What's the story with American Women?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Steve, as someone that has a strong distrust of a strong government already are you willing to risk giving the US even more power? If they made a American style union you know the USA would dominate it. Not only would the US have control over it's own country they would eventually dominate the rest of the countries. The chances of an American continent dictator would be a very real thing if some disaster would occur requiring some sort of emergency action. I don't like the idea of an EU for the same reason. To much power in one government body. You can keep the idea of a world government. Thats not for me!

The EU is still a representational government, not a dictatorship. As fishkoepfin points out, the countries with the weaker economies will benefit in the long run. We already have NAFTA and we've made trade agreements with South America. As I said earlier, this is more about economic power - we can set in place provisions that would secure our democratic process.

I think the main difference between NAFTA and the EEC (the starting organization of European states) is that the EEC worked through consensus and aimed at leveling the playing field between member states. NAFTA primarily aims at free trade but not regional economic development and it is not consensus-based in that the US wields more power than its trading partners. NAFTA is good for the US but bad for Mexico as the sugar dumping issue shows.

So, in a way the EU is a transnational organization that views the needs of its members collectively. So it is more similar to the U.S., which after all is another collective of states acting together in unity and relying on each other's support, than to NAFTA.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The EU is still a representational government, not a dictatorship. As fishkoepfin points out, the countries with the weaker economies will benefit in the long run. We already have NAFTA and we've made trade agreements with South America. As I said earlier, this is more about economic power - we can set in place provisions that would secure our democratic process.

So you would give up the USA's sovereignty and put your trust in a conglomerate government? You are a very trusting person then. I wouldn't give anyone power over us! I even think the UN should be disbanded for the same reason. :runs:

I wouldn't support any union that takes away our governmental sovereignty. Gary, as I stated earlier, we already have international trade agreement and the WTO with it's trade laws have already trumped local governments. Here in California, there's been a clash with that agreement. I understand the concern but really your thinking of something quite different than what I'm proposing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So living there makes your opinion more qualified?

You have to ask?

It's Steve. Of course he does. He won't be happy until there's one government running the entire world, and lazy people will get just as much money as people who actually work for a living.

Yeah, that's the impression I get from his/her/its posts. It's easy to be pro-socialist and pro-EU when you don't actually have to put up with it. Reminds me of those neo-liberal college kids who think they have all the answers to the world's problems. "If only people would just get along and let the government take care of them." Hippies.

Well there's some intellectual honesty right there. My opinion is not only unqualified but dictated.

[homesick_american 1]

So living there makes your opinion more qualified?

You have to ask?

It's Steve. Of course he does. He won't be happy until there's one government running the entire world, and lazy people will get just as much money as people who actually work for a living.

Yeah, that's the impression I get from his/her/its posts. It's easy to be pro-socialist and pro-EU when you don't actually have to put up with it. Reminds me of those neo-liberal college kids who think they have all the answers to the world's problems. "If only people would just get along and let the government take care of them." Hippies.

Well there's some intellectual honesty right there. My opinion is not only unqualified but dictated.

Can't take it, don't dish it out.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So living there makes your opinion more qualified?

You have to ask?

It's Steve. Of course he does. He won't be happy until there's one government running the entire world, and lazy people will get just as much money as people who actually work for a living.

Yeah, that's the impression I get from his/her/its posts. It's easy to be pro-socialist and pro-EU when you don't actually have to put up with it. Reminds me of those neo-liberal college kids who think they have all the answers to the world's problems. "If only people would just get along and let the government take care of them." Hippies.

Well there's some intellectual honesty right there. My opinion is not only unqualified but dictated.

Can't take it, don't dish it out.

Huh?

[homesick_american 1]

Huh?

[mawilson 2,133]

I say let's make the America's like the European Union!

And I say #### that idea, and #### the EU while we're at it.

[Fandango 1,440]

I'd say lets stop using an ' in Americas

Sorry Stevo, but it's killing me!

[mawilson 2,133]

I think we're called 'Americans' because 'United Statesian' sounds stupid.

How about "USAmericans"?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I say let's make the America's like the European Union!

And I say #### that idea, and #### the EU while we're at it.

Yeah, given that the US is not willing to integrate itself into international organizations, I agree with the first part of your answer. Only when the rest of the Americas bands together will the US see the benefit.

