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British Politics - We voted for Change and we got Cameron :(

13468951

Posts

  • bongibongi regular
    edited March 2010
    I would love for the UK to be more tightly integrated with the EU, if only because then we can set about trying to reform it to be less bureaucratic.

    I love the idea of the EU; I think that a close-knit Europe is a fantastic idea, but I do think its current implementation leaves a lot to be desired

    bongi on
  • HunterHunter Chemist with a heart of Au Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Would you have to be nice to the French though? I would think that would be a deal breaker.

    Hunter on
  • Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I just want us to join the damn Euro. The current exchange rate really hammers home that not joining at an exchange of 1.5 was a terrible, terrible mistake.

    That said, I should most likely stop becoming so disheartened about the next general elections, as fingers crossed I'll be escaping to the continent and never coming back.

    Mojo_Jojo on
    Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
  • QuirkQuirk Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    bongi wrote: »
    I would love for the UK to be more tightly integrated with the EU, if only because then we can set about trying to reform it to be less bureaucratic.

    I love the idea of the EU; I think that a close-knit Europe is a fantastic idea, but I do think its current implementation leaves a lot to be desired

    Oh god bongi, yer a man after my own heart. The EU could be so SO much better, and do more good than it already does, but some reforms are DEFINITELY needed.

    While I do worry about certain aspects of a loss of sovereignty to Europe, I think the upshot in terms of trade and cultural benefits would be more than worth it

    Quirk on
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Quirk wrote: »
    bongi wrote: »
    I would love for the UK to be more tightly integrated with the EU, if only because then we can set about trying to reform it to be less bureaucratic.

    I love the idea of the EU; I think that a close-knit Europe is a fantastic idea, but I do think its current implementation leaves a lot to be desired

    Oh god bongi, yer a man after my own heart. The EU could be so SO much better, and do more good than it already does, but some reforms are DEFINITELY needed.

    While I do worry about certain aspects of a loss of sovereignty to Europe, I think the upshot in terms of trade and cultural benefits would be more than worth it

    Yeah, I agree. I think the Brits could bring a lot to the table but right now it's kind of one foot in, one foot out and the UK delegation in the Parliament is riddled with idiots like Farrage and Griffin.

    Saint Madness on
  • QuirkQuirk Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Quirk wrote: »
    bongi wrote: »
    I would love for the UK to be more tightly integrated with the EU, if only because then we can set about trying to reform it to be less bureaucratic.

    I love the idea of the EU; I think that a close-knit Europe is a fantastic idea, but I do think its current implementation leaves a lot to be desired

    Oh god bongi, yer a man after my own heart. The EU could be so SO much better, and do more good than it already does, but some reforms are DEFINITELY needed.

    While I do worry about certain aspects of a loss of sovereignty to Europe, I think the upshot in terms of trade and cultural benefits would be more than worth it

    Yeah, I agree. I think the Brits could bring a lot to the table but right now it's kind of one foot in, one foot out and the UK delegation in the Parliament is riddled with idiots like Farrage and Griffin.

    It's getting people to vote is the problem. People like that only tend to get in because they realise most people aren't voting and actually manage to get their support base to the polls. It's fucking disappointing as hell

    Quirk on
  • EdcrabEdcrab Actually a hack Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I honestly don't think our failure to join the Euro is such a big deal, whether we do or don't

    Bridging the gap between the dollar and the Euro has some potential advantages (not that we're yet to see any of them) whereas the inflation of a single currency laid across nations with different economic needs could end up being a bit of a shitstorm

    Edcrab on
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  • QuirkQuirk Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Yeah, while I'm all up for better and deeper integration with Europe, I'm not exactly sold on the Euro

    Quirk on
  • bongibongi regular
    edited March 2010
    I quite want the Euro just because of the exciting novelty of it all

    Though I do really like British coinage. Pound coins are such a satisfying weight and size.

    bongi on
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Well hopefully after the Greece debacle the Euro will have it's problems addressed.

