[Debate] EU as one country

whhbh

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 26.7%
  • No

    Votes: 11 73.3%

  • Total voters
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On 1 January 2002 the experience of travelling in Europe changed completely.
The introduction of euro notes and coins, following the withdrawal of EU internal border controls, removed one of the key sensations of crossing from one country to another.

If you set off from Hamburg, Calais, Malaga, or Brindisi you can now drive for days without necessarily ever finding out how many countries you have passed through.

You pay in euros - and you can leave your passport buried in your luggage.

Europe's unity, or at least the EU's, is now almost as obvious as its diversity.


Click to see what European identity means to people in Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw and London


In pictures

How does this affect the way people think about Europe?

Opinion polls conducted for the EU in 2002 found about 60% of people in euroland agreeing that by using euros "we feel a bit more European than before".

Other polls show that when people are asked what the EU means to them personally, the euro is one of the most common answers.

"If your money talks Europe that has immense symbolic value," says Professor Thomas Risse of the Free University in Berlin.

"You cannot have European identity in the abstract, you need something concrete that people can see in their lives."

The existing markers of Europe as a civic or political entity (rather than a historical/cultural one) are the flag, and the currency.

I know many think that EU is to diverse for it to ever be one but we have as much in common as we have different. There are many more countries with hugher cultural differences than the EU.

We share many cultural aspects even the largest differences arent as big as in some countries. As for the languages most of the young population has its common language ... english and so do most educated adults.

Diversity and culture is GOOD!

EU would be a superpower in culture, economy, science, ...

many already see EU almost as one country and I have seen many young people think along the same line as I do

would you agree to EU to function more towards one united country?

mayn think that we are to diverse but we arent really all that different in culture, I know many might see that as impossible but we would easyer compete with worlds biggest countries
 
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Aenigma

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In my opinion U.S is the current best country, when it comes to money,society,political views.,ect...

But again this is just my opinion.
LOL DO YOU REALLY HONESTLY THINK AMERICA HAS THE BEST POLITICAL VIEWS?! Have you seen how many idiots are going to run for president? Europe is waaaay better than America in soooo many ways.

But yeah the countries might be becoming more similar and stuff....but I think it would be weird if it all just became one country...I don't see the French being very happy about suddenly being from the same country as the Germans xD
 

Olorin

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yes it would there is much difference but there is even more similarity

and yes EU would have the biggest economy in the world, education would be top, health care is well organised, lifestyle is good, ...

I fount this some time ago:
Healthcare - In the United States it is common for a hospital to refuse to treat a critically ill patient if they are not insured or are not US citizens. In Europe such a concept is considered ancient and uncivilised. In the US, doctors sometimes refuse to treat or prescribe the right options to a patient if the doctor’s religious beliefs go against what is medically best for the patient. It happens most often in cases of abortion, birth control and treating homosexuals where the doctors’ medical ethics conflict with their religious beliefs. Such an act in Europe would lead to cancellation of a doctor’s license to practice for violation of the Hippocratic Oath.

Diversity - United States, despite petty internal political differences is very uniform and homogeneous to an outsider. The culture (or lack of it) is same, the food is same, the language is same and the arts and style are similar. In Europe language, art, food, culture and politics are widely varied which might be overwhelming for an outsider but makes things interesting. A person visiting Scotland on a pleasure trip won’t feel like he could have done visiting England while a person visiting New Jersey and Virginia as a tourist would almost feel both are same states (except the differences in street crimes).

Education - The quality of public education in United States is much lower than that of Europe, in fact it is lower than many developing third world countries. US High School students are much less aware of the world history and politics, have lower mathematical and scientific skills, possess lower reasoning and judgement capabilities than European students of the same age. Universities are prohibitively expensive, the better the university, the more expensive it is. Students are often immersed on a lifelong burden of debt or get wiped out of all savings for an average college degree which costs a fraction in European countries or is free as in case of countries like Germany.

Media and News - The media in United States is very short sighted and excludes the rest of the world which it considers as an amusement park. The political and cultural news about the world is often negatively biased from an American point of view to suit ‘Americanised’ tastes. *** and sexuality is either commoditised in an obsessively unhealthy way or vilified, making it to look as a dirty and evil act. In contrast, political and cultural news in European media is much more worldly and inclusive. News media tend to present facts rather than biased opinions; *** and sexuality is shown in a positive and healthy light as compared to the US.

