Yes or No

[brooklyn77]

I realise this is probably the wrong place to do this, but i dont care. I will try anyway. I also dont know if this question is really the right question to ask or not, but i will ask it anyway. Q: What will you vote in the euro referendum (if it happens) Yes or No. Please respond with a Yes or No, followed by a brief reason why afterwards if you so wish. It will be interesting to see what people think. I realise there wont be a huge response. But all polls count.

[woodpam]

I should leave Einstein to answer this, but Brooklyn, no I don't believe we did discover America. Apart from the native American population, Vikings were regular visitors and the usual suspects for discovering America were Italian/Spanish/Potugese. The US is certainly a great country, but parts of it are in recession. If you think of the size of it, some parts which are the most disadvantaged are the size of East Germany. They also have their own issues with economic migrants and asylum seekers from south of their borders.As for a democratic democracy, have a read of "stupid White Men" by Michael Moore for a witty account of just how democratic their last presidential election was. What is so good about Europe is that we all have distinct cultures and a lot of common interests. It is essential that we are on peaceful terms with Europe if only because history and world wars have shown us that this is in all our best interests.

[froggequene]

BROOKLYN77, you don't need to shout, I don't think France and Germany run the whole show, the whole show was instituted to control them which it does very well and I think with the new countries entering the EU are going to change the complexion of things quite a bit. Just because someone has a loud voice (France and Germany) doesn't mean that they are anything more then hot air, there are plenty of able politicians working in Brussels from various small nations who have spent years running rings around the French and the Germans. Switzerland isn't a member of the EU as far as I know so I think the Euro comparison is unfair and Switzerland's main occupation is making money after all, it's hardly surprising that they're doing well.

[Gef]

To brooklyn77, we might well have "discovered" America but we were not the first people there. I think you might find that the USA also has a terrible problem with illegal immigrants and asylum seekers from Costa Rica, Mexico etc. I think einstein makes a very valid point. To point at Germany's current problems suggests that you are either very young or have a very poor memory. Twenty years ago Germany had the strongest economy in Europe (possibly in the world) whilst the UK had over 3 million unemployed, raging inflation and interest rates of 15%. One reason for the formation of the EU was to provide more economic stabilty. Yes, I know it provides a lot more red tape (eg, shops that must deal in kilos rather than pounds etc, but many of the regulations have been beneficial eg, Health & Safety regulations, food labelling etc.

[treaclefight]

really is all rather irrelevant, our 'loss of sovereignty' if there was one happened in 1972, everything since has done nothing to tie us into europe more than that treaty did, and we can always elect an extremeist that can take us out of out treaty obligations anyway, i appreciate that a law degree is necessary to get to the finer points of this stuff but the truth is its all to late, we're part of a federal europe already

[Pickle]

If it was just the Euro I'd vote yes. It won't just benefit European traders, the benefits will apply to everyone. A stronger economy = more jobs and a better standard of living. Why say no to that?

[d+dwidow]

NO - I don't want to loose our individuality and having a single currency will do just that. I know it's quite handy for holidays but that's as far as it goes!! I don't really understand what's going on and it looks like we probably wont get a say in the end, but I think that if we become some european superstate, the US will try to enter and it'll lead to Bush domination!

[PaulYukochan]

NO. After years of trying to find out how to control inflation / unemployment, we finally have it right - independant interest rates set by the central bank. Why fix what is, finally, not broke?

[JonBoyWalton]

No! Our economy will then be dictated by europe. Erope stinks and they are a bunch of no neck gob shites. And so are those who think its a good idea!!! So they can stick it where monkeys stick bad nut's....Big end first!!... to put it politely!

[Spellmaster]

Brooklyn, your analysis of the differences between the USA and Europe is one of the most stupid, unintelligent, ignorant, ill-informed, subjective, ridiculous things I have read in ages. Go off and study at least some basic facts about the subjects before spouting such nonsense in public.