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I have a feeling that a major turning point may be on the horizon. I hope I’m wrong.
The crisis in the Eurozone is like a bank run in slow motion. The lack of a genuine central bank is the cause – it means that important countries like Spain and Italy (and Ireland, Portugal, Greece) are at the mercy of the money markets without an oar to guide them.
The UK (and US) is not n this situation. Whenever problems arise, the Bank of England (and Federal Reserve) can take various actions to try to modify problems. They may not be enough, but they can be taken.
It’s now recognised that a central bank with real powers is needed for the eurozone.
Money means power, and a central bank means more power for the inner core of the EU. That means that the UK’s power to direct its own affairs is going to run against the EU. That in turn means a referendum which is going to force people to decide just what they want out of the EU.
The euro crisis is proving to be very important for us all. If we don’t lose our money, we are going to have to make a choice, and it may be a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I know that many here would welcome an exit from the EU. I don’t – I want us to remian inside a more federal Europe, but the price must be a much more democratic Europe – very different from the bureaucratic despotism which semi-governs us now. Britian is powerful enough to fight for that – if we want to.
It may be that Britain doesn’t leave the EU – more like the EU leaves Britain.
I always used to be in favour of full EU membership…. recently though Im wondering if we should withdraw a bit. Maybe we should have an agreement like Norway … a trading agreement but keep our own currency and laws. Might work?
What is it about the EU that turns people off..?
That’s the question.For me, it’s the political union that I’m opposed to and the fact that British jobs are being given to east Europeans.
@sceptical guy wrote:
It may be that Britain doesn’t leave the EU – more like the EU leaves Britain.
Unlikely, I feel. We are a major player in Europe and have been for centuries. I think EU countries would want us in rather than out.
And how would they get us out?
They want us in..and I want us in (Terry’s fears aren’t mine), but I want us in a democratic EU. Itisn’t democratic at all at the moment, not even formally.
I was using the phrase to point to a process. The EU has to evolve, and the eurozone crisis means that a central banking union could be on the cards. Political union isn’t on the cards – yet. A monetary union wiht a central bank involves a very real dilution of sovereignty , though, and political union tends eventually to follow. Who knows what form it will take. or how much smaller the EU will be??
The loose relationship the UK has with the EU – similar in many ways to Norway – is likely to become increasingly untenable, and decision-taking within the EU is likely to exclude the UK. It’s already happening, whihc is why there was such a shouting match last December, with Sarkozy publicly cold-shouldering Cameron.
A decision by the UK to hold a referendum on whether it wants to be part of the new EU is how it will happen.
Nothing is inevitable. A two-speed EU could well occur – buth that is likely to involve the Norway-type status which attracts Mrs T.
Perhaps it’s too much in teh air at the moment – but I can see a cloud whihc is a bit bigger than a man’s hand.
The EU needs ‘The City’!
@sceptical guy wrote:
They want us in..and I want us in (Terry’s fears aren’t mine), but I want us in a democratic EU. Itisn’t democratic at all at the moment, not even formally.
Maybe democracy should start with the British electorate deciding whether or not they even want to be in the EU. I’m with Nigel Farage and Dan Hannan on this one. They actually know what they’re talking about…
@terry wrote:
@sceptical guy wrote:
They want us in..and I want us in (Terry’s fears aren’t mine), but I want us in a democratic EU. Itisn’t democratic at all at the moment, not even formally.
Maybe democracy should start with the British electorate deciding whether or not they even want to be in the EU. I’m with Nigel Farage and Dan Hannan on this one. They actually know what they’re talking about…
ha ha………..so do I! :D
@anc wrote:
The EU needs ‘The City’!
I agree. I think if we do have a referendum and the arguments for and against are presented then the British electorate will vote yes.
At the end of the day being outside the EU looking in isn’t the best place to be. We are far too small an island to be self sufficient. We don’t have enough natural resources.
Faced with facts, amplified scare mongering won’t win the day.
Interesting fact: UKIP actually believe fossil fuels are a renewable source of energy. I thought that was hilarious!
omg, I almost wasted half a glass of wine laughing at that! pmsl :lol:
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