What I am afraid of, and people of some EU nations might concur, is the loss of distinct culture and way of life prevalent among people residing in specific areas. Something like what is happening in China. The challenges which Turkey poses, as it knocks for its membership, is a case of interest in this regard.
The other aspect is its uniform welfare - for - all model. While it suits nations with high and fairly distributed per capita GDP, I visualise that some nations for some ( extended ) period may have to go for targeted benefits. I am not aware of the specifics, to complete the picture. On Jul 29, 4:48 am, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > I doubt the EU is much of a model of what the world needs, other than > as Vam has pointed out. Britain is still somewhat stupidly peripheral > to it. The key element we are short of all over is cooperation from > positions of resilient self-reliance and population restraint. > > On 27 July, 03:23, Don Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Speaking on behalf of American chauvinists, I have to say we don't put > > much stock in the UN. They're pretty much a laughing stock to us and > > we resent our tax money being wasted there. The EU, however, was a > > good idea and is working out perhaps even better then many > > anticipated. Bravo. > > > dj > > > On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 5:48 AM, Vamadevananda<[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Thorn, I spoke of the European Model, not merely of their welfare > > > policy and taxation structure ! I see the latter as variables, that > > > people in different nations may customise. > > > > What is of abiding interest, to me, is the spirit of cooperation it > > > naturalises among ( formerly, at times, bitterly sparring ) nations, > > > and makes it largely acceptable among citizens of diverse cultures in > > > the many nations constituting the Community Of Nations. > > > > It is so much more effective at nurturing and fostering the > > > transnational cooperation than, say, the UN. Perhaps, because the EU > > > Model is more democratic and representative of the common people > > > within it. In stark contrast, the UN is only representative of the > > > Govts in different countries, and that too is inequitous. > > > > It may be very difficult for the US, and American chauvinists, to > > > appreciate that the UN ( which the US dominates ) is so lousy in > > > effect compared to the EU ( which no one in particular overides ). > > > > On Jul 26, 6:47 am, Thorn <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> I must say something about Eurpope leading the way for the poor..now > > >> they get taxed 50% of their paycheck and this is half of what they > > >> make so therefore this does keep the poor poor all their life until > > >> they get aged..and then they get some what of a house or apt...and > > >> medical ..than for a hip surgery you might get in at two years down > > >> the line so let me ask you this so God forbid if that is a good > > >> structure.....the poor should be thankful for that one -instead of > > >> having more of their paycheck so they can live a better quailty life > > >> while their younger and their family's.. > > >> thorn of a rose > > >> On Jul 24, 11:53 am, Vamadevananda <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> > I 'd agree, Don ! Not just the bomb, there are several very powerful > > >> > despots / despotic cliques riding their respective proverbial tigers. > > >> > There are massive armies, much arms and armaments around, quite some > > >> > with non - state actors, too. Several basic resources are projected > > >> > to be in short supply. There is this very real danger of present > > >> > inequities getting far too magnified, eroding belief, respect and > > >> > committment to ' universal ' values. > > > >> > I believe that at some stage, we would not be able to afford power - > > >> > and money - found competition. Much will depend on whether we are > > >> > able to live in cooperation, despite differences in power and riches, > > >> > and national interests. Cooperation at reducing pollution, and global > > >> > warming, at making appropriate technologies available to poor and > > >> > developing economies, whatever their capacity to afford, would > > > >> > It is in this respect that the European model shows the way. And, EU > > >> > could do this still better. > > > >> > On Jul 24, 11:12 pm, Don Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> > > Sheesh. I thought I had a swollen head. This guy knows what it's > > >> > > like to be the smartest person in the room. That said, how in the > > >> > > world can you speculate about 20 years from now and not even once > > >> > > mention da BOMB? I'm sure he did it on purpose but why? Assuming > > >> > > Europe isn't a giant crater by 2030 he may very well be correct. > > >> > > Socialism will prevent people from improving themselves so our > > >> > > current > > >> > > super-rich will become richer and not have to worry about competition > > >> > > from new super-rich folk. Europe's combined GDP has been larger then > > >> > > the U.S. for several years now and I don't see that changing; ever. > > >> > > I > > >> > > personally believe even without a nuke going off in a major city his > > >> > > outlook is entirely too rosy. > > > >> > > dj > > > >> > > On Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 10:58 AM, > > >> > > frantheman<[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> > > > This is one vision of a possible world future: > > > >> > > >http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,637830,00.html > > > >> > > > Any comments? > > > >> > > > Francis- Hide quoted text - > > > >> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > >> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. 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