The Ghost of '99 wrote:
Well yes the EU has elected representatives and delegates with the key players all needing approval from our own elected government and the parliament being directly elected and major decisions requiring vote by the nation states. I do wonder what fantasy world you're talking about half the time.
Again, as if you're really upset about "protectionism" and all you've ever wanted in life is a bit of old liberal laissez-faire free trade. Really? Or is it just something to latch on to to beat the EU?
The world has divided into a number of regional trading blocs, regional because you trade most with those nearest at hand. Those blocs reduce or eliminate trade friction within. They don't massively raise friction externally.
You can believe that the UK is best served living outside this global reality. And I'm sure we could make a go of it as a low tax, low regulation, low pay economy as that's the best way to operate if you decide being inside your bloc isn't for you. (And especially if at the same time you passionately refuse to believe in making the investments which would differentiate us as a high knowledge, high skill, high wage economy).
The low tax and regulation route would work out just fine for some, maybe for you; not so much for the many however.
You just don't get it - our influence as one of 27 is pretty small in a system set up to suit the French and the Germans primarily. Both the Dutch and the Irish voted against a treaty what happened? Do you honestly believe that say Holland could actually prevent legislation if the likes of Germany and France decided it was a good thing? We supposedly had a veto until Cameron tried to use it.
If the EU had remained a trading block brilliant but it didn't - it became a super state where regulation/control became the focus rather than mutual prosperity.
The difference with say the China is that as a trading block it doesn't have to refer/defer to anyone else in doing what is best for itself - the EU is very different all the other major trading blocks. China trades with everyone how does its location help it reduce trade friction?
Where have I said we shouldn't make investments in the private sector, better communications, better infrastructure - why would we invest in making the state bigger? You don't really believe investing in the public sector will deliver a high knowledge, high skill, high wage economy - do you?
