1. Personally, I think it's great. This way, federalism can be achieved at a faster pace. That, combined with Germany's court decision should help to ensure a Federalised, Democratic Europe sooner rather than later.
2. Well, he has spent the past 30 years studying European Politics, is a fellow of Oxford University and has written seven books; hardly symptoms of idiocy. And the fact that he is disagreeing with populists is probably another sign of intelligence.
His latest article in the grauniad seems particularly relevant to this debate.
3. I don't understand (Most) Eurosceptics. They say that the EU is undemocratic; which is a fair criticism, and needs to be addressed. But this somehow translates into the whole concept being flawed, and that the EU should be dismantled. Ok, fair enough. But what's your alternative? Go it alone against USA, India, Russia and China?
4. Before you say anything, I'll let you in on a piece of information. In every single century during the entire history of mankind, save two, either China and India have occupied numbers one and two in terms of rank of gross GDP. The two centuries when they weren't? The 19th and the 20th, coincidentally the era when European/Western power was at it's zenith. What we are seeing with the "rise" of China and India is not some freak accident, but rather a realignment of of the natural order of the peoples. The old European nation-state is obsolete, finished. We are seeing the emergence of the civilisation state, where entire cultures are unified into single borders, single economies and single millitaries.
5. Britain cannot compete on that kind of scale. Neither can France, Germany or Finland. However, should we put aside our differences and together to protect our interests at home in Europe and outside of it, maybe we can do something. We can't prevent Chindia's increasing relevance, but we can sure as Hell prevent our irrelevance.
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