One thing the EU would surely do is present a clear economic and political powerhouse to equal that of the U.S. I think a shift in the balance of power would be a good thing but I can also sympathize (and support) with those rejecting it on the grounds of autonomy.


>>>>I was wondering the same, but then I thought to myself... if their politicians are doing the same crappy "job" that ours are doing, I'd reject anything they proposed.
>>>
>>>>So I've concluded that their politicians are as useless as ours (Canada).
>>>
>>>I guess the question then becomes what are they [the leaders] trying to accomplish by forming EU?
>>>I don't think that's been well defined. Maybe the general public in Europe is not well informed, which is typical with the average Americans as well.
>>
>>I think it's far more basic than that.
>>I think the politicians are living in their own world and worrying about feathering their own beds. They "worry" about things highly esoteric while average Joe/Josephine has real problems making ends meet, working longer hours, worrying about their jobs, losing benefits, losing pensions and generally losing more and more ground. The gains of the last 20-30 years have been all but wiped out and we're heading fast to 1930 working/class conditions.
>>
>>Surely the politicians put it to a referendum expecting that it would carry. They would have been stupid to do it if they thought otherwise. Which only indicates just how out-of-touch they are.
>Hi Jim
>
>a lot of the reason for rejection in France and Holland is to with the widening of the European community to include more countries to the east and the threat of labour competition from those countries. Also France and Holland want to keep their welfare programs and employment protection laws and feel they are under threat.
>
>And as well a lot of the countries that have adopted the Euro have suffered from high inflation which again has made people less trusting.
>
>Its a smack in the face for the politicians and I think they deserve it.