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February 7, 2011

What Has Europe Done For Us?

Thank you to Nickie for inviting me to be a part of this new development in the US/UK 'special relationship' and for the welcome. I'm afraid this first one is rather longer than usual but I hope you'll soon become used to my English tone and English humour. I also swear occasionally but given we're talking politics that's hardly surprising. Here goes.

I've got such a backlog of bookmarks for What has Europe done for us? (WHEDFU) that it puts me to shame. I'm going to bring things up-to-date and do this in two parts - right here, right now! - so you can't say I haven't warned you.

Let's begin with the unelected friend to everyone and no-one, Cathy Ashton. It's been argued that Cameron should put forward a stronger replacement because she's such a pathetic waste of space but I doubt that would help - it would only prompt accusations of the UK strengthening ties. At least she's so ineffective she's not actively doing any harm.. Ashton avoids the word 'Christian' in EU communique condemning treatment of Christians in Egypt & Iraq

I'm including the next link because just a few days ago I spotted a headline in the British press in which Miliband & the Labour Party accused the coalition of exactly the same thing without a reference to Europe or the European Union. Anders: EU faces jobless recovery

I didn't realise that the EU was the driving force that brought down the Berlin Wall and put an end to communism in Eastern Europe. I bet you didn't, either! I despise the way these unelected, unaccountable megolomaniacs re-write history with a word here, a phrase there. Van Rompuy: The EU is the Fatherland of Peace

Another europrat with delusions of grandeur is EP President Jerzy Buzek. He's been arguing for increasing the EU's budget and against cutting back some departments. They're all working very hard behind the scenes to come up with a workable plan for direct EU taxation. He says there is a lack of communication between the EU and the people but blames that on the media although I'm sure he's thrilled by the efforts of the BBC. "...we need a good messenger to deliver it and that rests in your hands. The cost of non-Europe is far greater than the cost of Europe."

One eurocrat to another: "I know, let's not call it direct taxation, let's call it 'innovative financing'." The cross-border financial transaction tax is one step closer. The report suggests revenue potential of a low-rate FTT with its large tax base, of nearly €200 billion a year at EU level and $650 billion at global level.

Liberals - the most mis-named political party anywhere, ever - hold the balance of power in the European Parliament (EP). Not too different from Westminster then and we can all see what's happening there. "Indeed, in roll-call votes it would be political suicide for MEPs who harbour hopes of building a career in the Parliament and holding key positions in committees to rebel against the group whip, explained Trzaskowski, who is vice-chair of the EU assembly's constitutional affairs committee."

When a ceiling collapsed at Strasbourg in 2008 all the poor pen-pushers had to stay in Brussels rather than do the usual commute (mentioned above by Buzek). Having only one seat for Parliament saved the EU taxpayer £2m in travel and accommodation costs.

Same old, same old. With the EU everything it touches turns to function creep and now there are legal problems with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Role of EU Supervisor exceeds EU powers.

Trading in pollution permits was halted after hackers targeted Greece's national registry for carbon trading rights. Cap and trade: that's another fine mess eu've gotten us into.

On the same subject, fraud in the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme has cost taxpayers an estimated €5bn. "There have been warnings after warnings that regulation of the system is lackadaisical and inept…You expect it to be properly regulated but Europe seems to run it more like a church raffle than a professional commodities market."

EU tells Albania to sort out its own riots. Albania is a prospective member state of the EU - can't wait for all those visas and work permits to be issued though judging by the sounds on my High Street a good proportion of them are already here.

I don't have a problem with this one - foreign criminals should all be deported. The only problems arise when it's British nationals who are arrested for minor offences, eg traffic violations, and then extradited to, eg, Greek hell-holes.The European Arrest Warrant was meant to target terrorists

International air travellers are facing US type data collection - plans are being debated this Wednesday (9th). Britain is at the forefront of the proposals. "Under the proposal, all passengers flying for instance from Brussels to Istanbul will have their "Passenger Name Record" (PNR) data – including home address, mobile phone number, credit card information and email address – checked by a special unit of the Belgian police. Any suspected links with terrorism or serious crime – such as drug trafficking or people smuggling – will be shared with other member states and the suspects may be prevented from flying or even arrested."

Q. When is freedom of information not transparent?
A. When the EU sets the rules.

And I think that's just about enough for one session. I'm going for a cup of tea to steady my nerve for the next bout. I hardly seem to have made a dent in the bookmarks so it could run to three* - but I need to keep a record of what they're up to so it must be done. I have to write it, but you don't have to read it :-)

* I won't clutter up Nickie's blog with them but you can catch them at Calling England if you're interested.

