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European Union, democratic or dictatorship

I am a convinced European, and see the European Union as democratic, not as dictatorship.
by Earl of Cruise
panneau european, european flagg, europäische Flagge
Heavy winds in Europe 
I am sick of hearing or reading the European Union is a dictatorship.
Reading this in a political commentary, even from a NEW YORK TIMES journalist, who claimed to be an expert for Europe ... or during the BREXIT campaign ... I was flabbergasted! ... Why? It is nothing than ignorant ranting and not understanding, nor trying to.
The European Union is the greatest advantage we ever achieved on this continent.
The European Union is much more than a "trade club". Even if some member countries, or their people, have thought or think that way.
"We are asking the nations of Europe between whom rivers of blood have flowed to forget the feuds of a thousand years."
Winston Churchill
But can we, the European, can I reach those who have made up their mind, and fixed it with concrete and steel?
The Brexit campaign dived a country, consternated politicians and people and started a rethinking of Europe.
Since its founding, with the Treaty of Rome, the European Union or Community was a garantee for peace and economic growth. Billions of taxes from each country, had been spend over the decades for a growing economy in the weaker ones. To often we hit our heads and turned the world into a nightmare with the wars we have fought. My family was involved as each, perhaps more, as we are European - spreading from France over Scotland, Germany to once in Poland, Prussia and Hungaria. We all should look into history and learn from, otherwise we will start hitting our heads again.
"Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft." Winston Churchill
Nations, people fought against each others with hate, born from egoisms, self-assessment and self-exaltation. One of the reasons for our colonialism.
We all have fought in history for our democratic rights and established this system in our nations. Even if democracy has its bites ... As Winston Churchill once said: "No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that, democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
- from a speech in parliament Nov. 11th, protocol, column 207
He quoted too: "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
But the European Union is not a dictatorship. Each part is elected by the people in Europe! Even those "circles", as that of the chiefs of gouvernment, or the concil of ministers, are elected ... or didn´t you vote for the parliament and therefore gouvernment in your own country?
Okay these regulations. But what about a similar level between each country and economy? What about the rights, we the European customers and citizens have got through this EU? Pay back for delayed trains, flights, etc.? First lesser, in the future no roaming costs for phoning from abroad to the loved ones at home. Each one can travel free around the EU (within the Schengen members) and learn about the neighbours, their culture, the living, their way of thinking and mentality? It needs some selfconfindence to do, learn and discover. But it is so much more enriching, than sitting in your own closed room and cook in your own juice.
The structures of the European Union are complicated, yes. But it is a matter of interest if one will see what happens and how. But it has to be explained propper. And looking at, e.g. Wikipedia, I see some interesting differences between German sites about the EU and its structures and those in English. Those are shorter and less discriptive and complicated to understand. In my opinion, these authors have not understood about what they have written.
The EU Commission is not comparable to a city or county administration. It is more like ministers, which are nominated by the country members chiefs, and have to be elected by the EU Parliament. With this election they are validated or not.
And each commissionair has its burocrats. These are the comparable to a city or county council.
The different fractions are complicated even for me as a convinced European.
Till 1973 the different countries, members of the EU, had been in a process of joining, or unification. When the United Kingdom joined, this process was hindered by the Kingdom, which stood with two feet on the break. Making myself clear, I was lucky Great Britain joined, as it broke open the beginning proces of protectionism - which is in no way a good thing. And I loved watching "Yes Minister" and seeing the British view on Europe. As well discussing "EU" with, I must seperate now - sorry, English friends and business partners, and Scotish friends and relatives. It gave me a hint of what could happen in the end - the Brexit vote. No one from the gouvernmet, nor the EU, did explain what the EU is or meant in reality! And all faults, in each country!, had been explained as "that is the EU" ... and achievements, or successes had been declared "I/we did!", even if it was the EU ...
And the people of the United Kingdom can´t blame the EU, or the continent, for the destruction of the British industry. This was the making of Margret Thatcher, she got rid of the unions by destroying the British industry. She was the one who established the British bargain. From the money Great Britain payed to Brussels two thirds went back to the UK.
And the fishing quotes are protecting our food. Fishers will become unemployed if there are no longer fishes to take from the sea ...
Rising the standards of producing food within the EU members is in the interest of us all. I don´t want eating gen-mais, contaminated crops or meat, chlorined chicken, or over medicined meal ... Sometimes I get the feeling eating industrial produced food is like "Soilent Green" ...
Telling the truth, in many ways I really can understand the British vote for Brexit. After decades of lies told by the politicians, they made a "revolution". Wanting to hit the local politic establishment, they voted as they vote. Even if Farage based his campaign on lies about lies, what British taxpayers pay.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." Winston Churchill
Europe - European Union - Europäische Union - Union European
A poster not for the EU, but Europe, symbolic and pragmatic
What was starting in Rome, as a union of the central European countries, and their steel and coal industry, turned within years, fuel by visionairy politicians as de Gaulle and Adenauer, and some more, into something that could be in the end a United States of Europe, or Confederation. It wouldn´t be that bad.
And it will be better to have "a European telephone number" as Mr Kissinger was asking, than staying by oneself in a world of turmoil.
Since the union of Germany and the joining of the Eastern European new democracies this process ended. The € we have since then, was the condition of Thatcher to accept this union. It was developed out of the ECU, a once "fictional" currency to cover the different levels of the European countries currency - to ease trading. And we are now on the verge of total disintegration?, reducing to a European core?, or restarting the European unification process?. But for the restart we need visionairy and courageous politicians, and citizens who believe in Europe, integration in and with differencies amoung, and not in nationalism. A Europe of regions and diferentialities.
What chance will have a single country against economical powers as China? The USA? None!
An excluded United Kingdom, "beaten to death" as for the Brexit, is a no go!
Britain is, and was, a major part of Europe and has to be ... Okay we all have to stay cool and seek for a new role of treatment, treaties and cooperation. A "splendid isolated Britain" can´t be the future for the Kingdom too. That would cause a total keel over ...

"We are asking the nations of Europe between whom rivers of blood have flowed to forget the feuds of a thousand years."
Winston Churchill

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