Display:
Surprisingly, perhaps, I agree with their demand "the public have a say on Europe."  The British intransigence on the EU Program - such as I understand it - cannot continue over the long haul.  Either the UK is going to get with it or get out.  

US political history is a stern warning to the EU.  Our Civil War forced the south back into our Union and they've been little but a PITA ever since.  From a political POV - but not from either a moral or humanitarian POV - the Union should have let the south go.  

by ATinNM on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 01:20:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Public opinion on the EU is created as a tool by the country's elites (both in media and politics) to be able to act as a braking force on integration. Being part of the EU is a way of ensuring continuity of British foreign policy, pretty much as shown in this scene (h/t to Melanchton):

Britain is not the South. The South is stupid. Britain, as we all know, is perfidious ;-)

Although it might be tempting to want to isolate (and potentially split up) Britain by letting it step out of the EU, this would not go without a lot of unpleasant ripples -- unless the British elites make a big mistake.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 01:49:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Britain, as we all know, is perfidious

Britian?  I thought the Albions, from Albionania, were perfidious.  I'm so confused.  :-)

My (admittedly semi-ignorant) take is the British elites want to remain in the EU for economic reasons - CAP being one! - and remain outside on everything else.  British policy has been Balance of Power for donkey's years.  Seems to me they are trying this out using the US to balance the EU on the macro-scale and good old fashioned "Fog in Channel, EU cut-off" internally.

The problem with the Balance of Power strategy is, sometimes, you have to make a choice or the choice is thrust upon you.  I don't see the British elites leaving the EU; I do see scenarios where they are asked to leave by raising the frustration and exasperation levels high enough.  There's always a 'tipping point.'

by ATinNM on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 02:05:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Is Britain going to be the EU's Texas Republic?

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 03:57:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
that the southernmost province of any state is always going to be somewhat semi-detached and thinking that it is (or should be) really running the show.  Thus in the USA we have Texas; In the UK we have the "Home Counties"; in Ireland we have Cork (the "real" capital); in Germany we have Bavaria; in SA, Capetown; in Brazil, Rio; in Australia, Sydney etc.

Of course the Spaniards, as usual, have things the wrong way around...

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 04:36:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
As do the Italians...

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 04:46:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
My theory is obviously too sophisticated for them too...

notes from no w here
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 04:53:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Not really. Italy is semi-detached from Europe.

Though not entirely by choice, of course...

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 05:39:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And in France it's French Polynesia?
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 04:59:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]


notes from no w here
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Wed Nov 4th, 2009 at 05:19:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, without counting the DOM/TOMs Corsica is semi-detached, and sometimes want to run everything.

And on the mainland, many in Provence feel they are in a different country, hate Paris and probably want to run the show.

Having said that, I don't really believe in that theory ;-)

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Thu Nov 5th, 2009 at 02:15:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series