An Interesting Way to Run a Company

[edgray]

As you said, it would not be in the government's best interests. The best way to get away with murder is to keep people too distracted to notice. That's why I think every bureaucracy should be kept as small and as close to home as possible. It's different in European countries, being smaller, but we are the third largest country in the world. It's not realistic to ask people to work in Washington 1000 miles from home and make decisions that are simultaneously in the best interests of both their constituents and those of another community 1000 miles from both home and Washington. Any decisions specific to Iowa should be made in Iowa. Any laws specific to San Diego should be written in San Diego. Raising and educating our children is too important and intimate an issue to be dictated from Washington DC.

Are we far enough off-topic? Rant over.

This is very true. Even though European countries are considerably smaller, the same can apply too: in the UK, for example, life is very different up in the north than it is in the more prosperous, and warmer, south. Same as here in Spain. I'm all up for decentralization, one of the things I hate about Europe is Brussels dictating what happens everywhere else in Europe, when the cultures are so wildly different.

I don't think we're off topic far enough, I feel like we're getting somewhere here!

 

[Accountable]

This is very true. Even though European countries are considerably smaller, the same can apply too: in the UK, for example, life is very different up in the north than it is in the more prosperous, and warmer, south. Same as here in Spain. I'm all up for decentralization, one of the things I hate about Europe is Brussels dictating what happens everywhere else in Europe, when the cultures are so wildly different.

I don't think we're off topic far enough, I feel like we're getting somewhere here!

I warned my Euro buddies at my previous forum about the EU thing. The USA started out as separate states (as close to anarchy as they dared, btw) and we eventually forgot that we were unique in the world. We became a nation-state instead of a nation of states. I see the EU taking more and more of the members' sovereignty as time goes on. It's a good idea on paper, but that's where it should have stayed - on paper.

 

[edgray]

I warned my Euro buddies at my previous forum about the EU thing. The USA started out as separate states (as close to anarchy as they dared, btw) and we eventually forgot that we were unique in the world. We became a nation-state instead of a nation of states. I see the EU taking more and more of the members' sovereignty as time goes on. It's a good idea on paper, but that's where it should have stayed - on paper.

There's parts of the EU thing I like: the freedom to live and work in all European countries without a visa is lovely. But really, it should end there. The EU are dictating so many different facets of life throughout Europe, like the extending of the working week etc, which is just wrong.

The USA's history is one I find personally fascinating. Indeed, the separate states and the founding principles of the US weren't very different from my own beliefs and I think are a great example of how a country could be run in a very different manner from how we do so nowadays.

The EU, given enough chance, will rob every nation state of their sovereignty... worrying times.... the principle of unity is lovely, but what the hell does some bureaucrat in Brussels know about life where I am?

 

[Peter Parka]

There's parts of the EU thing I like: the freedom to live and work in all European countries without a visa is lovely. But really, it should end there. The EU are dictating so many different facets of life throughout Europe, like the extending of the working week etc, which is just wrong.

The USA's history is one I find personally fascinating. Indeed, the separate states and the founding principles of the US weren't very different from my own beliefs and I think are a great example of how a country could be run in a very different manner from how we do so nowadays.

The EU, given enough chance, will rob every nation state of their sovereignty... worrying times.... the principle of unity is lovely, but what the hell does some bureaucrat in Brussels know about life where I am?

Totally agree! I'm fed up with the unfair bias of the EU against the UK but the desperation of them to have us and wanting us to join the European currency, just because our economy is stronger than theirs, they cant have it both ways. Fed up of criminals getting softer sentences too because of appealing to the EU human rights things. It should be a union of countries, not the United States of Europe.

 

[Accountable]

*chuckle* Seems like some of you lot are trying to become us as fast as some of use are trying to become you.

 

[Peter Parka]

*chuckle* Seems like some of you lot are trying to become us as fast as some of use are trying to become you.

I'd still rather be part of the USE than the USA!:willy_nilly:

 

[edgray]

*chuckle* Seems like some of you lot are trying to become us as fast as some of use are trying to become you.

wanna swap places?

 

[edgray]

Totally agree! I'm fed up with the unfair bias of the EU against the UK but the desperation of them to have us and wanting us to join the European currency, just because our economy is stronger than theirs, they cant have it both ways. Fed up of criminals getting softer sentences too because of appealing to the EU human rights things. It should be a union of countries, not the United States of Europe.

yeah Brussels are taking the piss to be honest, they've far too much power, that is as far from the people as it could possibly be. I wonder how long before Europe is a totalitarian dictatorship?

 

[Zorak]

I wouldn't worry too much. I was having this discussion the other day with some friends, the EU will disappear.
First off, it's unsustainable financially. A lot of research has been done into the cost of subsidising the developing Eastern European members of the EU. Annually, something like $80 billion. Add on the fact that now countries like Greece, Italy (and Spain to some extent) have their deficit ever spiralling above their GDP.
Secondly, there's no way that so many countries can co-exist in such a union. How can the former Yugoslavia once again become one centralized country?

The EU was a fucking ridiculous concept to begin with. Europe must be the most diverse continent on the planet. You've got secular states, religious states. The richest country on earth, Luxembourg is only a Germany width from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland.. etc
The EU wants to constantly expand, but it can't let everyone in. If Turkey joins the EU, France has said they'll leave. However, Britain wants Turkey to join. Some of the smaller Catholic states are extremely opposed to the introduction of a Muslim country to the EU.

The problems and in-fighting are endless; and, sooner rather than later, it will all implode.