I am a convinced
European, and see the European Union as democratic, not as dictatorship.
by Earl of Cruise
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
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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