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11-02-05 12:59 PM
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Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - General Chat - Your Thoughts On The European Union | |
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Where do you stand?
Pick the option best suited for you, there are plenty of them. :P
My country is in both the EU and the EMU, and I like it that way
 
17.4%, 4 votes
My country is in both the EU and the EMU, but I dislike the EMU   0.0%, 0 vote
My country is in both the EU and the EMU, but I dislike both   0.0%, 0 vote
My country is in the EU, not the EMU, and I want us to be a part of the EMU   0.0%, 0 vote
My country is in the EU, not the EMU, and I like it that way
 
26.1%, 6 votes
My country is in the EU, not the EMU, and I dislike both
 
8.7%, 2 votes
My country is European, but not in the EU, and I want us to join both the EU and the EMU   0.0%, 0 vote
My country is European, but not in the EU, and I want us to join the EU, but not the EMU (*)   0.0%, 0 vote
My country is European, but not in the EU, and I like it that way
 
17.4%, 4 votes
I am from the US, and I see the EU as the US's most important ally and trade-partner
 
13.0%, 3 votes
I am from the US, and I fear that the EU will surpass the US in global importance
 
4.3%, 1 vote
I am from the US, and I see the EU as "unimportant"
 
8.7%, 2 votes
I am neither from Europe nor the US, and I believe the EU will become the next global superpower
 
4.3%, 1 vote
I am neither from Europe nor the US, and I do not believe the EU will surpass the US in global importance   0.0%, 0 vote
Multi-voting is disabled.

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The SomerZ
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Posted on 10-04-04 06:20 PM Link | Quote
Just figured I'd make a poll on the European Union, since the "European Week" at the University was initiated this week. A guy I know from my political science class wanted me to go to a Pro-EU seminar to be held tomorrow, and I figured I wanted to know what was the general opinion about the EU on Acmlm's Board. I invite anyone to participate here, both Europeans and Savages (). However, the options in the poll are different, as you can see. For Europeans, it pertains to whether or not you want your country to apply for membership/stay as a member (and your thoughts on the European Monetary Union), while for Non-Europeans, I ask for your thoughts on the EU as it relates to the rest of the world (and especially the US) in power (be it economic or military or whatnot). Anyway, I hope to get a good debate going, especially since this is a subject that interests me a lot, and hopefully it will interest some of you guys, too. I'll come back and state my opinion on the EU later. (*) Alternative 8 is technically impossible, since all new members of the EU must join the EMU.
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Posted on 10-05-04 03:17 AM Link | Quote
I dislike monster globalization projects like the EU. I see them as unfair to the poorer members, and they have the potential of just paving over the cultures that they engulf.

I'm kinda wary of any of this, because Canadians and Americans are both still reeling back from NAFTA.
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Posted on 10-05-04 04:45 PM Link | Quote
I don't really know which country to pick at the moment, but I believe both are in both EU and EMU. (And Benelux and, umm, forgot what the Nordic thing is called <<; )
I've liked some of the things and disliked others; I wish Sweden would accept Euro, it would make my counting in stores alot easier
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Posted on 10-05-04 04:59 PM Link | Quote
I like both the EU and the EMU in the sense that as a French citizen, if I want to go somewhere in europe, it's very practical to have the same currency, and of course much less paperwork (they don't put their arms up your ass to find box cutters when you go from france to switzerland, or belgium, or spain...)

I really like the idea of Europe becoming this "big country," maybe one day we'll be hearing about "The European dream," you know... America is pretty much the main nation of the world, the president of the united states is more or less considered the king of the world... What if Europe became the main "country?"

We'd threaten the US, ask them to disarm, ban SUVs, lower the drinking age to 16 in every state and legalize gay marriage and marijuana. <3 Hooray.
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Posted on 10-05-04 06:53 PM Link | Quote
Sweden is in EU, but not in EMU. We had a voting and the people voted against it.

Well, I don't see how Euro would exactly be useful for being honest. Sure other countries have it, but the only country I visit is Denmark. Which also didn't go with EMU.
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Posted on 10-05-04 07:42 PM Link | Quote
Where's the "this poll is terribly laid out" option?

Um. Part of me says global integration into a single government is a possible solution to many problems in the world - since so many result from the fundamental disconnect between national sovereignty and pressing global issues.

This is more likely to occur voluntarily and peacemeal, as people in different regions see the benefits and want in. So the EU is a useful lab test.
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Posted on 10-06-04 02:22 AM Link | Quote
The UK is in the EU, but not in the EMU... Yet.

The government are planning to force it through without referendum, ie, we won't get the vote.
Which isn't suprising really, because if we did get the vote, the goverment will almost certainly fail in entering the EMU

I kinda like things the way they are. I don't think changing to the Euro will really change our fortunes, and we'd be better off without.

The latest idiot Euro idea is for Europe to go to the 2008 China Olympic Games as one European nation, instead of going in traditional individual countries.
Fat chance Balls to that


(edited by Kasumi-Astra on 10-05-04 05:25 PM)
(edited by Kasumi-Astra on 10-05-04 05:26 PM)
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Posted on 10-06-04 04:57 AM Link | Quote
I don't see how it effects me in the least. Even if all these countries did join together, then not only would they get each others strengths they would get each others weaknesses. Oh and the point that the language will still be massively seperated and that they would never agree on anything.

