bit' already? The Industrial Revolution perhaps? Or what about the language we are communicating in now? We don't need the EU to work together to bring stability to the world but if humanity could work together in a complimentary way it sure would be a great thing.

[beachrr]

In what way exactly has the UK been 'trying to shift more burden to the rest of the EU'?

The UK has 4 opt out clauses on pretty big subjects like the monetary policy, labor regulations, Schengen, ...

That's textbook "I want all the good and none of the bad".

Moreover, the UK has also demanded a lower GNP contribution to the EU. And got it, thanks to -again- the French.

don't you think the UK has 'done its bit' already?

Yes. centuries ago.

Since the end of WW2, the British power and rule has steadfastly declined. And declined. And declined... Time to face the facts, the UK used to be the OG in all this. We took over after the 1940's and now we are facing stiff competition from the East.
The only way to keep our foot between the door is to unify the Western world.

I base my view of the world on how I was able to collaborate with people in my career. Canadians, Brits, Germans, Dutch, Belgians, Poles, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Fins, Aussies, ..., great collaboration.
French: meh. Good in all of France except for Paris.
Spain & Italy: Chaos.
Greece & Portugal:Good in the shipping department, bad in the other.
Russia: thugs.
China: even bigger thugs, and liars, and thieves.
India: utterly useless.
South America in general: great if you grease the right politicians.

I can tell you dozens of anecdotes of why I really believe the US and the non-Latin countries of the EU are natural allies, but I guess not too many people are that interested.
Fact is that we risk to go down like the Roman empire if we don't start to collaborate better...

[640TAG]

Originally Posted by beachrr

I can tell you dozens of anecdotes of why I really believe the US and the non-Latin countries of the EU are natural allies, but I guess not too many people are that interested.
Fact is that we risk to go down like the Roman empire if we don't start to collaborate better...

Don't bring your American attitude to discussion over the EU. Sounds like you favour what fills your pockets over any common good.

Yes, the UK's influence most certainly has declined but then so has the USA's. Doesn't take much to make a fool of the US these days, as the Taleban in Afghanistan and every faction going in Iraq, has proved quite recently.

The EU started with noble aspirations but has reached the stage whereby it is more likely to create rather than assuage conflict. Trying to shoehorn such disparate countries into a straightjacket simply does not work. It bears no relation with the federal set up of the US, where in many cases, the states have far more autonomy than their European counterparts. And despite the evident failings of the US political system, at least you vote for your president every 4 years. I doubt more than 10% of the EU population even know who "their" president it.

If the EU was a basic trade association, then fine. It's what the Brits thought they were voting for back in the day they last had a chance. When it tries to be a political entity, it fails in an epic way. Just look at the immigration shambles.

As for the people's love for it - how do we know? How often are they asked? Treaty changes are avoided like the plague, as they trigger referendums and the ideologues in Brussels are terrified of the prospects.

[easthome]

Originally Posted by beachrr

The UK has 4 opt out clauses on pretty big subjects like the monetary policy, labor regulations, Schengen, ...

That's textbook "I want all the good and none of the bad".

Moreover, the UK has also demanded a lower GNP contribution to the EU. And got it, thanks to -again- the French.



Yes. centuries ago.

Since the end of WW2, the British power and rule has steadfastly declined. And declined. And declined... Time to face the facts, the UK used to be the OG in all this. We took over after the 1940's and now we are facing stiff competition from the East.
The only way to keep our foot between the door is to unify the Western world.

I base my view of the world on how I was able to collaborate with people in my career. Canadians, Brits, Germans, Dutch, Belgians, Poles, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Fins, Aussies, ..., great collaboration.
French: meh. Good in all of France except for Paris.
Spain & Italy: Chaos.
Greece & Portugal:Good in the shipping department, bad in the other.
Russia: thugs.
China: even bigger thugs, and liars, and thieves.
India: utterly useless.
South America in general: great if you grease the right politicians.

I can tell you dozens of anecdotes of why I really believe the US and the non-Latin countries of the EU are natural allies, but I guess not too many people are that interested.
Fact is that we risk to go down like the Roman empire if we don't start to collaborate better...

Culturally Britain is doing rather well, British music is the worlds number 1, the British TV and film industry is among the best, the English language is the closest thing to the language of the world, English sport is the most watched in the world, culturally Britain is still a 'heavyweight'. I'm not sure what you expect from a small island off the coast of Europe but this isn't the year 1840 anymore! The age of 'Empire' is long gone its 2015 for gods sake, but nevertheless in the modern world the UK still punches FAR above its weight. Surely you still don't expect an island nation of scarce resource to hold any sort of 'power' over countries the size of India do you! For a start modern Britain realises its unethical above all else and with the weaponry of 2015 nobody is going to enforce themselves on ANY first world country without consequencies that simply won't match the consequencies of 200 years ago! British people are richer, healthier, have more free time and live longer than ever before and in the 21st Century that is what really counts.

[Tim Randal Walker]

During the last few years I have noticed comments online that the EU is beginning to resemble the Holy Roman Empire. Does this make sense? Does anyone see any similarities between the European Union and the Holy Roman Empire?

[seixal]

Originally Posted by Tim Randal Walker

During the last few years I have noticed comments online that the EU is beginning to resemble the Holy Roman Empire. Does this make sense? Does anyone see any similarities between the European Union and the Holy Roman Empire?

I see more resemblance between today's EU and the 3rd Reich minus the war and racialistic laws. Merkel managed to achieve with economics and politics what Hitler didn't with the Blitzkrieg, that is dominate Europe. Nowadays European countries sovereignty and independence is just a facade.

[sebastiannight]

I was always a strong supporter of the European Union. But in the last couple of month my opinion has changed completely All the years I didn't realized how reactionary the majority of the population in Eastern European countries really is. I really don't want to be in a union with countries like Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic or Slovakia.
Please build a wall around those countries. Or let them form a new union with Russia. We should cancel diplomatic and economical relationships with those countries. Of course that would lead to a very deep recession. But it's better to live in poverty than in a union with this lowlife.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

What's the most common language spoken at the EU's headquarters?

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Many years ago, someone allegedly asked Pope John XXIII how many people worked at the Vatican. He answered, "about half". Can you say the same for the EU's HQ?