P.S. EU is the centre of education, culture, history and natural beauty in the world, it is home to the greatest museums and schools and is the most visited place on the planet for these reasons
 
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Mephistopheles

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@ posts above: I don't think the US is the best country in political views nor money nor society.
There are indeed quite some people that run for president which I don't think are going to be good presidents. Most of their ideas aren't great either in my opinion. The health care for one isn't all that great in the US (if you don't have a clue, watch Michael Moore's Sicko) and some of the politicians are trying their best to change it, but they either can't change it, get stopped by other politicians or get paid by the medical companies to not go on with their plan to change it because the medical companies get paid lots and lots of money from sick and dying people. This is only one thing, but there are some more reasons why the US isn't the best country for politics in my opinion.
The US may have much money, or not I don't really know and it doesn't bother me at all, but I heard on the news that there was some sort of money crisis in the US. Where is all that money? Is there a solution or are they just going to print some more money like it's just some documents that have to be printed? I think the money goes to the people out there that are already so rich that they don't even know what to do with their money. The people of the government, insurance companies, etc. The divide between poor people and rich people in the US seems not only to be huge, but even growing in my eyes. The rich people only get more money and the poor only less, and the US gets more debts.
Last but not least, the society. If I compare the society here in the Netherlands with the society in the US I see one big difference along more smaller differences. In the Netherlands people must be insured for much things, in the US much people aren't insured at all which brings a great risk. If you get sick here and need expensive treatments and meds, the insurance will pay for it, where in the US they will find a reason why they do not have to pay for it. If you can't work here for certain reasons you get benefits, not in the US. We might pay more tax here then in the US, but I think the society is better because of it because we pay the taxes not only to help ourselves in a way, but also to help someone else in a way.
Of course this is my opinion.

@ topic: I don't think it's a good idea because the countries are so different even though it may not seem like it. Apart from the languages and cultures I bet that most of the countries in Europe have a different way of dealing with things especially the governments. Wouldn't that cause chaos if there would be one government existent of so much different people from so much former countries with so much different ways of handling tasks and problems. I just don't think it would work that well.
 

Aenigma

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@ posts above: I don't think the US is the best country in political views nor money nor society.
There are indeed quite some people that run for president which I don't think are going to be good presidents. Most of their ideas aren't great either in my opinion. The health care for one isn't all that great in the US (if you don't have a clue, watch Michael Moore's Sicko) and some of the politicians are trying their best to change it, but they either can't change it, get stopped by other politicians or get paid by the medical companies to not go on with their plan to change it because the medical companies get paid lots and lots of money from sick and dying people. This is only one thing, but there are some more reasons why the US isn't the best country for politics in my opinion.
Yeah the government is all corrupted by big businesses...I heard a quote somewhere it said something like..."the incestuous relationship between government and corporations thrives in the dark."
 

Typhon

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yes it would there is much difference but there is even more similarity

and yes EU would have the biggest economy in the world, education would be top, health care is well organised, lifestyle is good, ...

I fount this some time ago: Healthcare - In the United States it is common for a hospital to refuse to treat a critically ill patient if they are not insured or are not US citizens. In Europe such a concept is considered ancient and uncivilised. In the US, doctors sometimes refuse to treat or prescribe the right options to a patient if the doctor’s religious beliefs go against what is medically best for the patient. It happens most often in cases of abortion, birth control and treating homosexuals where the doctors’ medical ethics conflict with their religious beliefs. Such an act in Europe would lead to cancellation of a doctor’s license to practice for violation of the Hippocratic Oath.

Diversity - United States, despite petty internal political differences is very uniform and homogeneous to an outsider. The culture (or lack of it) is same, the food is same, the language is same and the arts and style are similar. In Europe language, art, food, culture and politics are widely varied which might be overwhelming for an outsider but makes things interesting. A person visiting Scotland on a pleasure trip won’t feel like he could have done visiting England while a person visiting New Jersey and Virginia as a tourist would almost feel both are same states (except the differences in street crimes).

Education - The quality of public education in United States is much lower than that of Europe, in fact it is lower than many developing third world countries. US High School students are much less aware of the world history and politics, have lower mathematical and scientific skills, possess lower reasoning and judgement capabilities than European students of the same age. Universities are prohibitively expensive, the better the university, the more expensive it is. Students are often immersed on a lifelong burden of debt or get wiped out of all savings for an average college degree which costs a fraction in European countries or is free as in case of countries like Germany.

Media and News - The media in United States is very short sighted and excludes the rest of the world which it considers as an amusement park. The political and cultural news about the world is often negatively biased from an American point of view to suit ‘Americanised’ tastes. *** and sexuality is either commoditised in an obsessively unhealthy way or vilified, making it to look as a dirty and evil act. In contrast, political and cultural news in European media is much more worldly and inclusive. News media tend to present facts rather than biased opinions; *** and sexuality is shown in a positive and healthy light as compared to the US.

