Well Done UKIP.

[Baldseagull]

Lots of them clearly do, but France is inextricably tied to the EU in ways that we're not. For instance, the system of farming subsidies mainly exists because the French economy, with its agricultural component, needs it more than we do. And many regions of France, for example Brittany, would be in a bad way without the large EU subsidy that comes their way to prop up impoverished bits of the country.

So for all the votes that have gone the way of the French national front - I don't see any serious prospect of France leaving the EU. Unless I've missed it, they don't even have plans for a referendum on leaving - unlike the UK.

France put even more money into Europe than we do! The subsidy they receive for agriculture is way below their contributions. It is utterly ridiculous to suggest they would suffer impoverishment if they withdrew from Europe.

EU was supposed to bring greater economic equality across Europe, this was supposed to happen by Nations like Germany, France and ourselves dragging the rest up, I am for that. What is happening is that the rest are dragging us down, I am against that.
I do not mind contributions made to EU, I am in favour of much that EU has achieved. But it keeps growing, and every new member is a beneficiary, not a contributor.
Our contribution keeps going, up as it is based on population, which is rising quickly because of immigration, but the migrants are mostly getting low paid work and forcing medium paying manual labour work down. Often a proportion of the money earned by a migrant worker here is sent back to family in the home country, which is more cash leaving our economy.

If France and England were to withdraw, the EU would be short of about 10Bn Euros net. This would be a disaster for the EU, it can't be allowed to happen, so the EU must wind its neck in a bit and make some concessions on the things that are pissing off the populations of the contributor countries, or it will die.
For Britain, we need to be able to refuse working rights to the newer member states peoples, until such time that their economies have risen to a level where the disparity is not so great. For France, I suspect the Euro may be a bigger problem.

 

[Soulman]

Im curious to why somebody or some group would want to ridicule by parodying a name.
Theres no other reason for the term 'Pastafarian' other than parody. All im saying is some would find that offensive.[/QUOTE)

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Hahaha, all of which were before the EU was officially formed and a united foreign policy. I give you 4/10 for trying.

Once again not true ! From the EU's own history :

[h=2]1945 - 1959[/h] [h=3]A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation[/h] The European Union is set up

 

[User removed 4]

Hahaha, all of which were before the EU was officially formed and a united foreign policy. I give you 4/10 for trying.

Seriously mate, you need to get out and experience a bit of life outside your university lectures if you think that the EU 'foreign policy' is any more than worthless paper, I picture you as some modern day Neville chamberlain waving a piece of paper and parroting 'peace in our time' as Russian tanks roll into Poland.

 

[dougdeep]

Hopefully Europe will be a country soon.

I'd rather we were the 51st state of the USA than a district of Europe. At least we'd all speak the same language.

 

[pastafarian]

I'd rather we were the 51st state of the USA than a district of Europe. At least we'd all speak the same language.

you clearly have never been to backwater Alabama

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

ive not 'ridiculed' Christians...

yes you have, numerous times

 

[The Spanish]

You should be so careful of what you wish for. The future for Europe is already full of risk in a world of rising economies in Asia and South America. Without the EU, with each small country battling on its own, the future is truly perilous. If that is what people want ok. It's not what I want for my children. I really fear for them if silly nationalism takes over

perhaps we shouldnt be having this mad referendum in chilly jocko land in a few months then.

 

[Notters]

I'd rather we were the 51st state of the USA than a district of Europe. At least we'd all speak the same language.

Barely! interesting thought though. They're far too right wing for me.

 

[Hamilton]

The people have spoken. The whole concept of the EU is fatally flawed. The Euro can't work with different sized economies. Staying in will just drag us down. Time to make Britain Great again.

Sorry Doug, but you are making quantum leaps there.

The people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the way things are. They have not been voting on the whole concept of Europe.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I'd rather we were the 51st state of the USA than a district of Europe. At least we'd all speak the same language.

I'd not go that far but I would like us to join NAFTA. It's more like the common market people voted for.

 

[Czechmate]

Marvellous scenes !!!

Some of you should be grown men/Women and just admit UKIP were very successful and admit things need to change , not make every excuse under the sun . If UKIP didn't do very well i would be here now for my one post today admitting the majority of people probably want to stay in the EU and go along with the democratic view if i like it or not .

Now i am going to enjoy my bank holiday !!

 

[Czechmate]

I'd rather we were the 51st state of the USA than a district of Europe. At least we'd all speak the same language.

I agree with you on most things about the EU dougdeep but i would rather be a state of Russia than the US , even if we don't speak the same language .

 

[BadFish]

Marvellous scenes !!!

Some of you should be grown men/Women and just admit UKIP were very successful and admit things need to change , not make every excuse under the sun . If UKIP didn't do very well i would be here now for my one post today admitting the majority of people probably want to stay in the EU and go along with the democratic view if i like it or not .

Now i am going to enjoy my bank holiday !!

UKIP have certainly made their point and stuck two fingers up to the traditional parties (they must be applauded for this if nothing else). The question of them being successful or not really depends on what they do with their gains and if they can make take the next step to actually deliver that which those who voted for them are after.

Enjoy your bank holiday

 

[Don Quixote]

It doesn't really mean the majority want to get out of Europe because the votes for the pro europe parties outweigh UKIPs.

 

[yxee]

Wrong, the EU can enable a task force in the interests of our foreign policy. EU has its own foreign policy, therefore offering unified protection to its members.

Let me rephrase: "I think NATO should be that force, not the EU".

Now you are free to disagree with me all you like, but you can't say "wrong". NATO is designed for this purpose. I don't want the EU 'enabling a task force' I barely trust the PM to enact military intervention, let alone some unelected officials in Strasbourg. Surely this is a terrible idea.

 

[daveinprague]

yes you have, numerous times

Nope..ive said, I think all religion is daft, but I defend peoples rights to worship what they want...thats not really ridicule.

 

[Russconha]

They're part of the same country. Piss poor analogy.

To be fair, it is an excellent analogy. Texas was part of Mexico until 1865. When Texas came under political rule from Washington, the dollar was adopted. This is one of the factors which helped shift the mindset of Texans from one of being 'Mexican' to that of a 'US citizen' (along with language, laws etc ...)

Texas and Rhode Island weren't part of the same country originally, but prolonged common use of the same currency, language, laws etc ... helps brainwash the citizens into thinking it has always been.

 

[The Spanish]

What were the voting figures for Brighton, have they been published?

Dave Spart (The Level Juggling Collective and Dog on String Coalition) - 2798%

Brian NormalbrightonianjustlikemostpeopleintherestoftheUK - 0.000001%

 

[daveinprague]

Im curious to why somebody or some group would want to ridicule by parodying a name.
Theres no other reason for the term 'Pastafarian' other than parody. All im saying is some would find that offensive.[/QUOTE)

Would work better if Id said that I was offended.