One of the
things which identify our problem in the matter of being in or out of
the EU is that we still have the mind set of who we were at the end of
the war with regard to the nations of Europe, some of whom were our
enemy's and some our allies.
Each nation was definable, we could measure them and evaluate them through a historical and cultural context.
Each nation was definable, we could measure them and evaluate them through a historical and cultural context.
We see the Germans as Germans not
Europeans we see the French as French not as European and it's the same
across each European country.
Have
we got it wrong. Have these countries moved through an emotional
currency the way they feel about about their national roots, feeling
Federal, part of a collective whilst we are stuck in a 1950s mind set of
defining ourselves wholly as a National entity.
Are we at risk of being left behind because we failed to grow up and recognise that the world has changed. 'Wall Streets' global agenda (Goldman Sacs) changed our actual importance and our influence in a changing world.
Of course we could do worse than comparing ourself to Australia or New Zealand in maintaining our individualism but both these countries are in a junior league when it comes to their political weight and being so far away from Europe, out of sight means out of mind.
Do we feel up to the job of striving to sit at the big table or should we not admit that two world wars stripped us of our youth and no amount of Viagra will stimulate our loins.
Watching old footage of Macmillan being humiliated by General De Gaul in his infamous ridiculing of the British request to enter the Common Market, especially after the sanctuary we gave him and the treaty obligations we had given France and fulfilled, before and during the war, it was hard to watch and reminded one of the 'pot calling the kettle black'. France's term for Britain was and still is "Perfidious Albion".
In the scheme of things, this family of nations, like many families is pretty dysfunctional and one must watch ones back at all times. Who was it who said "Know your enemy's but watch your friends". "A wise man will kill what killed his father, a foolish man will allow what killed his father to kill him".
Does the economic argument of today's market rule out the possibility of an economic disaster overtaking a skewed Euro Zone, where the intransigent German fear of monetary imbalance and debt made them unable to take their heel off the Greek neck and where a German leader encouraged the inflow of migrants, as much as anything to prop up an ageing German population, as it was humanitarian. When decisions are made which effect all members, where was the collaborative negotiation or is the 'top table', a table set, but the rules prevent you the opportunity to speak.
Are we at risk of being left behind because we failed to grow up and recognise that the world has changed. 'Wall Streets' global agenda (Goldman Sacs) changed our actual importance and our influence in a changing world.
Of course we could do worse than comparing ourself to Australia or New Zealand in maintaining our individualism but both these countries are in a junior league when it comes to their political weight and being so far away from Europe, out of sight means out of mind.
Do we feel up to the job of striving to sit at the big table or should we not admit that two world wars stripped us of our youth and no amount of Viagra will stimulate our loins.
Watching old footage of Macmillan being humiliated by General De Gaul in his infamous ridiculing of the British request to enter the Common Market, especially after the sanctuary we gave him and the treaty obligations we had given France and fulfilled, before and during the war, it was hard to watch and reminded one of the 'pot calling the kettle black'. France's term for Britain was and still is "Perfidious Albion".
In the scheme of things, this family of nations, like many families is pretty dysfunctional and one must watch ones back at all times. Who was it who said "Know your enemy's but watch your friends". "A wise man will kill what killed his father, a foolish man will allow what killed his father to kill him".
Does the economic argument of today's market rule out the possibility of an economic disaster overtaking a skewed Euro Zone, where the intransigent German fear of monetary imbalance and debt made them unable to take their heel off the Greek neck and where a German leader encouraged the inflow of migrants, as much as anything to prop up an ageing German population, as it was humanitarian. When decisions are made which effect all members, where was the collaborative negotiation or is the 'top table', a table set, but the rules prevent you the opportunity to speak.
"That Law like the Ritz is open to all".
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