demagogue on 31/3/2017 at 06:50
In a stunning coincidence, the article I'm working on right now is how EU trade rules, well more the ECJ that interprets them, negotiate cultural pluralism. Actually I wrote it ages ago, but for some reason I thought it'd be a good idea to update it & publish as an article now.
Edit: @Kolya, Germans aren't immune! One of the famous cases was Bavaria's cunning plan to ban beer with additives from using the name "beer", well "bier", the so-called beer purity laws. Their literal defense in court was, well Germans drink so much more beer than the rest of Europe so, you know, health. They lost but hard not to respect their attempt.
Kolya on 31/3/2017 at 08:57
I remember that of course. The defense was specifically that German stomachs were used to pure beer and anything else would be a health hazard. Hilarity ensued.
Of course I only drink beer without additives. But that was just a transparent attempt to protect German brewers. It wasn't that Verheugen didn't know better.
Renzatic on 31/3/2017 at 15:56
Kolya, that may be the third greatest gif I've ever seen.
nickie on 31/3/2017 at 18:40
Agree.
I don't know what it is but everything seems wrong at the moment. I voted 'Remain' or whatever the choice was in 1975. And I haven't had reason to change my mind since. I'd love to move to Europe before it's too late but suspect I'd be going alone. I wouldn't blame them but I'm afraid there'll be another Scotland Independence vote which will say yes this time and I'll be stuck with Wales and England. The US is all over the place and I'm alternately shocked and appalled at the sleaze/apparent dodginess of the current Administration. I feel our better bet would have beeen staying with Europe. And that's gone.
I'm afraid of the rise in right-wing thought and activity. And I feel it will get worse. It all feels sodding awful.
Renzatic on 31/3/2017 at 19:20
We're definitely going through another "looks like we have to learn our lessons the hard way" kick at the moment. It's merely time for a new generation to learn that stark isolationist/protectionist policies are destined to fail, as they have the previous umpteen hundred times they've been attempted.
It's a cyclical thing. A reactionary kneejerk that inevitably arises when the world seems a little more scary than usual. We'll weather it, same as always, and eventually swing back towards more centrist positions.
Manwe on 1/4/2017 at 12:08
So any update on that apocalypse then? I don't quite follow the news and would like to make some preparations before it happens. First it was supposed to happen right after the vote, then right after the negotiations, then after they activated article 50, and now employment is at an all-time high? I don't understand, shouldn't there be rampaging in the streets, stores being pillaged, war, death, and famine?
Quote Posted by Renzatic
We're definitely going through another "looks like we have to learn our lessons the hard way" kick at the moment.
I'm pretty sure Greece has learned its lesson the hard way.
Quote Posted by Renzatic
It's merely time for a new generation to learn that stark isolationist/protectionist policies are destined to fail
Ah yes, I wonder how the countries outside of the EU (i.e. every other country in the world) have managed to survive that long with their stark isolationist, protectionist, and let's be honest, fascist policies. It's a miracle when you think about it.
Quote Posted by Renzatic
as they have the previous umpteen hundred times they've been attempted.
You mean like that one time when the Soviet Union never fell apart and survived to this day. And how when it didn't fall apart the world totally descended into utter chaos? Or that one time when Switzerland and Norway refused to join the EU and vanished from the face of the earth?
Quote Posted by Renzatic
It's a cyclical thing. A reactionary kneejerk that inevitably arises when the world seems a little more scary than usual. We'll weather it, same as always
Actually the world looks very inviting and welcoming and we would like to join it. To the world, the US and the EU are the scary ones. You know the ones dropping bombs and killing innocent civilians.
Quote Posted by nickie
I'm afraid of the rise in right-wing thought and activity. And I feel it will get worse. It all feels sodding awful.
So you're afraid of thinking? How very telling... But you should rejoice actually, right-wing "thought and activity" is on its deathbed. The media has zero credibility left, the EU is about to fall apart and the contradictions inherent to the facist antifa movements and the right-wing liberals defending them (the kind we have on this forum) have been laid bare for all to see. Although they are at their most violent, vicious and disingenuous when cornered, as we've seen recently in the US (and on this forum).
Meanwhile, France is about to elect Mélenchon as its next president. A known "Euroskeptic" and evil "right-wing" leftist. And with Asselineau's UPR gaining 1k members a week, six months down the line, when Mélenchon fails to apply his program and reneges on everything he stands for (which isn't much beyond "vote for me"), they'll have reached such critical mass that the media and politicians won't be able to ignore them any more.
Fun times ahead.
caffeinatedzombeh on 1/4/2017 at 14:26
Quote Posted by nickie
I wouldn't blame them but I'm afraid there'll be another Scotland Independence vote which will say yes this time and I'll be stuck with Wales and England.
What makes you think they would vote Yes now?
driver on 1/4/2017 at 15:03
Quote Posted by Manwe
So you're afraid of thinking? How very telling...
Well he's got nothing to fear from you then, has he?
nickie on 1/4/2017 at 15:32
Quote Posted by caffeinatedzombeh
What makes you think they would vote Yes now?
I haven't been following this particularly but 62% voted to Remain which I'm guessing they can only do if they become independent. But maybe they would be content with retaining some kind of EU relationship.
