The European Union

[orifice]

It's nice to see someone still reads the 'Sun', I find the boobs really improve my understanding of urrent affairs. Go UKIP!!

You can't make a proper argument , so you accuse me of being a sun reader. Thats typical of euro-nonces like youself.
For the record, I wouldn't read that useless leftwing snotrag if I were paid to.

I refer to the sun as leftwing because it's more left wing than me.

 

[poleboy]

Personally, I think the EU is a grand idea. Co-operation is always good, and it could be an integral tool in breaking down some of the age-old cultural barriers that Europe is full of.

However... I also don't like the thought that in reality, it's a massive legislative beast that hands out restrictions right and grants left, employing a huge amount of people whose primary function is to get lost in floods of bureaucracy. This is just personal observation, but for my own country, it also seems to be the career politician's golden oppertunity when he gets tired of his above-average salary at home and wants to move up a class. In the end, I am not certain that what the EU does is worth the enourmous amount of resorces it consumes.

 

[orifice]

We are also getting horribly ripped off by the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

It's nice to see someone still reads the 'Sun', I find the boobs really improve my understanding of urrent affairs. Go UKIP!!

You can't make a proper argument , so you accuse me of being a sun reader. Thats typical of euro-nonces like youself.
For the record, I wouldn't read that useless leftwing snotrag if I were paid to.

I refer to the sun as leftwing because it's more left wing than me.

So are most people. What newspaper do you read, if you don't mind me asking?

Oh, and common agriculture is a bit silly, and common fisheries is getting silly. We need to simply declare the entirity of the North Sea to belong to us, and then threaten to wipe the Scandanavians off the map if they argue.

 

[Jharry5]

I'm from the UK, and I'm totally against the EU. I don't like the way that law making has been moved from London to Brussels, with legislation forced to fit all twenty-seven member states even when the internal situations are not compatible with the law in the question. (A prime example is a recent agricultural payment law, can't remember the exact name of it).
Don't get me wrong, I think the idea is a good one, but the centralisation of power has been done insidiouslyand without the prior consent of the British people; no referendum on the Lisbon treaty, Mr Brown? But won't this affect the everyday lives of every person in Britain?

The issue of Gordon Brown not allowing the Uk to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is an interesting one. First of all it was Tony Blair, not gordon Brown who promised the Constitutional Treaty vote. Secondly, the treaty alters EU institutions more than it will change anything about day to day like in the UK. Thirdly, why do you want a refurendum anyway? Fourthly, I beleive the majority of calls for a referedum came form the Conservetive party who were, as always, just trying to score cheap popularity points by critcisng the government on a non-issue. Ireland was the only state to have a referendum and that was only because the treaty altered some minor area of their Consitution. Ireally don't see that there is any reason to expect a referendum and nor do I see the need for it.
With regards to the laws the majority of EU law is concerned with business practices and regulations. I admit in certain small cases there have been culltural clashes (such as the Portugese cheese makers who had to switch for wood to coal ovens. The HORROR!!!) but largely I think the problems have been minor. In general EU laws are designed to cover broad areas and so are fairly generalrather than specific. And if individuals do have a problem there are legal frameworks in place for them to challenge any decsions.

A referendum would at least let the politicans who are for the EU know that not everyone who they supposedly represent shares their views.
And it is just little bits of beurocratic nonsense like your example of the Portugese cheese makers that turns me even more anti-EU - wood, coal what's the difference? Why even get involved, being the big multi-national organisation it is?

 

[Milford Cubicle]

I refer to the sun as leftwing because it's more left wing than me.

Christ, you must be ridiculously right-wing if you consider The Sun to be left-wing.

Perhaps Der Stürmer is more up your street?

 

[Ken Korda]

In general, EU legislation refers largely to industry and business regulation. This id due to the single market; in order to have a single market there must be the same regulations across the region. Hence legislation for the poor Portugese cheese makers, if they wish to sell their product in the common market they must meet regulations of that market place which are agreed by consensus by the EU.
You are quite correct regarding the Irish referendum, the Irish government did not effectively lay the benefits of the LIsbon treaty. Although the 'no' campaign did lie to the Irish electorate. There is nothing in the treaty to affect neutrality, taxation or abortion but this did not stop the 'No' campaign teeling the Irish people that it did. This is part of the arguement for a second referendum.
The CAP is indeed an ineffective and overly expensive piece of legislation but France will not surrender it until the UK surrenders its finincial rebate. If this were to happen the cost of the EU would plummet dramatically as the majority of expenditure is on the CAP.
I also apologise for not engaging 'orifice' in a proper debate but I was quite tired.

 

[neoman10]

I do like the standardized currency idea, it might help for trading but im not sure

 

[Economist]

Ugh, Ireland is going to be forced into another referendum for the Lisbon Treaty. Pushing the same document, still unexplained to Ireland and telling them to vote right this time. It's nothing short of bully tactics.