The E.U. has met the main goal of forming a European community to end the inter-European wars that were devastating.
Although many languages and customs need to be kept in mind when the E.U. has meetings technology has helped communication go smoothly, much more smoothly and civilly than in the U.S.A.'s Senate or House of Representatives.
A working democracy requires articulate diplomacy, a desire of the majority to find common workable solutions to common problems and time to communicate sufficiently with citizens whether they be working people, stay at home moms, leaders, in other words: everyone. Time and patience are required.
In general the populations in European countries have not declined because the refugees and immigrants forced out of their countries in Africa and the Middle East have landed in Europe in droves due to English-American foreign and trade policy decisions, for example, the wars against Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Ethiopia, etc. The most damaging trade policies have been in concert with oil companies, the most egregious example being the hell created by Shell in the Niger Delta.
My point being people from all over the world in great numbers have ended up in Europe. Most of these are young men whose parents don't want to see dead before their time. These young men are hard working, fast learners and intelligent. They are fully capable of becoming a successful workforce to make up for the 'end of bloodlines' in some countries. Italy is an example of nonacceptance of reality and is only hurting itself. Most Italians seem to have no problem displaying their racism openly and meanly in their cities and their airports. When the Italians are forced to embrace the "foreigners" as their new middle class the process of caring for the elderly will be able to continue.
Subsidies are a problem in the E.U. but not in the way you present them. For instance, Spain olive tree farmers used money from the E.U. to organize excellently to produce and export their olive oil. I have seen high quality Spanish olive oil sold more cheaply than the same product here in Crete. (Crete provides a huge amount of olive oil to the world market.) Some projects work some don't, that’s true. But when something works; a good model for others has been established.
Another point on farm subsidies, instead of using the money to subsidize the same poor way of continuing agricultural practices, all that needs to be done is to switch gears and do away with the corporate model of farming. In order to sustain food growing capacity the E.U. can use subsidies to rejuvenate and protect soils and incorporate good water management practices. The E.U. is continuing to have great success in developing better soil and water management. practices. How long will farmers need to adapt to a new way of doing things? The young farmers are adapting ahead of the E.U. so I’m optimistic.
Some dismiss smaller countries such as Bulgaria and Romania; isn’t this a bit racist? The citizens of both countries are facing an uphill and difficult battle with no doubt about their problems. But their scientists are still working with other European scientists to find solutions. Their students are still studying in European universities and developing lasting ties with other European students. This would not be possible without the formation of the E.U. And northern Europeans and southern Europeans are getting together every day to solve technical, scientific and educational obstacles. Due to these cooperative enterprises northern Europe has to shake off its arrogance towards the south in order to get any work finished.
The EU is taking a lot of criticism mostly from the U.S.A. and England. If the critics would take a closer look at the accomplishments between science, technology and education they might see a different picture. Often their assumptions forget to include, quality of life, in their equation.
July 3, 2009 | In World
Discuss
tim hall on July 9, 2009, 7:43 PM
Vicky,
Italy has a great history of facism. The Romans did not consider their lowest class as even being human. The lower class did not have to obey Rome’s law when they came into the city to work, trade or steal. In return the city people were allowed to beat, kill, or enslave them as if they were common pack animals. Under Catholic supervision there was no difference.
In the U.S., the Mexicans are talked about as if they were dirty pack animals. They are semi slave labor. I wish I could live long enough to witness them taking over the U.S. and running the white rulers off their land. California is looking good today. Ha! Ha!
The truth about corn. As you know Indiana is a large corn farming state. The trouble is, the farmers have not made a profit on corn, over what we pay in subsidies. I would like to know how much that slab of cow actually cost before I order it. I don’t want it hidden in my federal income tax. I wrote my Senator Evan Byhe but he comes from a large family farm. He never returned an explanation. Earl Butz, the creator of farm subsidies is now past away. Bless his soul. His farm bill was suppose to protect our most precious resource (food). Then he went on to become president of Perdue University and sat on the board of Dow Chemical. He was probably one of the most destructive fascist pigs that ever lived.
Corn is the key ingredient to America’s weight problem. The corn syrup replaced sugar as the number one sweetener and can be found in almost all soft drinks and packaged foods. You could say that America subsidizes it’s number one health problem.
You mention smaller countries such as Bulgaria and Romania. Do you have any information on the people of Belarus?
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