So there's lots of news today about the EU Constitution and whether or not Gordon Brown has in essence signed away too much of the power of the British government to Brussells. Personally, I'm a bit uncertain how I feel about the EU. At first, I always thought it would be a good thing as it would incorporate more countries together giving Europe a broader voice globally as a more united front and not as individual tinier less vocal countries. However, the more I learn about what is all involved I'm not sure if I see the EU as a good thing or not. Part of this uncertainty might be because I just don't know enough about how the system is setup; but quite honestly some things that I do know scare me a bit. For instance, it seems (based on things I've read in various places) that the primary shift for ID cards comes from the idea of regulating British life to the requirements desired by the EU. This also goes for the logging of phone calls (as that news article I recently posted stated) and I'm sure there are other 'invasions of privacy' that are being called for as standard protocol. I don't know how people in the EU come to power. Obviously, apart from the monarcy, the British have a democratically elected body of people governing their society. You are able to vote for your Prime Minister and Members of Parliament, Council members, etc. But who elects people in the governing body of the EU? Would it be the other elected officials from the represented countries that elect the officials that govern the EU or should all the members of the countries that are part of the EU be allowed to vote in a public election to determine who the President of the EU is, etc. In addition to this, I'm wondering, based on who puts the heads of the EU in power really, is it really a GOOD idea for these individuals to be given access to all the private information of every citizen in every country that is governed by the EU? Again, people that are for ID cards (which I'm not) say that they trust THEIR government with that information, figuring that the government as we know it at present isn't going to commit the agregious atrocities that have been created in the past when ID card systems were in place (think Hitler). However, what if it isn't YOUR government that dictates what is done with this information but instead is the European Union that decides what is done with the information. What if YOUR government collects this information and then passes it along to the EU, and then who exactly tells the EU what they can and can't do with this information? The more I think about it, the more it really starts to get my paranoia antennae twitching about the overall ramifications of these actions. It makes me start agreeing with David Cameron about how much power is being handed over to people in Brussels and how much the British government is willing to appease the people in charge of the European Union. So well, these are my thoughts. If someone can come in and say "no you've got it all wrong" feel free. As I said, I am at somewhat of an unfortunate disadvantage as I don't understand the full ins and outs of the EU and how the leaders get into power, etc. Just at the moment as I sat watching BBC News and hearing about how several groups seem to think that Gordon Brown has signed over too much of the British governments power to the European Union (or rather will do so come December when they sign the EU Constitution) it really starts to make me wonder just who these people are and what their true intentions may be. Again, prickly paranoid antennae here.
European members of parliment are elected by voting citizens of the EU, I personally voted a Liberal Democrat for the European seat some years ago. Incidently citizens of the UK do not elect the Prime minister, they are 'selected' by the members of the political party they represent. Personally I want a one world government and an end to nation states...so for me any political entity like the EU or UN or Nato is for me 'getting there' where we are all on the same rock hurtling through space and everyone on it should have as much right to life as everyone else, I admire the philosophy behind unification, we are one species and there is only one of us. More power to the EU! Lets invite Russia!
I havent voted by the way because your positive response to the EU is tagged with 'do whatever they want' that is not fair, not when the EU is essentially a democratically guided system of mutual cooperation between nations...
None of those poll options really reflect my opinion on the EU. In principle I'm very much in favour of the EU. Greater unity, cultural integration, exchange and the decline of national borders can be no bad thing. Any opposition I have to the EU would certainly not be along the lines of British sovereignty. In principle, I'm also in favour of the single currency. However my objections to the Euro in particular, and elements of the constitution, centre on welfare provision, which is harmed by the stability pact which required governments to keep their deficit spending in line and has, almost invariably, led to retrenchment of welfare as a means to cut spending....
Very little power, really, is being handed over to Brussels - nation states maintain armies and the monopoly of violence within their territories. Statements like 'handing power over to people in Brussles' is, really, a very Daily Mail slogan to use. It's a right wing catchphrase, like 'Immigrants take our jobs' or 'Hoodies strike again' that reveals very little about actually existing social or political trends....
I read that as "Let's invade Russia!" and I was like YEAH! Then I realised it didn't say that and I was all like awww
i really wasnt' trying to sound all 'Daily Mail' like. i'd just been watching way too much BBC news while making jewellery and not sleeping. so I saw the story on the EU constitution about 20 times at least. enough of that could make anyone go mental. and yes, i could have changed the channel, but i was too busy making jewellery and not sleeping properly.
Im European, if any "nationality"-like term had to be chosen, and always have been More unity with the rest of Europe cannot be a bad thing. I believe too many people in Britain are turning their backs to the rest of the continent, believing the island to be so high and mighty no lessons can be learnt and nothing can be gained by looking over the channel and beyond. Its resulted in ignorance, and i cant help feeling were missing out greatly. The only "compulsory" foreign language to be learnt in British schools nowadays, for example, is French from ages 11-13. After 13 the child may decide to drop out from other languages completely, and beforehand there is nothing either. (Also, most British kids cant speak English. I know i for one was taught very badly) Meanwhile most other European countries are teaching English, plus 2 or 3 other languages at primary school age The thing that annoys me most is people objecting to the EU on the grounds of some kind of patrotism or pride, believing somehow their "Britishness" would be diminished by acceptance. This is plain silly, each country still keeps its individuality by being part of a stronger whole Also i dont agree with the "go along with whatever they say" option of the poll, obviously, that would be a big mistake and i really dont believe thats what is happening Anway im rambling, basically i ticked the second option And we all know i know nothing about money or the economy, really, being the daydreamy sort i am...but pounds make me laugh They look like dubloons or something (or however you go about spelling it)
I think when Britain joined the EU, it was the start of a political nightmare. I have my doubts of the Eu. I know that britain wouldn't fare better off with the EURO currency. It is a bit strange that Britain is apart of the EU, yet we have retained our Sterling? I am a bit mythed that we didn't get to vote on the new EU constitution. Surely Gordon Browns greatest mistake yet.