    Saint Madness on
  • GumpyGumpy There is always a greater powerRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I'm not a fan of the idea of the EU as a European super government, seeing as we can't even seem to successfully sort out the one we currently have. The entire thing seems pretty impregnable, and I can't see any realistic chance of it being changed via pressure from the outside.

    Gumpy on
  • EdcrabEdcrab Actually a hack Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    An additional layer of bureaucracy doesn't exactly appeal, that's true

    Mostly it’d be nice if they changed their image and quit worrying about things like the size and shape of fruits and vegetables, because it detracts from it detracts from their more sensible edicts and makes the EU look a pointless mass of invasive pedants

    And we’ve got enough of them in power via regular democratic means as it is

    Edcrab on
    cBY55.gifbmJsl.png
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Gumpy wrote: »
    I'm not a fan of the idea of the EU as a European super government, seeing as we can't even seem to successfully sort out the one we currently have. The entire thing seems pretty impregnable, and I can't see any realistic chance of it being changed via pressure from the outside.

    The public elect the two most powerful bodies in the EU, The Council and the Parliament. Also, the Commission is bringing in a "Citizen's Initiative" thing, though I'm not sure how it's going to work. The EU isn't impregnable, it just seems that way because most people don't really understand how it works.

    Saint Madness on
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Edcrab wrote: »
    An additional layer of bureaucracy doesn't exactly appeal, that's true

    Mostly it’d be nice if they changed their image and quit worrying about things like the size and shape of fruits and vegetables, because it detracts from it detracts from their more sensible edicts and makes the EU look a pointless mass of invasive pedants

    And we’ve got enough of them in power via regular democratic means as it is

    Parliament eventually managed to kill that particular bit of idiocy a week or two ago.

    Saint Madness on
  • GumpyGumpy There is always a greater powerRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Gumpy wrote: »
    I'm not a fan of the idea of the EU as a European super government, seeing as we can't even seem to successfully sort out the one we currently have. The entire thing seems pretty impregnable, and I can't see any realistic chance of it being changed via pressure from the outside.

    The public elect the two most powerful bodies in the EU, The Council and the Parliament. Also, the Commission is bringing in a "Citizen's Initiative" thing, though I'm not sure how it's going to work. The EU isn't impregnable, it just seems that way because most people don't really understand how it works.

    It seems to me that confusion over the whole thing is not something the EU itself is trying to combat, there is a lack of focus on it proportional to the power it currently has. I don't even think the average man on the street even knows who the current EU president is, It all feels a bit underhand.

    Gumpy on
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Gumpy wrote: »
    Gumpy wrote: »
    I'm not a fan of the idea of the EU as a European super government, seeing as we can't even seem to successfully sort out the one we currently have. The entire thing seems pretty impregnable, and I can't see any realistic chance of it being changed via pressure from the outside.

    The public elect the two most powerful bodies in the EU, The Council and the Parliament. Also, the Commission is bringing in a "Citizen's Initiative" thing, though I'm not sure how it's going to work. The EU isn't impregnable, it just seems that way because most people don't really understand how it works.

    It seems to me that confusion over the whole thing is not something the EU itself is trying to combat, there is a lack of focus on it proportional to the power it currently has. I don't even think the average man on the street even knows who the current EU president is, It all feels a bit underhand.

    There's billboards all over Dublin advertising TalkToEU and our papers cover EU matters pretty regularly. The British media always seem to pay more attention to what's going on in Washington than what's going on in Brussels and when the EU actually does appear it's almost always in a negative context. I think the Mail was harping on about how an EU recycling initiative was going to make batteries more expensive last I checked.

    Saint Madness on
  • LanglyLangly Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    There was a pretty good report on NPR the other day about the Greece euro problem, and how having a unified currency was both a help and a burden on countries. Greece, for instance, can't control how much money to print, and they can't artificially devalue or inflate the money to stimulate the economy.

