Glaswegian

The real issue with the states is that they're behind in so many ways it's hard to believe - if there's one western country you really don't want to be poor in its the US. They have the biggest guns and zippiest jets money can buy, but they don't seem to spend much on core infrastructure.

willmore

Exactly - the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!!

Rhodes

That's how it goes
And everybody knows...

(Sorry - it reminded me of a Leonard Cohen song)

PBC_1966

Authentic or not, that article seems to be trying to paint a picture of the EU making Europe some kind of utopian dream to follow.

The reality is that the EU is an undemocratic, practically dictatorial regime in-waiting. The flood of petty rules and regulations pouring out of the EU bureaucracy is gradually invading every corner of our lives with no end in sight. The EU commission's idea of the "European Dream" is a world in which every last detail of everything single thing we do is regulated and controlled to the minutest level.

Why anybody would want to join the EU is unfathomable. I don't know a single person in England who doesn't want us to get out as quickly as possible.

For the sort of lunacy that the EU comes up with, have a look here:

www.kc3.co.uk/~dt

chippy

Well I've read through the whole thread now. I must say, I'm a bit surprised at the replies to prodigyking's post, almost a 'backlash' I'd say.

I don't want Britain to be part EU either, but it is shortsighted to dismiss the idea of European unification as flawed.

Much of what is said in that article is spot on IMO.

MikeUK

I would suggest that the article pursues a socialist ideal rather than a utopia, as a contrast to the failure of the American dream in the US the EU does look a better deal at least if your not one of America’s rich..


I feel your view point is a little extreme and so undermines the point your attempting to make, that in order for a socialist system to work the governing body has overall control of policy and as such some regional preferences have to be subjugated for the greater good of the whole… not every bodies idea of government I’ll admit… but as the UK is currently favouring the socialists and Europe as a whole appears to becoming more socialist in its leanings I suggest you get used to it or get out… as you would appear to be in a minority if you look at the voting trend in Europe as a whole…

If you don’t know a few that want to stay, when if I remember the vote would be in to 48 -52 % region last time I looked (Mori poll) then I doubt if you’ve asked the right question to your friends and may have assumed there voting preferences!! That or you have very few friends with the same limited viewpoint.
If you were right then the UKIP and the Tories should have done much better in the last by elections..

Rhodes

Why? There are very many people who have given the subject a great deal of careful thought and who believe that the idea of unification is flawed. I don't see how it is necessarily flawed, regardless of what any individual's view might be.

You haven't been listening to that nasty Mr Blair, have you?

oceanMDX

Canadian farmers can compete against US farmers if the playing field is level. The last time I checked, Canada had a $2.5 billion trade surplus with the US in agricultural trade (that was before mad cow).

CalgaryAMC

The internet is one massive medium for bullshit.

This is an article about Virginia Beach, where I now live:
http://www.virginiabusiness.com/site.../vabeach.shtml

Sure, it's authentic, but it's garbage.

oceanMDX

By the way, how ya doin' old boy? How's life in the good ol' US of A?

willmore

This has nothing to do with mad cow. I'm talking general produce. ...but it's not a level playing field - the cost of farming and producing food in Canada is out-of-line with the rest of the world. The farmers' (right or wrong are crying foul and demanding more and more subsidizes because of the cost)....which we as taxpayers pay. If you remember last year the farmers on the prairies (and not only meat farmers) took a delegation to Ottawa to demand more money (not just because of the lack of rain)....but because of the cost of everything including transportation.

If I lived in Vancouver and close to the border I would be very tempted to shop there once a week.....

CalgaryAMC

Improving as I overcome the cultureshock, and my moving-related chores are complete. But I am looking forward to my trip back to Calgary for a wedding in October.

CalgaryAMC

Google: David Ricardo comparative advantage

oceanMDX

The level of Canada's trade surplus in food with the US has lots to do with mad cow.

One major reason why we have high food prices in Canada is because of marketing boards, not because Canadian farmers can't compete. We're more than competitive in many food items. American farmers cry about everything from Canadian peanuts (all 300 acres), durum wheat to sugar beets and nearly everything in between. American farmers are much more subsidized than Canadian farmers. The company that makes lifesavers closed their factory in the US and moved it to Quebec because the sugar prices were so much lower in Canada. Beef prices are much lower in Canada than in the US.

squarepants

To the original poster, I can't believe you will post something like this here, I mean the thought of it How the hell can canada join the EU, when they are not in Europe? That is like saying the UK is signing the north american trade treaty

This is the biggest boll**ks have ever read on a forum. I'll hate to think you actually believe this, or may be you do, and you think it will help get you here quickly if you are not already here, can't even be bothered to check your location.

Canada is part of the commonwealth, and that's all there is to it !

Jeez....what is going to be next, Canada joining the AU ( African Union )