The EU In or Out?
About a week ago I met someone, who I suppose could best be described as a small businessman, who made me stop and think; at one point the conversation turned to the EU, and this man made the statement that he thought that Britain would be better out of the EU altogether. For several reasons I find it quite astounding that someone in his position could even begin to think in this way; his reasons are that the EU 'rules and regulations' make it that much harder for him to run his business, when in fact the particular problems he was moaning about do not stem from EU 'rules and regulations' at all in that the legislation his making life difficult for him is purely home grown legislation. How can any intelligent person think that by pulling Britain out of the EU will make the 'rules and regulations' go away; whether within or without any business wishing to trade in Europe will still have to abide by them, either that or they will have to find new trading partners.
For a very long time I also thought that the whole Europe thing was a complete waste of time, and I am still not totally convinced by it; however, I am enough of a pragmatist to realise that it is better to inside fighting and making a contribution to the said 'rules and regulations' rather than to be sitting outside looking in and having absolutely no influence whatsoever in the decision making that would affect me. As I say, I am still not totally convinced that the EU is a good thing, but I do think that it is very much the lesser of the available evils, as to be outside of it would mean a degree of ostracisation from Europe driving us towards closer ties with the U.S. and all that this would entail, and that thought scares the hell out of me.
For a very long time I also thought that the whole Europe thing was a complete waste of time, and I am still not totally convinced by it; however, I am enough of a pragmatist to realise that it is better to inside fighting and making a contribution to the said 'rules and regulations' rather than to be sitting outside looking in and having absolutely no influence whatsoever in the decision making that would affect me. As I say, I am still not totally convinced that the EU is a good thing, but I do think that it is very much the lesser of the available evils, as to be outside of it would mean a degree of ostracisation from Europe driving us towards closer ties with the U.S. and all that this would entail, and that thought scares the hell out of me.
posted by BondBloke at 11:26 am
2 Comments:
Go for the Norway/Switzerland type options: EEA or EFTA.
The difference is that we are bankrolling the show, but not actually using the leverage that this gives us: even before we consider the appalling trajectory upon which the EU sails, its current set up is sufficiently ghastly to merit leaving now.
the EU should only be a free trade area no more. Everything that is does more than this is superfluous and wrong.
To take up the substantive point of your small businessman, leaving the EU would also remove the cover our homegrown bureaucrats have to enact appalling legislation. It might focus the mind on the Westminster machinery a little more...
PG
How can any intelligent person think that by pulling Britain out of the EU will make the 'rules and regulations' go away; whether within or without any business wishing to trade in Europe will still have to abide by them, either that or they will have to find new trading partners.
If you trade with Japan, you have to abide by their rules, with the US likewise and with the EU it is the same.
So What.
The vast majority of all business transactions that involve British Businesses have absolutely nothing to do with the EU. First the majority of business is domestic and secondly the EU accounts for a minority of our foriegn trade (I am not arguing that they are not important her).
Under the current arangement all of these transaction are subject to stupid European regulations.
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