America will pwn you all even if you join with Russia!
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Posted on 10-06-04 08:40 AM Link | Quote
Wow, Dracoon, you really just don't understand economics do you? Or anything else involving these sorts of politics...
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Posted on 10-06-04 05:44 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Arwon
Where's the "this poll is terribly laid out" option?


How do you mean? Too many options (in which case I'm sorry), or you do not like the options (in which case I didn't really intend for the poll to be the important aspect here, but rather the discussion in the thread, so then it doesn't matter )?


As for me, my country, Norway, is European, but not in the EU (the only country in the world to have negotiated a membership agreement with the EU, but never used it). We've had two referendums, the last one in 1994, and the people voted no both times, going against the mainstream opinion of the rest of Europe.
I'm happy with the current situation, and if there will be a third referendum (which I doubt will come soon, since the coallition that is likely to win next year's election [Socialists/Labor/Center Party] consists of two parties strongly oposed to the EU [Socialists and Center]) I will vote no, unless someone on the pro-EU side manages to convince me. My reasons for distrusting the EU, aside from my general distrust in globalization, is the lack of any real democracy (the only branch of the EU government directly elected by the people, not the representatives, is the branch with the least power), and the EU's focus on market liberalism. Besides, the Norwegian power is already centralized in Oslo enough as it is. We need to bring power back to the local counties, not take it further away (i.e. to Brussels).

As for the EU as it relates to the US, I'm pretty sure the EU will become the world's most dominant power in a few years. We're already seeing a weakening of the dollar's status as the international currency, and I wouldn't be surprised if you soon would see the prices of most international resources listed in Euros in stead of in dollars. I don't know if it is a good thing that the EU grows stronger than the US, though. In one way, it'd be good if someone contested the US's monopolization of power, on the flipside, though, global superpowers are generally all the same.
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Posted on 10-06-04 05:48 PM Link | Quote
What the c*** is EMU? Sorry, but I need to know before i cast my vote.
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Posted on 10-06-04 05:52 PM Link | Quote
EMU = European Monetary Union. Denmark, which still has kroner, not Euro, is not in it. (Incidentally, did you know that there was once a Scandinavian Monetary Union. It dissolved in 1914, and is the reason why all Scandinavian countries has kroner (also quite fun to note that the Scandinavian EU-members are the only ones not to join the EMU (except for Britain)))
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Posted on 10-06-04 08:17 PM Link | Quote
So, is it true that Sweden's gonna pass a "man tax"? Does the EU approve of this? You crazy socialists.
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Posted on 10-06-04 09:16 PM Link | Quote
We're in EU, not EMU. I dislike both.
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Posted on 10-06-04 09:17 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by hhallahh
So, is it true that Sweden's gonna pass a "man tax"? Does the EU approve of this? You crazy socialists.


Is that my capitalist pseudo-intellectual friend? I sure hope I can hear more capitalist preaching. Anyway, I don't really have a opinion on this thread, but I would like seeing the USA stop being the "king country". Last time I checked the USA was still on the anti-fun, anti-respect-to-nearly-everyone bandwagon.
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Posted on 10-07-04 03:55 AM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Ziffski
Wow, Dracoon, you really just don't understand economics do you? Or anything else involving these sorts of politics...


Umm sadly no. I was just assuming stuff, but I still will hold by my belief that it won't effect me in any way except there might be another main stream trading country thing. (You know like America and Japan) I heard one of the reasons for the Euro was to help trading, and I always thought that it wouldn't help. I am not sure if it really did, not quite that curious, but if it did I haven't seen very many effects. Even if they do all form into one country they will basically be like the UN.

EDIT= Oh yeah just a quick after though, I have seen enough of your posts to realise that if I attempt to argue with you I will just look completely foolish and stupid.


(edited by Dracoon on 10-06-04 06:56 PM)
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Posted on 10-07-04 04:49 AM Link | Quote
Originally posted by random
Originally posted by hhallahh
So, is it true that Sweden's gonna pass a "man tax"? Does the EU approve of this? You crazy socialists.


Is that my capitalist pseudo-intellectual friend? I sure hope I can hear more capitalist preaching. Anyway, I don't really have a opinion on this thread, but I would like seeing the USA stop being the "king country". Last time I checked the USA was still on the anti-fun, anti-respect-to-nearly-everyone bandwagon.


Anti-fun? The United States is the cultural center of the world. Fun is what we say is fun. And respect.. it's hard to respect societies that would seriously consider a "man tax". I'm very sorry.

No, I don't mean to troll this thread... my opinion is that the EU will become a global power, but there's no way it would become the global power. Also, since the EU's relationship with the USA isn't adversarious, how would this be "balancing" the U.S.? Would you guys provide troops for Iran in we invaded them or something? I kinda doubt it.
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Posted on 10-07-04 09:56 AM Link | Quote
I suppose they're referring to the vicious puritannical streak still running through sections of American society. The anal, shrill-voiced, hyper-religious, anti-drug, anti-alcohol, anti-sex people... you know... the anti-fun brigade?
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Posted on 10-07-04 01:32 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by hhallahh
So, is it true that Sweden's gonna pass a "man tax"? Does the EU approve of this? You crazy socialists.
It's not going through, it could be said that I don't like the Swedish party who wanted that.

According to Aftonbladet alot of people are against it. Even womans. So it's not going through.

Besides, most of you probably hadn't been living in Sweden. And I never been in US either...
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Posted on 10-07-04 02:31 PM Link | Quote
"My country is in the EU, not the EMU, and I like it that way.

I took that option because I don
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