RB>> The interesting thing about this is that when the EU was formed, it RB>> was agreed that each member would be responsible for it's own economy RB>> and not receive bailouts from the other members.
MV> It is called developing insight. A change was needed to deal with the MV> mistake of letting Greece in the Euro.
Naturally without any change in the existing legal structure or treaties. The German population reacts accordingly - and presumably not only the Germans.
How many Dutch people are happy to finance the graft and corruption that brought Greece to the present point? Not many, I would presume.
RB>> The whole Eurozone is in a crisis with no end in sight.
MV> Nonsense. There have been serious problems, but "crisis with no end in MV> sight" is grosly overdone.
Do you really believe that? Well, there are pessimists and optimists. You see the glass half full, and I see it half empty.
RB>> But except for the AfD, who do you vote for to change that?
MV> Not. I feel no need.
To vote at all? I can understand that. No real alternatives.
RB>> A "grand coalition" is certainly not the answer.
MV> Belief is not fact.
Indeed. That's why I'm so pessimistic.
RB>>>> You're talking about a "United States of Europe", which is exactly RB>>>> what many of the EU members rabidly reject.
MV>>> It will happen. There is no other way.
RB>> Belief is not fact.
MV> Disbelief is not fact either.
;-) So let's just wait and see.
RB>>>> In the USA, "states rights" has been a major and sometimes violent RB>>>> political iussue since 1798 (the constitution),
MV>>> Nevertheless the US /is/ united. They have a federal government, MV>>> they have a federal police force, they have a federal army and they MV>>> have a federal supreme court. And that systems works well.
RB>> And everyone except for minorities speak english and have a common RB>> heritage. Compare that with Europe.
MV> The vast majority of the present US population stems from European MV> immigrants. With the same diversity of culture and language as the MV> Europeans. Yes, almost all of them speak English now. After the MV> original populatin was almost exterminated. BTW, ,ost Europeans Speak MV> English also.
You're ranting. I stated the facts above.
RB>> Are you aware that both the Mini and Rolls-Royce (to name two car RB>> manufacturers in the UK) belong to the German BMW company? And what RB>> are they supposed to do
MV> Tghe car manufaturers are planning to move their assembly lines away MV> from the UK. Th Nethelands may benefit. We have a couple of car MV> assmbly lines not rinnig full capacity right now.
Like the DAF production line? <beg>
MV>>> They think it is in their best interest to no longer be a member. MV>>> They want to get rid of the duties of membership. Ok... It is not in MV>>> the interest of the other members to let non members have the MV>>> benefits of membership, and so they will be revoked. You don't pay MV>>> the contribution, you don't eat at the club's table. What is wrong MV>>> with that?
RB>> Absolutely nothing - if you also throw out Sweden Denmark and Greece, RB>> all of which get "special deals" with the EU.
MV> Agian: None of thsoe have threatened to leave if they did not get MV> whatthey wanted.
No, they just wouldn't have joined in the first place. But again, wait and see.
RB>> There have been special deals for quite a numbver of countries, not RB>> only the UK.
MV> But the UK is the only one threatening to leave if they did not get MV> what they wanted, and eventually execute that threat. THEY left, their MV> choice. We are not going to kick out others for that.
Only if they want the same kind of deal the UK got.
MV> A divorce opens up old wounds. That is unavoidable. I already MV> mentioned Gibraltar.
Ancient history. Can you imagine Spain trying to invade Gibralter? I can't.
