The Bear

There’s no doubt that there’s misinformation in the public domain on both sides and there’s equally do doubt that there’s things being kept under wraps. Such is the nature of politics.

All I would point out in defence of my views is the following.

There’s nothing substantial that the USA is or can do that will significantly affect the continued growth and development of the EU other than to attempt to cause and stoke dissent and capitalise on any that it does.

The same is not true of the USA as probably THE big issue is the place of the US $ as the worlds global currency. it is that more than anything that has let the USA move from where it was in the 70’s through to where it rose to, and that the changes in the role of the $ that is steering the uS down the slippery slope that it is on.

The same is not true of the Euro in the case of Europe.

As regards the EU and hegemony, so far the EU has not engaged in hegemony on a global level, and is not likely to, that being a role that China will probably assume given the way that things are panning out.

Do so many people hate the EU for the same reasons that a vast number of people hate the EU? Actually I very much doubt such is the case.

There is no question that there are nationalist movements within states of Europe that resent, fear, and intensely dislike the prospect of their countries becoming states in a United States of Europe and deeply resent the loss of sovereignty and self determination that will result.

There’s also probably the majority of the population of Britain who feel that way and with good reason seeing that it has never been admitted much less communicated just what a dreadful mess Britain is in following so many years of government ranging from weak and ineffective to downright blooming awful such as this present lot.

In the case of Britain there is the added factor of our being the rump of what was a great empire as well as an island nation, a thing that will shape the mindset of the people who live in Britain.

Unfortunately the present global situation is not conducive to Britain ever being able to go it alone especially when the disastrous financial situation New Labour have led the country into, a situation made even worse by the dual disasters of uncontrolled immigration and the promotion of multiculturalism.

Is the EU collapsing? I see no signs of collapse though I do see that there are a couple of states, especially Spain that are going to have to face up to some hard facts of economic life as the economy and standard of living of the Spanish comes more into line with the performance of Spain as a region.

I do wonder how much worse the situation would be if Spain was NOT in the EU, certainly Spain has benefited by membership in the past now the global events are kicking in some parts of Europe will fare better than others, Spain will not be one of them. What IS relevant to this is that the EU will be able to support the regions that take the knocks and reduce the damage that they would suffer if they were on their own. Such is the nature of federated states.

All in all the points you make are worthwhile to be made if for no other reason than to undertake a reality check.

Likewise the replacement of “USA” with “EU” is a worthwhile exercise and for the same reason, but in my opinion the fundamental differences between the USA and the EU mean that such a swap results in a picture that doesn’t line up with reality.


(BTW, It's nice to be able to debate hard issues without being personal. A shame others can't do the same eh?)

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I am an old man. I have eaten much salt.