Why do european countries compare themselves to the US as the EU?

[Xanikk999]

I dont feel threatened by the EU. Mainly because theres nothing to be threatened about.

And china and india arent really going to invade anyone. India and china already have more people then they can effectively manage.

 

[storealex]

I dont feel threatened by the EU. Mainly because theres nothing to be threatened about.

True, for several reasons.

1. EU is not an enemy of US, and probably never will be.
2. EU is only an Economic superpower. Politically divided, and with small defense budgets.

 

[Rossiya]

I dont feel threatened by the EU. Mainly because theres nothing to be threatened about.

Why then, did you make this thread?

 

[Shadylookin]

they're just jealous of our coolness so they have to add up all their economies to beat us

 

[warpus]

I dont think they should UNTIL all of these happen.

1. They are under one government wether its federal or not and the main governments of each individual country is dissolved. A confederacy is not one government. And the EU is not a Federation.

2. They have ONE economy.

3. They have common federal laws that do not differ from country to country.

4. They are taxed as one country.

Otherwise its not a fair comparison.

Life isn't a competition. Get over it.

 

[Rossiya]

Life isn't a competition. Get over it.

Quoted for truth.

 

[REDY]

I dont understand, what is problem? We may comparise all - ASEAN againist EU, NAFTA againist France, CIS againist Kenya...whats wrong?

 

[MamboJoel]

Wow, how could it be more confused in somebody's mind. Comparing Federations, to Confederations, to Nations, Unions, Republics or Constitutional Monarchies...
EU members are Nations, in your country they are States. Some EU members are Republics, some are Federations, some are Consitutional Monarchies. I don't see a point in debating what is to be compared to what since all are different. See, good news : life is full of diversity ; it seems that, in your mind, you want to compare one thing to a thing that has the exact same properties. It's useless.
It's like comparing poker to black jack, to bridge, to chess, to cricket, to rugby, to soccer...

 

[Winner]

Yes. And as I told you, we don't want to be ruled by them

Who's we?

It is rather funny fact, that even the nationalist co-operate trans-nationally in the current Europe. Of course, their goal is to destroy the EU and restore that old world of European power politics, but in the process, they in fact prove that trans-national cooperation is necessary.

This means that progressive Europeans have to cooperate as well, and they have to cooperate trans-nationally. National parties no longer represent the will of pro-European people, because essentially, they are still just that - national parties which follow their own interests.

We need trans-national, truly Europe-wide political parties. This would take power from the hands of bureaucrats and national elites and give it to the people. It would in fact create a European nation.

 

[Winner]

they're just jealous of our coolness so they have to add up all their economies to beat us

Well, I know you mean it jokingly, but it is true.

Countries like France, Germany or Britain were dominant powers in the world of 19th century, but nowadays? Even if they tried very hard, they simply lack the size of the US, China, India, Brazil, even Indonesia or Nigeria.

The logical choice is to gang up and cooperate. Of course they don't like it at first, but it's the only rational option they have.

Small European countries know that for a long time, it's the bigger players who have to appreciate it.

 

[theimmortal1]

Right now the EU means squat. Its just a socialist pipe dream. It has very minimal power. If they want to compare the EU to America..well then lets do NAFTA to the EU. Whats fair is fair...

All the EU is is a glorified NAFTA.

 

[sonorakitch]

Don't worry, you're American and feel threatened by the up-and-coming force.

Hmmm...if you mean up and coming in terms of new additions to the EU, then yes I agree.

Otherwise.....

~Chris

 

[SeleucusNicator]

A unified European state will be reality within our lifetimes. I'd be willing to put a significant amount of money on that.

At this point, I don't think its purely structural incentives driving the EU train anymore. That may have been the case during the Cold War or during the 90's, But now, I think that you have a new national identity emerging on the European continent -- a European Identity -- and that identity is, like all national identities, seeking its own state.

Slowly, like a prion, the European identity will infect mind after mind, and the opposition will begin to drop away. Countries will give up more and more sovereignty to Brussels, and the United States will have a peer competitor on its hands.

I'm not convinced that this process can be blocked at this point. We need to start preparing for a European superstate now.

 

[Winner]

Right now the EU means squat. Its just a socialist pipe dream. It has very minimal power. If they want to compare the EU to America..well then lets do NAFTA to the EU. Whats fair is fair...

All the EU is is a glorified NAFTA.

That's so untrue. NAFTA never stepped beyond the first phase of integration - it is merely a free trade bloc, nothing more.

EU is now in fact a confederation and Brussels, though in many ways still weak, has a lot of power over certain issues. European countries integrated their economy and continue to integrate judiciary, security, defense, healthcare, education and other spheres of activities.

What we're seeing now is a process of unification the World has never witnessed before. It doesn't have to be glorified, it is glorious enough as it is.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Right now the EU means squat. Its just a socialist pipe dream. It has very minimal power. If they want to compare the EU to America..well then lets do NAFTA to the EU. Whats fair is fair...

All the EU is is a glorified NAFTA.

Unlike NAFTA, the EU has its own currency, and also unlike NAFTA, the EU nations coordinate with each other on far more than just trade. There are all sorts of social policy requirements, written and unwritten, that EU states have to follow.

The EU is far more than just an economic partnership. It does things that are unnecessary and, in some cases, even suboptimal for a mere economic partnership. Things that can only be explained if the EU is in fact a national unification movement.

 

[Winner]

A unified European state will be reality within our lifetimes. I'd be willing to put a significant amount of money on that.

At this point, I don't think its purely structural incentives driving the EU train anymore. That may have been the case during the Cold War or during the 90's, But now, I think that you have a new national identity emerging on the European continent -- a European Identity -- and that identity is, like all national identities, seeking its own state.

Slowly, like a prion, the European identity will infect mind after mind, and the opposition will begin to drop away. Countries will give up more and more sovereignty to Brussels, and the United States will have a peer competitor on its hands.

I'm not convinced that this process can be blocked at this point. We need to start preparing for a European superstate now.

You say that like it was something bad for America.

Inevitably, at some point, the US will have to come to terms with the fact, that even America can't stay on its own. Europe and America and natural allies, despite everything bad what happened between them.

 

[sonorakitch]

Europe and America and natural allies, despite everything bad what happened between them.

Like what? Apart from little speed bumps from time to time, nothing has drawn Europe and America apart. Those who think the recent events have split the US and Europe aren't old enough to remember this happens every 20 years or so and the healing process brings a deeper relationship.

~Chris

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Like what? Apart from little speed bumps from time to time, nothing has drawn Europe and America apart. Those who think the recent events have split the US and Europe aren't old enough to remember this happens every 20 years or so and the healing process brings a deeper relationship.

~Chris

In the past, when the US and Europe split, there was a large red country east of Europe that made everyone realize that they were better off putting their disagreements aside and sticking together.

That's no longer there. There is no further reason for the EU and the USA to cooperate, except perhaps on issues where it is in the interest of all states to cooperate (such as dealing with pirates, who are enemies of all nations).

 

[Ingvina Freyr]

In the past, when the US and Europe split, there was a large red country east of Europe that made everyone realize that they were better off putting their disagreements aside and sticking together.

That's no longer there. There is no further reason for the EU and the USA to cooperate, except perhaps on issues where it is in the interest of all states to cooperate (such as dealing with pirates, who are enemies of all nations).

Oh, it's still there and it's still large but perhaps a little more brown than red these days.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Oh, it's still there and it's still large but perhaps a little more brown than red these days.

It's no longer a credible threat to anyone.