The euro is so beneficial for the German economy that it would be clear madness to withdraw from it.Euro for the next 20 years unless sth radical happens.
What Do Most Europeans Think Of The EU?
Melanie Phillips is great.
By the way - here is a 'cut and paste' of something I read once. It sums up my views about the EU:
Also - you might want to check out Peter Hitchens. He is my favourite writer in the world. He is pretty similar to Melanie Phillips. But much more interesting since much of his writings are steeped in a historical analysis of how the political structures of today came about. He also writes interestingly about religion (and I say that as an atheist). I also agree with his views about the decline in British education and the rocketing use of psychiatric drugs. And he spent time living in the USSR - and that gives him an unusual perspective on things.
He is one of those people who brings an interesting point of view to everything he writes about. And he always seems to go down well on Question Time...
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/
His latest post is about UKIP:
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2...ppery.html
And below is a link to the radio edition of Question Time (called Any Questions - and hosted by David Dimbleby's brother). I have linked to the moment where Peter Hitchens gives a superb smackdown as he attacks the EU.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDJucMjxDhE&t=2m10s
I love this guy!
Lastly - Britain has being an independent nation for the past 1000 years. And the foundations of political liberty across the world date back to Magna Carta in 1215. And I feel the relationship between the people and the state is different in Britain to the rest of the EU.
Due to the havoc, tyranny and conquests suffered by the rest of Europe - they have a different instinct in this regard. Their tradition is one that says nothing is permitted unless the state says it is. Whilst ours is one of - everything is permitted unless the state says it isn't.
And it is because of this that many of the freedoms we take for granted do not exist elsewhere in the EU. For instance - due to our common law traditions - the right to trial by jury is absent throughout the rest of the EU.
And identity cards are common throughout the rest of Europe as well. Whch is something the British rebelled against when the state tried to keep them following WW2.
Britain has as a totally different system of political representation. Due to Proportional Representation - most governments in Europe are flabby and bland compromises in which true change is never enacted. And in which the real political levers are pulled in the backroom deals which take place in the lengthy negotiations following elections.
Also we do not have a state controlled press which turns a blind eye to the wrong doings of the rich and powerful. And our history of savage political satire is not found elsewhere. In no other country (in the world) would the following conversation take place between the Prime Minister and a political cartoonist:
You can only push the condom joke so far, PM told Guardian cartoonist
Another thing.
I really feel your national instincts are shaped by the experience of having a country invade across the border, and then set up torture chambers in your capital cities. Which was the experience of countries like Belgium and France during WW2.
See for example the Gestapo torture chambers under the Eiffel Tower:
And the same can be found in Brussels:
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en.../1.1138986
I love Europe. But I hate the EU.
By the way - here is a 'cut and paste' of something I read once. It sums up my views about the EU:
Quote:Quote:
As Enoch Powell pointed out long ago and others such as Daniel Hannan have pointed out since, the word “democracy” has its roots in two Greek words, “Demos” – people, and “Kratos” – power or control. There is no European people identifying with the EU, with a shared outlook and values, and therefore there can be no EU democracy. That leaves us only with “Kratos” – control.
Also - you might want to check out Peter Hitchens. He is my favourite writer in the world. He is pretty similar to Melanie Phillips. But much more interesting since much of his writings are steeped in a historical analysis of how the political structures of today came about. He also writes interestingly about religion (and I say that as an atheist). I also agree with his views about the decline in British education and the rocketing use of psychiatric drugs. And he spent time living in the USSR - and that gives him an unusual perspective on things.
He is one of those people who brings an interesting point of view to everything he writes about. And he always seems to go down well on Question Time...
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/
His latest post is about UKIP:
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2...ppery.html
And below is a link to the radio edition of Question Time (called Any Questions - and hosted by David Dimbleby's brother). I have linked to the moment where Peter Hitchens gives a superb smackdown as he attacks the EU.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDJucMjxDhE&t=2m10s
I love this guy!
Lastly - Britain has being an independent nation for the past 1000 years. And the foundations of political liberty across the world date back to Magna Carta in 1215. And I feel the relationship between the people and the state is different in Britain to the rest of the EU.
Due to the havoc, tyranny and conquests suffered by the rest of Europe - they have a different instinct in this regard. Their tradition is one that says nothing is permitted unless the state says it is. Whilst ours is one of - everything is permitted unless the state says it isn't.
And it is because of this that many of the freedoms we take for granted do not exist elsewhere in the EU. For instance - due to our common law traditions - the right to trial by jury is absent throughout the rest of the EU.
And identity cards are common throughout the rest of Europe as well. Whch is something the British rebelled against when the state tried to keep them following WW2.
Britain has as a totally different system of political representation. Due to Proportional Representation - most governments in Europe are flabby and bland compromises in which true change is never enacted. And in which the real political levers are pulled in the backroom deals which take place in the lengthy negotiations following elections.
Also we do not have a state controlled press which turns a blind eye to the wrong doings of the rich and powerful. And our history of savage political satire is not found elsewhere. In no other country (in the world) would the following conversation take place between the Prime Minister and a political cartoonist:
You can only push the condom joke so far, PM told Guardian cartoonist
Another thing.
I really feel your national instincts are shaped by the experience of having a country invade across the border, and then set up torture chambers in your capital cities. Which was the experience of countries like Belgium and France during WW2.
See for example the Gestapo torture chambers under the Eiffel Tower:
And the same can be found in Brussels:
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.en.../1.1138986
I love Europe. But I hate the EU.
