Article

2003-04-12 Europe

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2003-04-12 02:56 am|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Perhaps Mr. Chiraq's recent statements are the cause for dampened enthusiasm.

Posted by Ptah 2003-04-12 05:06:06|| [www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2003-04-12 05:06:06|| Front Page Top

#2 citizens were not told about the potential drawbacks to membership.
That's the understatement of the month. Once they see how decisions are made in Brussels they will get a sick feeling in their stomachs, literally. Goodbye good old-fashioned agriculture, hello chemically infested food products.

Posted by RW 2003-04-12 05:53:20|| 2003-04-12 05:53:20|| Front Page Top

#3 There is talk about forming a NAFTA, like free trade association between the US, England, and European nations (The "New Europe,") who would not be partners in the European Union. A free trade zone with the US might be attractive to those European nations leery about turning their national soveranty over to the beaurocrats of Brussles.

Posted by C F B Lagoon 2003-04-12 11:43:26|| 2003-04-12 11:43:26|| Front Page Top

#4 Yeah but as of now, that's very few of them. Most of New Europe wants to join. And the reason is: there will now be 2 times in history where people with the foresight and a little bit of money, can become super rich. The first was when Communism collapsed. The second will be when they join the EU. How's this for an investment: you could have bought land (which was mostly stolen by ex-Communists) or a factory in 1990 for $10,000 and ten years later it's worth $1,000,000.
The folks who have a lot to gain are pushing hard for EU membership, to the point of telling people extraordinary things (such as if you become an EU citizen, you can travel to the US without a visa). The ones not fooled are voting yes in hopes of being able to find work in the west.
Western Europe is getting crowded, they need to expand, so they have to move east. This will change Eastern Europe, whether for the better remains to be seen.

Posted by RW 2003-04-12 14:02:19|| 2003-04-12 14:02:19|| Front Page Top

#5 RW, not sure what you mean by "western europe is geting crowded". Fertility in the current EU states is in freefall, with imminent economic dire consequences(TM). Politicians in the East are highly motivated for EU entry as the average EU ambassarod/hack's salary is about 10x greater than their current remuneration.

The EU would be vastly improved if its rotten core was excised.

Posted by Bulldog 2003-04-12 14:28:33|| 2003-04-12 14:28:33|| Front Page Top

#6 Heck, everybody should join the EU -- it will help dilute the weasels!

As for fertility in freefall: no problem -- they can just keep importing more Turks to keep their numbers up. [Heads up, Murat: possible job openings!]

Posted by Tom 2003-04-12 14:41:57|| 2003-04-12 14:41:57|| Front Page Top

#7 What I meant is more "things", from land to small businesses, in Eastern Europe will be owned by Western Europeans, simply because it's still possible to do so without a huge bank loan. As the standard of living improves further (although it is already high if not on par), more westerners will move east. Case in point: western Poland (try and figure out where the "border" is nowadays).

Posted by RW 2003-04-12 15:00:29|| 2003-04-12 15:00:29|| Front Page Top

10:16 Michael E. McNeil
09:46 raptor
07:16 raptor
06:53 raptor
04:27 Ned
04:00 Ed Becerra
03:52 Ed Becerra
03:20 becky
03:11 becky
01:42 HULUGU
01:27 Dan Darling
01:01 tbn
01:01 PD
00:51 Baba Yaga
00:47 Old Patriot
00:43 Baba Yaga
00:40 Baba Yaga
00:32 Old Patriot
00:16 Baba Yaga
00:15 Dar
00:12 Dan Darling
00:11 Rex Mundi
23:58 leonidas
23:13 Scott