23 comments:

WoFat said...

Writing new history, and altering old, is nothing new in Europe. But . . . they make some pretty good beer and wine, and have designed some neat cars. Most of which to do run too well.

LL said...

I think that the EU is about to face more severe challenges to its sovereignty from the UK (and that's started) and more importantly from Germany. Where Germany goes, France will follow and the EU as we now know it may not endure.

I don't know how long that the Germans will sit still for bankrolling failed socialist states in Europe, but it's wearing thin now. I believe that it's within two years of the tipping point and nobody knows where the chips will fall from there.

Anonymous said...

Christians seem to fall into the same category as English Nationalists. They are all proving to be inconvenient obstacles to forming an all-powerful fascist state.

Cathy Ashton reveals the plan of neutralizing the opposition. Ignore them, marginalize them, mock them and demonize them. We Tea Party supporters know the game.

GV... Welcome to GNN.

Wetzy said...

I can see the problem with adding a whole new gigantic level of government over Europe and replacing each country's courts, culture and communications. And then add all new taxes and corruption. What could go wrong?

Anonymous said...

The light's are not out yet. They are flickering!

Nice post. I'll need a whole pot of tea and a watercress sandwich to get through it.

Rduckwoorth said...

What will Europe do when Iran aims the bomb their way? Tax them?

kid said...

Someone at The Fox Nation Blog issues a death threat on the POTUS for not wearing a tie as The Fox Nation stated. Rupert and the Koch family are busy trying to get their country back.

O'Liely was so nice to the POTUS being rude. Regis and Kelly didn't like it either. When you lost them you lost middle America.

Anonymous said...

Kid... I'm beginning to get the impression that many folks around the world are in the process of trying to get their countries back. There are good guys and bad guys, but the desire to topple the tyrant seems to be the emotion du jour.

The day may soon come when our citizens take to the streets with gusto. Oh yeah, the Tea Partiers already have.

Rhod said...

kid, there are no zombies or vampires. "Someone" isn't a claim on reality, but having visited your silly little vanity blog and read your barely literate posts, I see you can't do any better.

Something you might want to do is try to make sense, and stop investing so much blog energy in words like "racist", which YOU appear to be, and "facsist", which you completely misunderstand. BTW,Obama's corporatism is close to fascism, Try really hard to figure that out. You might actually learn something,

And what the hell is your obscure reference to "Rupert" and Koch wanting their country back, and the dopey crack about middle america? You mean "white america", don't you? Code words, code words...

You need to work harder. In your recent post about O'Reilly you spelled "interrogate" wrong. It isn't "interigate". Just being helpful.

Anonymous said...

Helpful, Rhod, or racist?

Anonymous said...

lol

Rhod said...

Nick, I'm 3/5 angry and 2/5 helpful.

Anonymous said...

And 100% cool, my friend.

sig94 said...

I don't ever want to hear from Christine Aguahoohoo or the Black Eyed Peas again. Never heard such senseless screaming since I accidently castrated my sister's cat. And how can you mess up the Star Spangled Banner?!?!

I blame Europe for the Super Bowl serial singing disasters.

You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

As do I, Sig. It all started with George Formby and went downhill from there. (Check youtube)

I know I should have cleared it with you and Rhod before bringing a woman on board, but I figured you guys had evolved enough to accept this cultural upheaval.

Rhod said...

When they gave up bustles it all went to hell.

Rhod said...

Reading GV's notes on the EU reminds mt that strange women lying in ponds distributing swords might be a better basis for govt than what they have now.

Anonymous said...

I've got a round table in my garage. We could play poker too.

sig94 said...

Nickie - Goodnight Vienna is a luverly read doncha know duckie? Though it was a bit a of a shock to find out that Grumpy OT has folded his tent.

As I read through the recent shenanigans and goings on in the EU, I was prompted to get down on my knees and thank the Good Lord above for George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, et al.

Lord spare us the same fate.

sig94 said...

Rhod - believe me, strange women lying about in ponds isn't all it's cracked up to be.

sig94 said...

On the other hand, bring a fishing pole when things quiet down and the fish aren't quite so riled.

Kid said...

Welcome Miss Goodnight. John Steed here. (kidding)

Well, if you want to see some propaganda, how about the Democrat media here comparing the imbecile in the White House to Ronald Reagan..... Brings tears to the eyes and not from crying.

Rhod said...

Sig, if they float, they're witches.