Europe-Am I missing something?

tomterm8

ILW wrote: »

The Swiss seem to have made a pretty good job of staying out of all the wars and making a pretty good whack out of it. The UK as a moderate sized island should be even better at it.

Yes, they have. However, we have been dragged into every single major war on the continent in the last 200 years. Do you think if there was another European war we would be able to avoid it? History seems to be against that.

Generali

tomterm8 wrote: »

It wasn't to stop Germany declaring a war on us, Germany had lost. It was to stop Russia declaring a war on us.

Essentially all those other things... cobblers about trade, human rights, and lightbulbs, are methods of creating a 'political and economic' union are about linking europe close enough together that, in the event of the next world war, we would all have go to war together.

Basically, Europe is slowly turning itself into a country, like the United States of America.

The EU began as a free trade agreement with some extra-European protectionism aimed at aiding European iron and steel producers. The British were asked to join but refused IIRC. That later allowed de Gaule(sp?) to prevent the UK from joining later on.

Loughton_Monkey

A._Badger wrote: »

Do you actually know how much Japanese and Korean workers are paid?

No, I thought not.

Well said. There is always a misconception about this, as your rhetorical question implied. Direct comparison is difficult without taking into account local prices.

Can't speak about Japan (richer than Korea), but Koreans are quite wealthy. In absolute terms, in 2000 when I started work there, I estimated that they had about 60% equivalent "earnings" to a Brit.

However, this was rising astronomically, and by £2004 it was much higher. My secretary earned about £12,500 [direct £/Won translation] but my Interpreter earned about £20,000.

Everybody who wanted a car had one. For most younger people, eating out was the 'norm'.

Mr Samsung is, I believe, worth a few shillings!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Being one who voted to stay out of the EU,I seem to remember we were doing alright on our own at the time anyway.
I've never seen any benefits at all,still waiting for them.

lewisa

Generali wrote: »

The benefits of free trade outweigh the undoubted costs of being a member of the EU.

Thats the first time in a year of reading your posts Ive ever seen you make a nonsensical statement. Im actually shocked :eek:

There is only 'free trade' in Europe when it suits. I speak as someone threatened with court in Flanders for exporting a certain type of goods to Belguim and not covering the buyers tax bill up front.

Its the only time in my life ive ever heard of import taxes being the liablilty of the exporter.

EU free trade can swivel, and I'll have my tax back thanks!

Anything originating in Belguim can swivel as well. And I used to enjoy Stella so its a shame.

Radiantsoul

lewisa wrote: »

Thats the first time in a year of reading your posts Ive ever seen you make a nonsensical statement. Im actually shocked :eek:

There is only 'free trade' in Europe when it suits. I speak as someone threatened with court in Flanders for exporting a certain type of goods to Belguim and not covering the buyers tax bill up front.

Its the only time in my life ive ever heard of import taxes being the liablilty of the exporter.

EU free trade can swivel, and I'll have my tax back thanks!

Anything originating in Belguim can swivel as well. And I used to enjoy Stella so its a shame.

Is this an EU thing or local Belgium laws?

Radiantsoul

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I've never seen any benefits at all,still waiting for them.

We are not at war with Germany or France?

ILW

In that case maybe we shoud let Iraq and Afghanistan in as well.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Radiantsoul wrote: »

We are not at war with Germany or France?

Did we think we would be, so hardly a benefit :rotfl:

ILW

Radiantsoul wrote: »

We are not at war with Germany or France?

We are not at war with America, Russia or China either.