P.S. EU is the centre of education, culture, history and natural beauty in the world, it is home to the greatest museums and schools and is the most visited place on the planet for these reasons

That didn't seem biased at all......:rolleyes:

As for Europe being unified into one country, while it sounds good in theory I don't think its practical at all. Its simply too diverse. America was able to incorporate many different cultures into a single system because it was built by immigrants. It started with diversity and then built on it. European countries have existed for hundreds of years and developed very unique cultures and senses of identity. Not to mention some countries are currently much better off than others. I doubt the stronger economic countries would want to pick up the economy of a country like Greece.
 

|KirA|

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lol @ us-freaks, lol @ ppl who think eu would become one "country" in the near future,
most ppl in europe dont even understand their neightbours culture/language/attitude, eu is just an economical union, but not more.
 

Mercy

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In my opinion U.S is the current best country, when it comes to money,society,political views.,ect...

But again this is just my opinion.
Dude, now that's some BS.
Political Views? Do you know how Obama ****s up things?
USA all fails in nearly all the things you just said.

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~Hebi Terumi~

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Dude, now that's some BS.
Political Views? Do you know how Obama ****s up things?
USA all fails in nearly all the things you just said.

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Obama hasn't ****ed up as many things as Bush has. In fact, I don't even recall Obama doing much of anything at this point in time.

With some of the idiots running for President in 2012, (Palin, Bachman, and Donald Trump I believe) I hope Obama gets re-elected. Unless there is another candidate much better than him that is running for president next year. I'm not to up to speed when it comes to Politics.
 

Kaziname

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Strong would use up the weak... If the EU would be one country - what would be there for Croatia? Really. We've already been in a country that is made of more countries and it didn't do us any good. We couldn't get our own country back, whole europe didn't do shit while we were being torn apart and now we got to be neighboring country of our invaders? And our politicians are actually trying to befriend them? They are just stepping on gravestones of those who died and taking a sh*t while they're at it. Sure, EU will be one country and sure, croatia will be in it - but not because I want that. Not because our countrymen who died wanted that. It will be because some politician ******s want that to happen and nothing is beyond their reach nor do they feel any sympathy for their own people...
 

kisamexRocks

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In my opinion U.S is the current best country, when it comes to money,society,political views.,ect...

But again this is just my opinion.
LOLOLOLOL

4 trillion+ in debt. Totally best in money.

16,000 + murders every year.

Horrible politicians.

Amazing place.

US is the worst. Sorry but it's true.

EU should not become one country. It's just going to get ruined and the continent will fall apart and the U.S.A will gain from it. Just a stupid idea to ruin one continent so that another will thrive off of it.

If it does happen, congrats to the U.S for gaining more power.
 

Siberia

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LOLOLOLOL

4 trillion+ in debt. Totally best in money.

16,000 + murders every year.

Horrible politicians.

Amazing place.

US is the worst. Sorry but it's true.

EU should not become one country. It's just going to get ruined and the continent will fall apart and the U.S.A will gain from it. Just a stupid idea to ruin one continent so that another will thrive off of it.

If it does happen, congrats to the U.S for gaining more power.
I think you mean 14 trillion :p lol
 

Aenigma

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Obama hasn't ****ed up as many things as Bush has. In fact, I don't even recall Obama doing much of anything at this point in time.

With some of the idiots running for President in 2012, (Palin, Bachman, and Donald Trump I believe) I hope Obama gets re-elected. Unless there is another candidate much better than him that is running for president next year. I'm not to up to speed when it comes to Politics.
Obama may not have totally ****ed things up but its been three years and I sure as hell have not seen any of the change he promised. And what he has done has been rather half hearted and watered down.

I don't think Palin is running... I could be wrong though. If she does... I might move to England. However you are right, none of the candidates who have presented themselves seem like they could do better than Obama. But IMO hes just the best of a bad bunch.

Sorry this is so off topic...


LOLOLOLOL

4 trillion+ in debt. Totally best in money.

16,000 + murders every year.

Horrible politicians.

Amazing place.

US is the worst. Sorry but it's true.

EU should not become one country. It's just going to get ruined and the continent will fall apart and the U.S.A will gain from it. Just a stupid idea to ruin one continent so that another will thrive off of it.

If it does happen, congrats to the U.S for gaining more power.
^ This.
 
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Exaar

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LOLOLOLOL

4 trillion+ in debt. Totally best in money.

16,000 + murders every year.

Horrible politicians.

Amazing place.

US is the worst. Sorry but it's true.

EU should not become one country. It's just going to get ruined and the continent will fall apart and the U.S.A will gain from it. Just a stupid idea to ruin one continent so that another will thrive off of it.

If it does happen, congrats to the U.S for gaining more power.
owned xd
 
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