    Then they were like "Is there an example of separate countries using one currency and having it work well?"

    And the answer was "Oh yeah, America did that" The problem is that America also developed a strong federal government, while the EU is still basically just an agreement between very separate countries.

    Langly on
  • Saint MadnessSaint Madness Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Langly wrote: »
    There was a pretty good report on NPR the other day about the Greece euro problem, and how having a unified currency was both a help and a burden on countries. Greece, for instance, can't control how much money to print, and they can't artificially devalue or inflate the money to stimulate the economy.

    Then they were like "Is there an example of separate countries using one currency and having it work well?"

    And the answer was "Oh yeah, America did that" The problem is that America also developed a strong federal government, while the EU is still basically just an agreement between very separate countries.

    The Economist's European blogger did a good piece about a month ago: A reminder for the EU: America did not create federalism to back the dollar.

    I'll be the first to admit I know next to nothing about economics but the line that's been thrown around is that southern european countries can't devalue their way out of trouble this time, they have to actually put their houses in order. So in that respect the Euro has been good for them.

    Saint Madness on
  • HarrierHarrier The Star Spangled Man Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I guess as an American I'm not fully able to understand the appeal of the European Union. A monetary union, with a common currency, I can understand. But a pan-continental government? How do you square that with the fact that the union is one of, not states or provinces, but sovereign nations each with their own priorities?

    Harrier on
    I don't wanna kill anybody. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from.
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2010
    Harrier wrote: »
    I guess as an American I'm not fully able to understand the appeal of the European Union. A monetary union, with a common currency, I can understand. But a pan-continental government? How do you square that with the fact that the union is one of, not states or provinces, but sovereign nations each with their own priorities?

    It didn't work out too badly for the United Kingdom.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • AshcroftAshcroft LOL The PayloadRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I would like to invite the EU to join Sterling. It's clearly the world's best currency. For a start, it has pictures of The Queen on it.

    Ashcroft on
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  • NuzakNuzak Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    i kinda like the pattern on our coins at the minute

    you know, how the pennies make up part of the sheild and the pound has the entire picture on it, it's cool

    problem with the euro is that one side gotta be taken up with the picture of europe and shit

    Nuzak on
  • LiiyaLiiya Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    389px-New_British_Coinage_2008.jpg

    I love making those!


    edit: Great minds think alike Nuzak :D

    Liiya on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2010
    I hate that design, it is terrible.

    It is also a huge Fuck You to the design industry as I recall.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • IpseDixitIpseDixit Treat me like a pirate And give me that bootyRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    This seemed as good a place as any to put this

    http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/132331/ricky-martin-i-am-a-fortunate-homosexual-man/

    TLDR: Ricky Martin is totally fabulous!

    IpseDixit on
    ipsesignew.jpg
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  • Muse Among MenMuse Among Men Suburban Bunny Princess? Its time for a new shtick Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Doesn't surprise me. Good for him.

    Muse Among Men on
  • GumpyGumpy There is always a greater powerRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Harrier wrote: »
    I guess as an American I'm not fully able to understand the appeal of the European Union. A monetary union, with a common currency, I can understand. But a pan-continental government? How do you square that with the fact that the union is one of, not states or provinces, but sovereign nations each with their own priorities?

    It didn't work out too badly for the United Kingdom.

    It hasn't exactly gone swell for it either D:

    Gumpy on
  • HarrierHarrier The Star Spangled Man Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I mean, to use one particular example, let's take the Falklands War back in 1982. If the EU had been around back then, would they have had a say in Britain's decision to send military forces against Argentina?

    Harrier on
    I don't wanna kill anybody. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from.
  • QuirkQuirk Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Harrier wrote: »
    I mean, to use one particular example, let's take the Falklands War back in 1982. If the EU had been around back then, would they have had a say in Britain's decision to send military forces against Argentina?

