Britain in or out of European Union?

[Hard_Rom]

The EU needs to move to a full political state not just an economic alliance. Federations work best with string centralized governments. Powers should devolve down from the fed not up from individual states.

And unless all are equal in pop. and economics, there will need to be some sort of equalization process with weaker members gaining some political clout.

The EU is a half-assed measure. Like US healthcare under Obama. Too may compromises weakens the whole thing.

Your either in or your out, no bitching and throwing spanners in the works.

 

[oggbashan]

...

Your either in or your out, no bitching and throwing spanners in the works.

If the EU worked, and had some democratic structures, then it might be possible to work towards a better union.

But as it is, it doesn't work. The European Parliament has limited powers and is overruled by the unelected Commissioners. Those who run the EU can't even set a budget, or produce accounts that anyone can believe.

But other EU countries are already unions of smaller states. Germany and Italy have regions with significant powers. The UK has devolved powers to Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, with distinct arrangements for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The EU one-size-fits-all model doesn't work now.

A reformed and restructured EU might be better not just for Europe but in the world. But we aren't being offered a reformed and restructured EU now, nor in the future, just more of the same chaos.

I would like to be in a new and better EU, one that responds to the concerns of the people of Europe. In recent years the EU structures and power-brokers have shown considerable contempt for democracy and for the people.

President Hollande of France is very worried that Britain might vote for out because he faces an electoral challenge shortly after the British referendum and his main opponent is Euro-sceptic.

 

[DeYaKen]

The EU needs to move to a full political state not just an economic alliance. Federations work best with string centralized governments. Powers should devolve down from the fed not up from individual states.

And unless all are equal in pop. and economics, there will need to be some sort of equalization process with weaker members gaining some political clout.

The EU is a half-assed measure. Like US healthcare under Obama. Too may compromises weakens the whole thing.

Your either in or your out, no bitching and throwing spanners in the works.

You're right. It is the lack of political cohesion that is causing most of the problems. The problem is they have been trying to implement the political cohesion without the democracy. The people will, and have, objected to closer political union all the time they have no control over that political union.

The thing is, the EU has evolved from a purely economic deal made between France, Belgium and Germany. That's why it has developed the way it has. Political union is impossible under the current system of government. The Euro is doomed to fail while there is no political union. How ca countries share a currency without some common taxation.

 

[JamesRTickit]

Out

Today David Cameron, the UK's Prime Minister, announced the date for a referendum on whether Britain should stay in or leave the EU.

The arguments started years ago. For the next few months UK citizens will be enduring endless discussions about whether it is better to stay in a slightly modified arrangement or whether to leave completely.

Many people in other European countries would like the opportunity to vote whether to continue in the EU or not, but only UK voters will have a choice.

What do you think?

If you can/could vote, would you vote stay in, or leave?

Why?

Does it matter to you?

We originally voted for an economic forum, with reduced paperwork and no taxation between countries. That never happened and never will. EU is simply a bigger version of parliament, people gorging in the trough.
We need to leave EU and make significant changes to the British Isles or UK.
We are currently run as a banana republic,available for any mate of Cameron (Baliar did exactly the same thing).
We need honest politicians who are prepared to identify and correct the sickness we have here now.