I´ve won THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE for 2012

[Loggy]

Thats quite ironic I think....

The EU gets awarded the Nobel Peace prize and yet all around the EU there are more and more violent protests about the state of the Union. Democracy is something the EU hasn't even heard of. Vote after vote against some of their Directives are rejected if the vote is NO, and the countries are told to vote and vote again until they get the YES they were looking for. Looking at the news on RT lately at the Police suppresion of the people you would think we are living in a NAZI controlled Reich.

Yes the banks are to blame for most of it, but they are the real power brokers in the first place. Letting more and more Countries into the club that are still living in the stone age doesn't help matters either. Vastly different economys tied to a single currency that they are not suited to and the EU bureaucrats doing everything in their power to stop the failed idea falling apart, just so that they can say they were right.

The sooner we get out of the EU the better as far as I'm concerned!! Funny how the Scottish will be getting a vote whether to stay in the United Kingdom and yet the people don't get a vote on whether we want to be part of the EU or not. Domocracy, I don't think so....

[dave_ac]

Can I go to the fancy award dinner? Or is that ticket taken by someone who will use the event to feather their own nest?

[Barcelona Pat]

Can't argue with a lot of this. Like I said, there will be mixed views over its value and what it has achieved.

For me personally, the EU has enabled me to live and work where I do - along with some 1 million other brits for that matter (not sure of latest figures) who reside in these sunnier climes - the immigration issue is a two way street remember. It is notable that while the Spanish have less resource to plough into Mr & Mrs Retired Brit's health bills than we, it is curious that you rarely hear people here moan about free movement within the EU27. Ah, you may say, that's because they are a net beneficiary - true I would retort, but that is used primarily on capital infrastructure spend, not the ongoing revenue funding required to run an effective health service (which are the sorts of services retired people here use the most). And, of course, the UK does get back a very large chunk of what it puts into the EU - both in terms of its rebate and what is claimed through EU programmes.

Interesting points about democracy - and again I don't necessarily disagree. While our Scottish friends may well be voting about their future in the UK - they won't get the vote on continued EU participation either. I doubt that would happen even if they left the UK, as I would suggest they are more alive to the benefits they will receive through becoming the 28th EU Member State! In reality, I think it would be tricky for Scotland to stand completely alone. No country (not even North Korea) is completely independent these days.

Curiously it is illegal under the Spanish constitution for a Spanish autonomous community (such as Catalonia or the Basque Country) to hold a referendum on independence from the rest of Spain. While we Brits may be a little put out by just not being asked how we should be governed through a referendum, in Spain the opportunity for the people to choose how they are governed is against the law! I stretch the point of course, but it is interesting the different perspectives on democratic systems.

As you'll note from my avitar photo - my glass remains firmly half full (a good Brussels beer, in case you're interested) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Barcelona Pat]

Can I go to the fancy award dinner? Or is that ticket taken by someone who will use the event to feather their own nest?

Dave - don't quote me on this, but I understand that a number of places are indeed available for winners of an EU wide writing competition... a sort of what the EU and the Nobel Prize means to me sort of thing. No doubt the Pres and some Commission reps will also go along - I think the Commission has agreed to manage the distribution of prize monies to those kids in need.

[magicroundabout]

The UK puts a lot more into Europe than it gets back. Figures released recently showed that 25% of all babies born in the NHS were to mothers not born in the uk think how much better the service we paid for would be with 25% less customers. I cannot go and work in Europe as I was never tought to speak a foreign language when at school, unlike the millions who have come here. Our democratic system resembles that of the worst days of Russia people in charge who were never voted for making laws that they seem to know nothing about but doing very well for themselves, still as long as you are all right

[Barcelona Pat]

The UK puts a lot more into Europe than it gets back. Figures released recently showed that 25% of all babies born in the NHS were to mothers not born in the uk think how much better the service we paid for would be with 25% less customers. I cannot go and work in Europe as I was never tought to speak a foreign language when at school, unlike the millions who have come here. Our democratic system resembles that of the worst days of Russia people in charge who were never voted for making laws that they seem to know nothing about but doing very well for themselves, still as long as you are all right

Cheers fella - nice to know people are thinking of me

I never learnt another language in school either - that shouldn't clip anyone's wings. And, you may not be surprised to learn given my name, my family were immigrants from Ireland. A man once said, we are all immigrants it is just a question of which century! Not sure geo-political borders have much meaning in that context - but I digress... sorry.

[Shotgun]

I cannot go and work in Europe as I was never tought to speak a foreign language when at school, unlike the millions who have come here.

Well you can actually. There are many ways to learn another language if you want. Night classes, personal tuition, CDs, DVDs and so on. Its your choice, there if you want it. Many of those who came here struggled to learn a bit of the language, with less schooling than you or I got.

Many of those who came here did so because this country asked them to or because we invaded their country. Don't forget the 2.5 million Indians who were involved in WW2 for example, or the Caribbeans who were asked to work in hospitals etc. If it were not for foreign doctors, the NHS would collapse.

Just a thought.

[magicroundabout]

I never asked anyone to come here and if the Indians had not fought in WW2 (it was a world war after all) then Hitler or the Japenise would have got to them eventuly. The UK has not invaded anywhere for centurys so why do we feel the need to welcome everyone in , the world has changed how long will this excuse be used. If the NHS needed more people then it was up to the powers that be to train the indiginous population to do the jobs, if we are taking health care workers away from other countries does that not leave them short so moving the problem somewhere else.

[Shotgun]

I never asked anyone to come here


Doesnt matter whether you asked or not, or me.We needed them and they got stuck in


and if the Indians had not fought in WW2 (it was a world war after all) then Hitler or the Japenise would have got to them eventuly.

Eh?

The UK has not invaded anywhere for centurys

What about the British Empire? Scores of countries round the world were invaded by Britain. I'm amazed you dont know that. More recently we invaded Iraq. Catch up!


so why do we feel the need to welcome everyone in , the world has changed how long will this excuse be used. If the NHS needed more people then it was up to the powers that be to train the indiginous population to do the jobs,


But they didnt. And you wouldnt get treatment but for them helping out. if we are taking health care workers away from other countries does that not leave them short

Yes it does

so moving the problem somewhere else.

So you want to get rid of the Irish too - there are many people here who will object to that and quite right too. Shame on you.

[magicroundabout]

We didn't invade Iraq it was the UN , The British Empire, when was the last time anywhere was invaded for that.