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Some people here seem to think that the EU is a separate country or entity or something. It's weird.
I'd say both, we need global co-operation IMO.
America did not dismantle the Empire it was already collapsing by the first world war - India was the main straw that broke the camels back.
There has been some form of the EU since the 1920's and Britain has almost always been a part of it. There have always been people claiming that it is on its last legs (mainly right wing). These sorts want us to be completely independent, and except from the Euro I can see no benefits from leaving the European Union. We are a beurocratic country with very little raw industry left. We definitely benefit from close trading with the continent. By the way saying that you hate the French is a very small minded thing to say and sounds quite racist/bigoted. Same with saying you hate all Londoners or Irishmen - you have not met them all have you?
British society is very much like America, although ten years behind in terms of obesity. We are more open minded in some ways and less in others. (We also have less crazy church people I think - but perhaps that is because we have less people to BE crazy). Has nobody noticed that *the government already is Americas lapdog*? I think it would be best to draw away from them as we have already started making more enemies that friends by following their lead on agressive foreign policies. And they are not the only superpower. Ever heard of a place called China?
This is not meant to insult anyone and is only my opinionxx
Uh well you can’t really deny that the EU has most of the attributes of a country. There’s an EU flag, EU Parliament, EU law and the European Court of Justice to ensure it’s applied across member states and the European Anthem. Although far more concerning is that membership of the EU in its present form destroys the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. What the British population voted for and what the EU is now are two very different things making our membership of the EU quite undemocratic. A referendum is long overdue.
In that case, Man Utd is a country. It's all bollocks. If it really existed you wouldn't need those symbols to convince people something was there.
The whole thing's a fucking con to let thugs put their hands in your pockets.
yeh however im under the impression we joined europe to be trade partners, not random law and tax and redistribution centres just business regulation and removal of trade tariffs etc
the CAP needs to be cut by well over a half in total, EASILY and redesigned so it's actually fair - it's beocming like the US federal governemnt in being a busybody overstretching itself to the detriment of its citizens
im all for leaving the EU and setting up a trading bloc with the eastern european countries which is simple and effective
the EU as we know it is, and many of its mechanism is extremely useless and serve only to employ even more bureaucrats (on top of diplomats and whitehall ) - if you saw how complicated some of the things it likes to try and define are
Pathetic - No "free" elections or true freedoms, Mass Poverty, Dependence on other nations, and in some countries but only some is poor human rights.
As much as i dilike France, i wouldn't call France weak or pathetic. But i would for some of Easter Europe!
Now, which country would say that of Britain? Go on, you said some would, but which? Why would any country call Britain, a globally powerful nation, that? It is just the same as how no one would say that about the USA or China or Germany with out people laughing at them.
As for Historical Facts, Britain was not Considered part of Europe. Size means nothing in continental descriptions hence why Europe is so small and Britain was historically at least right up to the 20th century considered apart from Europe. In maps it was never ever labelled as Europe but a seperate land mass. I am just saying, it maybe Europe now, but it wasnt then, i mean why was it lebelled seperately on maps prior to the 20th century if it was actually just part of Europe? That makes no sense.
Also, as much as having a rich cultural and historical heritage is good, and it is a good thing i admit, it means very little if most of the people of that country freeze and starve in the winter and live in terrible squaller. A rich culture hardly makes a nation strong.
If we could get all the free trade stuff without having to chuck money at it, then that'd be nice. But I'm not sure that would happen.
I know it helps the poorer countries, but I'm selfish.
On the other hand, paying in and getting money back in grants for museums etc. is better than the government spending it on missiles (or whatever else).
Some of the EU laws and directives are useful too, especially when they could possibly stop our government pushing through more oppressive laws.
"Extra" governement is still a pain, though.
How about morally weak? How about socially weak? Do you think Britain fares particularly better than some of the nations you have in mind? In some people's eyes in some of those nations you think so little of, Britain is weak.
Pathetic- having an embarrasement of a Prime Minister and a country that is willing to be the Official Lapdog of America. Having a government introducing more Orwellian laws every day. Having a police executing Brazilian citizens on the Underground for "having Mongolian eyes". Having a public transport system that wouldn't be out of place in third world countries...
As you can see subject13, similar like-minded people could be as happily be calling Britain 'weak and pathetic' as you are describing other nations. And you know what? They'd have as much 'right' to do so as you.
Why don't simply admit that your remarks were wrong?
You are wrong. For as long as Europe has existed as a continent, Britain has been part of it. Or was Britain a separate Continent?
Nope. There were things in the 19th century called the 'Concerts Of Europe' in which the great European powers of the time Britain, France, Austro-Hungary, Russia and Prussia/Germany. Met up occasionly to negotitate things.
So Britain has arguably been a part of Europe from at least the 19th or 18th century in a political fashion.
I'll get back to my essay now....
romans anyone?
in the last three hundred years alone we have battled with and beaten the french spanish dutch ...and then had cooperation of differing levels with them all.
it takes a massive stretch of the imagination to believe we have had nothing to do with the continent!
who the hell do you think makes up the british population?
We had to boot the French from Spain only a few years after we defeated them both at Trafalgar.
The Spanish hold a serious resentment against us a result...
imagine in the days of the crusades.
do you know how much industry is involved in marching a thousand men across a continent?
horses leather iron meat wine women tools weapons food food and fodder?
thats a lot of trade.
when the romans built the A5 ...the ammount of tradesmen across the continent that supplied and thrived is truly enormous.
what i see is america having been hijacked by some dynastic corporate industrial syndicate like never before in my lifetime.
i believe whole heartedly these same people engineered the new york attacks.
i believe i am witnessing the scariest and most worrying times since i arrived on this planet.
i believe millions of people baclk in the thirties saw the same things then but ...were ridiculed or ignored.
then there are those who hope what they are witnessing isn't realy happening ...or it will fall apart before it does to much damage ...or even worse ...things like that don't happen today.
those in power have always known that joe bloggs is distracted by many things ...more so today than ever.
it's as iff theres a script thast keeps being played out ...over and over again ...but getting ever more dangerous with each reincarnation.
Other Europeans do make the same claims.
If you have any experience or knowledge of European politics, you must know that there are infinitely more people in this country making such claims as "we're losing our sovereignty and are about to exist as a nation" than there have ever been in the Continent.
As I said, I have never met or heard anyone making such absurd claims across the Channel.