As frustrated as I sometimes become with my senators, congressman (we only have one for all of Alaska), and president, I am secure in the knowledge that I can directly vote for or against them. Because they know that too, they *do* listen to me and to my fellow citizens. The citizens of the EU member nations have no such direct control over the EU government, and as a consequence the EU ministers can merrily craft their regulations "in a vacuum," as I've heard British friends of mine complain.
What many EU citizens fail to realize is that the European Commission itself cannot impose any laws or regulation. They can propose legislation, but the real power lies in the Council of Ministers. This body (which incredibly votes and debates behind closed doors) is appointed by the national governments (imagine the US Congress being appointed directly by state governers, who effectively 'horse trade' federal policies). In nearly all areas, each country can exercise a veto, which effectively means that nothing can be imposed on a country unless its government is prepared to let it be imposed. Of course, many governments find it useful to point the blame at foreign bureaucrats rather than take responsibility for what was effectively a joint decision, and the EU institutions are effectively being abused by national governments as a way of bypassing national parliaments or constitutions. The problem with metrication is that it is seen as a purely EU thing in the UK, rather than a long overdue upgrade to the system of weights and measures which would be just as necessary if the UK were not a member.
--------------------------------------------------------- Tom Wade | EMail: tee dot wade at eurokom dot ie EuroKom | Tel: +353 (1) 296-9696 A2, Nutgrove Office Park | Fax: +353 (1) 296-9697 Rathfarnham | Disclaimer: This is not a disclaimer Dublin 14 | Tip: "Friends don't let friends do Unix !" Ireland
