newmatilda.com/2011/12/12/blight-isolation

Britain's decision not to sign on to the European Union fiscal agreement is triumph of short-termism and nationalist emotion over sound economics, writes Ian McAuley

Britain has never been comfortable with its geographic and economic location. Many British refer to "Europe" as some other place, ignoring their own ethnic, linguistic and religious heritage.

Rubbish. The great myth is Europe. Historically: just look at it. The nations associated with Europe have always struggled to make their own local abstractions seem real, let alone anything grander. Take Italy: there's no real Italian culture - there's Florentine culture, Roman culture, Neapolitan culture, Calabrian culture, and so on. It's the same in every other modern nation state. And yet a few weird dreamers are obsessed with 'Europeanness'. It isn't just silly, it's also pointless and misleading. You don't need that level of abstraction to join together pragmatically when it matters. That's the point the Euro dreamers just cannot understand. They need to drop the whole 'Euro' theme and just set out, clearly, coherently and constructively, a set of policies that suit all of the nations involved. Freed from the fog of Euro nonsense, they might actually start finding support among the public.

Prunella Minge wrote:
Rubbish. The great myth is Europe. Historically: just look at it. The nations associated with Europe have always struggled to make their own local abstractions seem real, let alone anything grander. Take Italy: there's no real Italian culture - there's Florentine culture, Roman culture, Neapolitan culture, Calabrian culture, and so on. It's the same in every other modern nation state. And yet a few weird dreamers are obsessed with 'Europeanness'. It isn't just silly, it's also pointless and misleading. You don't need that level of abstraction to join together pragmatically when it matters. That's the point the Euro dreamers just cannot understand. They need to drop the whole 'Euro' theme and just set out, clearly, coherently and constructively, a set of policies that suit all of the nations involved. Freed from the fog of Euro nonsense, they might actually start finding support among the public.

So true Pru

Prunella Minge wrote:
They need to drop the whole 'Euro' theme and just set out a set of policies that suit all of the nations involved

Any idea what these policies might be?



(the ones that will suit ALL nations)

I'm talking about (the great scam) of globalization which Britain cannot avoid as the world divides into mutual interest and trading groups which become all powerful.

All the 'great British bulldog on the rampage" talk of Cameron and those supporting him are a fantasy and pure rubbish. He and Nu Labour before him sold out Britain's interests long ago to corporations and bankers.

Reading the hysteria of the past week was like re-visiting the madness when Maggie invaded The Falklands except there has been much more sensible discussion.

Britain is an island and does exhibit that mentality...and I see in Oz..another island ( a bloody great big one but essentially very similar in thought)

Carl wrote:
Prunella Minge wrote:
They need to drop the whole 'Euro' theme and just set out a set of policies that suit all of the nations involved

Any idea what these policies might be?



(the ones that will suit ALL nations)



Well, Carl, my emoticon-mad chum, if I'm invited to run the whole thing I'll let you know. If, however, you don't think such things are possible, then you've sort of undermined the Euro argument anyway, so off to the back of the class with you!

No shortage of cash heavy Brits spending their hard earned money on French tobacco and alcohol today.
Good for the French taxes,another downside about being in the EU for us

Horrible weather,but at least they patched up Le Shuttle to get us there and back,even if we were delayed going out while maintenance did their bit.

Innocent Accused wrote:
No shortage of cash heavy Brits spending their hard earned money on French tobacco and alcohol today.
Good for the French taxes,another downside about being in the EU for us

Horrible weather,but at least they patched up Le Shuttle to get us there and back,even if we were delayed going out while maintenance did their bit.

but were they maxing out their credit cards ?

I've seen the UK go through a transformation. In my day you got things on tick and never paid for them.

Prunella Minge wrote:
I'll let you know

So Pru...you don't know?

Carl wrote:
Prunella Minge wrote:
I'll let you know

So Pru...you don't know?





Yes, Carl, I do, but this is what the Euro meisters claim to be able to do - so are you saying THEY can't do so, or are you just being a troll?

Prunella Minge wrote:
Yes, Carl, I do

Pru - I just aked if you knew what these policies might/should be? That's all.

Care to enlighten us?

I don't care to enlighten you.

Prunella Minge wrote:
so are you saying THEY can't do so, or are you just being a troll?

No, to both.

But if you can't enlighten us ... that's fine.

Some days, I find it hard to tie my shoelaces.

Prunella Minge wrote:
I don't care to enlighten you.

Why don't we leave the enlightenment to these guys....then enlighten me why I seem to have been the only person to have both bought this....and liked it!

I once went to a Kajagoogoo concert

veritas wrote:
I once went to a Kajagoogoo concert

Thought you'd be too shy to mention that