At 6 January 2003, 06:37 PM, kilopascal wrote:
You did not read the article very carefully. The author did NOT prophesy the doom of the Euro, he merely discussed some scenarios where it MIGHT fail. If you believe that there are no such scenarios, then you have entered the realm of faith and I would presume you pray each night for the ascendency of the United States of Europe.Realistic, my foot! This is nothing more then sour grapes. This type of dribble has been in and out of print since it was announced the EU was going to create a common currency. All of the "experts" kept and still keep prophesying its doom. They want the euro to fail and they keep spouting failure so much they actually believe it is going to happen.
IF the countries of the European union are willing to give up their sovereignty, to a degree somewhat similar to what the 13 original colonies did when they formed the USA, then there is no reason that the "United States of Europe" could not become a single, large economic unit.Well, isn't that what we do in the US. We have a common currency and a "one size fits all" policy, even if some states or regions are poorer then others. Why don't we dispose of the dollar and have each state have their own currency and economic policy? Because their is greater strength and power in having a single powerful currency and economy. The US knows it and so does the EU.
However, that's a helluva big "if."
Victor Frankl (a German Jew who suffered through a concentration camp in WWII) in an appendix to his moving book "Man's Search for Meaning," talks about "dereflection," where a person mirrors his own beliefs in those around him.The author of the article is British. Obviously this persons is one of those who ashamed of the fact that Britain is no longer a world power and can't stand the fact that EU will be what Britain once was.
Your assertions about the editorialist (Gwynne Dyer) are a clear example of "dereflection."
The "US" fears a strong United Europe? I didn't know that non-physical things could feel fear, John! Do you include yourself in that? Or is this just more broad-brush stereotyping?Who really fears a strong United Europe? My guess would be the US who doesn't want an equal on the world scene and the British who see a united Europe as the last nail in the coffin of what was once the British Empire.
People with a reasonable (read "non-marxist" or "non-keynesian") understanding of trade and economics do not fear a strong trading partner. That's as stupid as fearing that your neighborhood grocer is financially strong and well run. A strong European state would benefit all mankind. In particular, it will tremendously help the USA balance its trade deficit.
Sadly, should a unified European state come about, history tells us that in all likelihood the citizens of Europe will see their individual rights eroded. But, that's a different issue.
I just wonder what these people are going to do when their dire predictions don't come true.
Probably the same thing you will do if their predictions do come true.
Jim Elwell, CAMS Electrical Engineer Industrial manufacturing manager Salt Lake City, Utah, USA www.qsicorp.com