    Well they didn't like us sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan and we did that anyway

    Quirk on
  • BroloBrolo Broseidon Lord of the BroceanRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
  • QuirkQuirk Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    That's excellent Rolo, and massively accurate. The mail really really is utter trash, and silly goosery of the highest order.

    One of my flatmates in my first year in uni used to buy it, and reading it became a sort of morbid obsession

    Quirk on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2010
    Gumpy wrote: »
    Harrier wrote: »
    I guess as an American I'm not fully able to understand the appeal of the European Union. A monetary union, with a common currency, I can understand. But a pan-continental government? How do you square that with the fact that the union is one of, not states or provinces, but sovereign nations each with their own priorities?

    It didn't work out too badly for the United Kingdom.

    It hasn't exactly gone swell for it either D:

    Really? The unification of the constituent countries of Britain under a centralised government lead to one of the farthest reaching empires on Earth. We still massively benefit politically, economically and culturally from that to this day even although the greater empire has been on the wane since the American war for independance. As individuals and a country we enjoy priviledges utterly disproportionate to our relative actual size. Indeed, even although the larger empire shrank a long time ago, we've only really seen our political and economic stature decline since post-WWII.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • LanglyLangly Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I think he meant that being in the EU hasn't gone too swell for the British.

    Maybe? Because it doesn't make much sense to actually mean the United Kingdom.

    Edit: Because it's not really the same thing, anyway. Scotland, Ireland, and Wales all used to be countries, but it's not like they function like that anymore. The United Kingdom is basically like the United States in that regard. I mean, technically each state in the US is an independent body, and each one is just tied loosely together by the federal government. But that's not the reality of the situation at all.

    The UK is the same way. They're not different sovereign countries loosely bound, they're one country, now.

    Langly on
  • AshcroftAshcroft LOL The PayloadRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I prefered it before the EU. When Europe was the bloodiest place on Earth, when war was an almost constant and real threat. The good old days.

    Ashcroft on
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  • SharpyVIISharpyVII Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tories-lib-dems-back-tax-breaks

    All three main parties agree on something! To give tax breaks to Games Developers.

    Also I missed the debate last night, who came out looking slightly better than the others?

    SharpyVII on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2010
    Langly wrote: »
    I think he meant that being in the EU hasn't gone too swell for the British.

    Maybe? Because it doesn't make much sense to actually mean the United Kingdom.

    Edit: Because it's not really the same thing, anyway. Scotland, Ireland, and Wales all used to be countries, but it's not like they function like that anymore. The United Kingdom is basically like the United States in that regard. I mean, technically each state in the US is an independent body, and each one is just tied loosely together by the federal government. But that's not the reality of the situation at all.

    The UK is the same way. They're not different sovereign countries loosely bound, they're one country, now.

    Not really, they are all constituent countries still with their own government and legal system. I can't speak for the US but that's the reality of the situation in the UK and it really actually does work that way. It might not be as apparent in England but the differences have a real effect on the daily lives of people in Scotland. It's not just cosmetic.

    Sharpy - according to an after-show audience poll, the lib dem guy was voted most popular.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • HunterHunter Chemist with a heart of Au Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    So when you British people vote, do you all show up at the House of Lords in your fanciest outfits wearing powdered wigs to cast your lot or is there still some type of jousting event still held in which the winner attempts to remove a sword from a stone?

    Hunter on
  • Bad-BeatBad-Beat Registered User regular
    edited March 2010
    No.

    Bad-Beat on
  • AshcroftAshcroft LOL The PayloadRegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    Hunter wrote: »
    So when you British people vote, do you all show up at the House of Lords in your fanciest outfits wearing powdered wigs to cast your lot or is there still some type of jousting event still held in which the winner attempts to remove a sword from a stone?

    I go to a primary school.

    Ashcroft on
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  • BeastehBeasteh THAT WOULD NOT KILL DRACULARegistered User regular
    edited March 2010
    I go to a horse box in a field

    there are rich tea biscuits, and tea in paper cups

    that is literally how we vote in the westcountry

    Beasteh on
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