People from the UK, tell me what you think of the EU, what are it's benefits and disadvantages?

Question

When you answer say whether you are from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Answer 1

I come from England.

My views of the EU are conflicted. When I was very young my father took me travelling in Europe and I can still remember the skylines of ruined cities, and visiting a small concentration camp, etc., and so I have a very deep emotional attachment to the fact that Europe no longer tears itself apart with civil wars (the recent frightfulness in Yugoslavia excepted).

On the other hand, I can't help observing that the original vision has long since disappeared, to be replaced by a bureaucracy that isn't accountable to anyone, that maybe does some good but its failings are much more noticeable, and that seems to be absorbed largely by controlling the terms of trade.

I also feel ashamed of the way that some of our politicians (Thatcher especially) went out of their way to offend the rest of the community, so that they must regard us as unreliable - even before Blair chose to ignore them over Iraq.

Answer 2

From London, The EU is just a way for politicians to get themselves a second paycheck. They like to say a lot about human rights and the like for a few votes, instead of dealing with problems that we can stop now, but won't be in the public mind until they've moved to a different job.

Answer 3

Im from England.York to be precise. I think it help with trade an gives strength to th smaller country's in the world.

Answer 4

EU is good only for trade but bad for peace and order. I am from Asia.