One again Skybird, you pleasantly surprise me with your insight and the ability to write long coherent sentences about your understanding of things around you. For that I salute you.
Yet, I cannot seem to fathom why you consider the EU be a killer of democracy (let's leave Lisbone and Ganley)? Considering that right now, the European Parliament is fighting for even more power which would make a more stable and democratic EU, for what is more democratic than direct elections? A consider you a very bright person, a level of intellect I hope to one day achieve, yet am I blinded by everything I have read on the subject of democracy in the EU or is it you who doesn't want to let go of the old idea that it is the national state that must always be in control, known as Gaullisme.
Now we come to what I wanted to ask you. Do you honestly and in your insightful opinion think that EU diplomacy would be stronger if every state acted on it's own? Here we come to the question of the loosing of power of European states in general as far as diplomacy (and many, many other things) goes. So, what is better? Leave everyone be on his own, let once more bitter rivalries come forth, if even on the international level, or at least try and stand together and try to hold the breach, even if it is for the last time?
In all honesty, I am for a changed Europe. Yet a new Europe. Not the Europe of national states nor of the supranational/intergovernmental system that is now the EU. Knowing you used to be in psychology, can you answer me this. If every single European has food, housing, clothes and basic services which open up the horizon for him, is the question of someone in Brussels pulling some strings really that important? It's the same on the national level and lobbying, the only difference is, we the public don't have access to certain information on the EU, that would make us feel safer about the EU. I agree it's a difficult subject, yet you could claim that before 1992 it was even less democratic. Once again, is the elected EU Parliament any less democratic than the national one?
One final question, do you believe that European states would be better of with the system that the UK publicised in the form of EFTA?
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As far as the Russia/Ukraine dispute goes. Once more we can see flexing of muscles from both sides and most of you posters have already said most what has to be set. An interesting article on the BBC said that there are many sides to this "economic" dispute. Russia wants it's sphere of influence, yes? Yet she has Ukraine, a former USSR state wanting to join the EU and NATO. Right now, it's only strategic importance is as a natural gas hub. What happens if you remove this importance with new pipelines? If we are to believe Skybird on the subject on EU diplomacy (and here I'm afraid he is right), the EU will just look the other way as Russia slowly brings Ukraine back under it's control, one way or another.
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