As to the second part, why is it that some Americans are so hostile to the EU? What has the EU done to the U.S.? Could it be just a case of jealousy od the existence of a functioning transnational political unit? Or is it that the US can't boss around member states in the way it wants to?

[mawilson 2,133]

I say let's make the America's like the European Union!

And I say #### that idea, and #### the EU while we're at it.

Yeah, given that the US is not willing to integrate itself into international organizations, I agree with the first part of your answer. Only when the rest of the Americas bands together will the US see the benefit.

As to the second part, why is it that some Americans are so hostile to the EU? What has the EU done to the U.S.? Could it be just a case of jealousy od the existence of a functioning transnational political unit? Or is it that the US can't boss around member states in the way it wants to?

I don't see the EU as a functional political unit. To me, it's an amorphous dysfunctional entity

falling apart at the seams. The EU Institutions, specifically the European Commission and

the Council of Ministers, are undemocratic because they do not allow people to make or change

a single EU law. It is also undemocratic because there is no such thing as a "European people"

that could give it a democratic basis.

[PsychoKat 0]

So living there makes your opinion more qualified?

You have to ask?

It's Steve. Of course he does. He won't be happy until there's one government running the entire world, and lazy people will get just as much money as people who actually work for a living.

Yeah, that's the impression I get from his/her/its posts. It's easy to be pro-socialist and pro-EU when you don't actually have to put up with it. Reminds me of those neo-liberal college kids who think they have all the answers to the world's problems. "If only people would just get along and let the government take care of them." Hippies.

It does. This was the point I made when this topic came up at ModernWiccan. What the hell else are you going to call people who live in the USA if not Americans?

Exactly. I'm tired of all these PC apologists and appeasers. We are AMERICANS. That's what we're called. Get over it.

I don't consider myself a PC apologist or appeaser, of course we are Americans. What I am, though is someone very analytical in nature who tends to critically examine nearly everything from a technical standpoint *disclaimer below*. At times for me this can prove to be somewhat humorous, which is what I was pointing out here.

This was not based on an attempt at being PC, quite the contrary actually. To do that would involve examining the subject matter from an emotional aspect as opposed to technical. Technically speaking what I said about America is valid fact. But when people discuss emotional issues, they tend not to ensure technical correctness, especially in language, while doing so. This is human nature and at times I find it can be humorous in nature. Sorta like if you've ever heard George Carlin do his routine on oxymorons, finding humor in language that becomes illogical or ironic when taken strictly on a technical basis. (jumbo shrimp anyone?)

*sigh* Ok I'll admit to having an occassional dry and dull sense of humor. For my attempts at stand up comedy (or maybe I should say fall down on my face comedy) I do believe I best keep to my day job in a technical field.

(disclaimer: nearly everything, that all goes out the window in strong personally emotional issues ).

[Mirorgate 0]

I say let's make the America's like the European Union!

And I say #### that idea, and #### the EU while we're at it.

Yeah, given that the US is not willing to integrate itself into international organizations, I agree with the first part of your answer. Only when the rest of the Americas bands together will the US see the benefit.

As to the second part, why is it that some Americans are so hostile to the EU? What has the EU done to the U.S.? Could it be just a case of jealousy od the existence of a functioning transnational political unit? Or is it that the US can't boss around member states in the way it wants to?

I don't see the EU as a functional political unit. To me, it's an amorphous dysfunctional entity

falling apart at the seams. The EU Institutions, specifically the European Commission and

the Council of Ministers, are undemocratic because they do not allow people to make or change

a single EU law. It is also undemocratic because there is no such thing as a "European people"

that could give it a democratic basis.

precisely what some of my reading has touched upon. Germany and England (both are the largest economic powers of the EU) are a bit ticked that their economies stall when having to carry others. other smaller nations now have equal say in what happens (Denmark shooting down the constitution last year or year before) It's hodge podge and loosely works. There still is not true unity there as ppl still call themselves from their native countries v "I'm european commonwealth"

[PsychoKat 0]

I do have to add flip side to what I was showing as humorous.

When it comes to legalities, technical wording can have critical conseqences. Technically speaking all legal inhabitants of both North and South America could be termed as Americans. If laws are written that do not specifically designate the United States of America, instead of just America, the use of this term in reference to the USA could have adverse consequences.

[Ecalos 0]

2 Things I never discuss; religion and politics.

Yes in Canada we refer to the "Native American" population as First Nations.

Ex: Cree First Nations, etc.