Great Britain is not an Island

[JR-]

1. With Ireland subsidising market share by grossly undercutting British and European corporate tax rates, courtesy of and funded by the EU)

2. This system relies on an internal market. Without it, the US companies would have to divide their UK investments over all their different European markets. There would be no point in centrally conducting all European business from the UK if there was no unhampered flow of goods and capital in a common market. These unhampered flows rely on legal harmonisation, and would be greatly served further by a common currency.

3. This is why there is so little desire amongst British political and financial elites to leave this system. They see no reason for the UK to voluntarily give up this gift from God, this central position in world trade, simply for tabloid outrage over mythical banana shape regulation, or for blathering buffoons who insist that it is 1933 and the EU nazi-Germany reincarnated.

4. London is to the Atlantic what Hong Kong is to Asia. Even the Chinese commie autocrats were not stupid enough to slaughter this goose with the golden eggs. After regaining sovereignity over Hong Kong, they took painstaking care not to interfere with its workings and position. Very unlike the UK, where the ill-adviced anti-EU sentiment forever demands Westminster pulls out from underneath Britain the very foundation on which the UK economy is build.

5. When the Empire was gone, Britain was bankrupt. It had lost its function as global centre. A poor, obsolete country, that is what Britain was before it joined. It is the EU that has given Britain a new chance at the position of pivot in global trade. De Gaulle understood this when he wanted the Britain to stay out - why give the British another shot? And, why bring in this Trojan Horse of Anglosaxon ultra-capitalism?

6. One of the great ironies of the EU is that precisely its engine, France-Germany, has the least to gain from it economically. France is in it for maintaining its position as great power, or, more positively, to fulfill its vocation of spreading democracy across the continent (or shaping Europe in her own image, for you cynics). Germany is in it for its history, to find its place within Europe at last. The UK is in it for the money. Conflicting interests - as it should be, because the interaction between conflict and competition on the one hand, and cooperation and exchange of ideas on the other, is what historically has been the strength of Europe.

7. But, just why the popular image of the EU within the UK should be that the EU is but an elaborate scheme to release Britain of its wealth is beyond me. To use Napoleon's characterisation: a nation of shopkeepers, that's what it is. Can't see beyond the pennies in front of them.
A measly few hundred million pounds to pay for EU services, to maintain stability and democracy, and to development the market by stimulating periphral regions. That's all the EU costs Britain. In exchange, it finds itself at a phenomenally great position to amass fabulous wealth.

1. Ireland has boosted its economic growth by creating and presiding over a low taxation economy, that is their a choice and a sensible one at that, and it is certainly not funded by EU grants.

2. Yes Britian certainly benefits from sitting between europe and america, and as long as we are within the common market that will remain so. That does not mean we have to become part of a federal europe or adopt the euro.

3. You make it sound as is I and the rest of the EUroskeptic crowd want Britain to totally withdraw from europe which is not the case, give me the common market and that will suffice.

4. Why will 'ill advised' anti-EU sentiment destroy the British economy? That would only happen if the EU kicked us out of the common market if we elected to remove ourselves from the EU. If that were to happen then i would still rather be out, because the EU would be exactly the Nazi-Germany reincarnated that you refute (as do I).

5. No, absolutely wrong, Britain was bankrupt because we had mortaged the entire empire to fight two world wars at a time when the empire was no longer a profit making venture. The EU did not give us our wealth back, what a ridiculous statement, it engaged in a free trade union and we traded. Free trade is not some benevolent gift, it is the natural state of affairs.

6. The EU was invented by france to ensure that germany never invaded again, germany being a little embarrassed by recent history complied, and their poor trampled neighbours thinking that this was a jolly good idea were happy to join the party too. Not a problem Britain has, so yes we are in it for the money, and if our continental trading partners decide not to slaughter each other every half century thereby destroying the markets that help make Britain rich then all the better.

7. We do not object to the EU because we believe 'you' are trying to beggar us, we simply want no part of ever deeper union which is a desired goal and a necessary outcome of monetary union, especially when the harmonisation does little more than erode our competitive advantage in areas important to our economy. Again i will state, this has nothing to do with our desire to remain in the common market.