7 ms·
The time for the EU has passed. Its too decoupled from the real world, too draconian in its approach. It was created for the sole purpose of making cross-border
by lbj 8y ago
The time for the EU has passed. Its too decoupled from the real world, too draconian in its approach. It was created for the sole purpose of making cross-border dealings easy within the EU but on it's own initiative its grown into a monster that regulates everything from the amount of cinnamon on buns to blogposts written online.
- ahartmetz 8y agoThe EU was created to prevent further wars in Europe. Nowadays it is also seen as necessary for European countries to represent their interests in the world.
- timrichard 8y agoThat's the popular quote, but presumably something was preventing war in Europe prior to the creation of the EU in 1993. The European Coal and Steel Community (grandfather of the EU) was created in 1952 to regulate production of these materials, and address the risk of massive re-armament. I'm not convinced how relevant that is after the US detonated the first atomic weapon in 1945. IMHO, NATO has been the factor in preventing war in Europe during the last 70 years.
- throwaway488212 8y ago> NATO has been the factor in preventing war in Europe during the last 70 years. NATO was significantly involved in the most recent European wars (the Yugoslav Wars). Now you could argue they were "peacekeeping" (and of course there were many atrocities that occurred during the Yugoslav Wars) but that's what a certain country claimed about "Operation Iraqi Freedom". I would contest that NATO prevented any wars in Europe, they definitely were involved in at least one.
- doktrin 8y agoYou were downvoted but you're obviously correct. This idea that the EU is responsible for preventing wars on the continent just doesn't stand up to any reasonable examination.
- pgeorgi 8y agoThe European Economic Community was founded in 1957, following in the ECSC's footsteps (ECSC was later merged into the EEC). In 1993, the EEC was renamed to European Community and merged into the EU. So there's direct lineage back to post-war times, and without the "baby steps" of creating close ties between significant parts of the economies (steel and coal were kind of a big deal back then) of countries that considered each other arch-foes until then (Germany and France in particular), the later initiatives might have failed, like the attempts to form the European Political Community and the European Defence Community did in the 1950s.
- buboard 8y agoagreed that argument doesn't make any sense. EU countries were severely weakened post-war, to the point that they are unable to wage war today (plus they rank lowest in the world in "i would fight for my country"). The whole "Peace" argument wasn't even brought up in the 90's anymore, EU was all about mixing cultures and having fun during Erasmus programmes. The argument has been revived recently, but i m not sure anyone is buying it. Besides, any kind of such danger is from outside EU. E.g. greece , cyprus and finland. In the case of Greece and cyprus, the presence of US, NATO and UK navy bases are what guarantees peace.
- vetinari 8y ago... by taking control of everything of importance. No wonder that Brussels is being compared to Moscow and EU to USSR by Eastern Europeans.
- doktrin 8y agoI spend a lot of time in central and eastern europe and I have not once heard this comparison, certainly not from anyone who actually lived through the USSR. I'm a staunch EU skeptic, but this comparison is just ridiculous.
- vetinari 8y agoThe people in EE do not have a habit of telling their political, religious, etc views to random strangers. It is not only due to lessons by USSR or Comecon, but also during the previous regimes (tzarist Russia, Austro-Hungarian empire, or those unfortunate enough under Ottomans) it was equally dangerous. And comparing Brussels to Moscow is the nice one. The not-so-nice ones compare Brussels to Mordor ;).
- doktrin 8y agoNice try. I'm not a tourist on holiday or a random stranger. Most real people just have enough sense not to compare brussels to murderous autocratic regimes, especially if they've lived through the latter.
- vetinari 8y agoOne day, you will understand, what behavior what Heydrich called "laughing beasts" really means. Meanwhile, have a good time.
- doktrin 8y agoIf you can actually defend your position that "people" in eastern europe routinely compare the EU to the USSR, by all means. Otherwise, have a nice day.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- efdee 8y agoYou are confusing the EU with its predecessors such as the EEG.