Melanie Phillips is one of the most ridiculed, ridiculous and loathsome journalists alive today. She has stated that believing in a two state solution on palestine is supporting genocide against Jews. She has claimed that Obama has an Islamic Fundamentalist agenda and had made so many other ridiculous statements that she has become. Joke just like the paper she writes for.
Billy, as you know we're never going to agree on this one, but I'll concede that if she said a two state solution is a bad thing, then that is stupid. However, you cannot say what she said in that clip I posted is wrong. She's also torn modern feminism apart too in her articles. The Daily Mail has many faults, but as Krauser mentioned, it only gets the hate it gets at the level it gets it at because it's the only paper in the UK that isn't politically correct.
Cardguy, yeah I like Peter Hitchens, I'm sure I've mentioned it to you before.
Cardguy, yeah I like Peter Hitchens, I'm sure I've mentioned it to you before.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken
Quote: (05-04-2013 12:51 PM)Teedub Wrote:
Billy, as you know we're never going to agree on this one, but I'll concede that if she said a two state solution is a bad thing, then that is stupid. However, you cannot say what she said in that clip I posted is wrong. She's also torn modern feminism apart too in her articles. The Daily Mail has many faults, but as Krauser mentioned, it only gets the hate it gets at the level it gets it at because it's the only paper in the UK that isn't politically correct.
Cardguy, yeah I like Peter Hitchens, I'm sure I've mentioned it to you before.
I don't want to get too into this but research some of her comments and have a look for yourself, the woman is crazy, she once claimed the down fall of the uk was due to bad language. In my opinion she is a disgusting example of humanity and that is based on reading her crap for 10 years.
Melanie Phillips wrote a great book called Londonistan long before the July London bombings proved her right that the multiculturalists had been building a terror state within our borders. Just because she's given to occasional rhetorical fizz does not make her a looney. Compare her point for point with her closest left wing mirror Poly Toynbee and you'll see Phillips is several classes above.
EU is really the EUSSR. A communist bureacracy that deliberately and dishonestly tries to take away the rights and sovereignty of the European peoples. To be anti-EU is to be anti-communism, not anti-Europe. The EU is an attack on Europe.
EU is really the EUSSR. A communist bureacracy that deliberately and dishonestly tries to take away the rights and sovereignty of the European peoples. To be anti-EU is to be anti-communism, not anti-Europe. The EU is an attack on Europe.
Polly Toynbee is beyond parody. She belongs on Jezebel, not in a serious paper. In fact, the Guardian isn't serious, I meant mainstream.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken
For me personally the EU is great as its meant that my Bulgarian girlfriend was able to move to the UK 2 months ago without the need for a visa. She cannot yet work without a permit, but that restriction should be lifted next year. Without the EU, I doubt whether I would be in my current relationship
The opportunity to date Eastern European women easily is one of the biggest benefits of the EU for western men. I believe this is often overlooked by alot of men as most don't look outside of their home town and still think they are going to find a slim attractive woman without a princess attitude in their local bar.
The opportunity to date Eastern European women easily is one of the biggest benefits of the EU for western men. I believe this is often overlooked by alot of men as most don't look outside of their home town and still think they are going to find a slim attractive woman without a princess attitude in their local bar.
I never read Londonistan - and I like Melanie Phillips. But - I would imagine that the book was preaching the idea that a terror threat would come from London. Whereas in fact the 7/7 bombers were from Leeds.
I still give her credit. But - I sense even she would have expected the threat to come from people living in London (hence the title?).
I still give her credit. But - I sense even she would have expected the threat to come from people living in London (hence the title?).
And she does deserve credit. Since the idea of suicide bombers was totally alien to the vaast majority of the British people. Even after 9/11. And especially the idea that people born and raised in Britsan would do such a thing. Not me - I always expected the worse.
Being from Eastern part and country that joined EU not that long time ago(2004) I can say that I like it more than I dislike it. I like the Schengen, ability to work everywhere in EU without permit, the universal currency. EU aid has build alot of infrastructure here like roads, schools, sport facilities etc. I guess Estonia has got more from EU than gave back to it.
What I dont like is the sterileness and bureaucracy that EU is forcing. Also the weird laws and restrictions coming from EU seems to consider all people as children.
What I dont like is the sterileness and bureaucracy that EU is forcing. Also the weird laws and restrictions coming from EU seems to consider all people as children.
Quote: (05-07-2013 03:14 PM)evilhei Wrote:
Being from Eastern part and country that joined EU not that long time ago(2004) I can say that I like it more than I dislike it. I like the Schengen, ability to work everywhere in EU without permit, the universal currency. EU aid has build alot of infrastructure here like roads, schools, sport facilities etc. I guess Estonia has got more from EU than gave back to it.
What I dont like is the sterileness and bureaucracy that EU is forcing. Also the weird laws and restrictions coming from EU seems to consider all people as children.
I'd expect EE people to be slightly more pro-EU for the simple fact they are the net beneficiaries of all the UK and German money that is robbed from the Western taxpayer and also the visas let you immediately up your salary and freedom of movement.
The problem for the West is we are paying for it all - literally in wealth redistribution and figuratively in the complete destruction of our national and ethnic identity.
I imagine in the US its like comparing state and federal government (EU) to the city government (individual nations). So for example you get Detroit robbing the whole of Michigan to pay for its ABRA local government through intra-state transfers.
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