Originally Posted by
cambrensis
I think you may be confusing the Commission (a civil service) with the Parliament (elected). At the moment I must admit I'd be hard pressed to think of any Parliament that does not have a Civil Service. The European Parliament can and does take the Commission to task when necessary; I am not foolish enough to expect it to be perfect. I seem to remember the whole Commission resigning a few years back after pressure from the Parliament. I can never remember our Civil Service doing that.
However, these things are of small account. When we had the referendum of 1975 we were all aware that the intent was for it to get ever closer, so the European Union was no surprise. Well over 60% of voters turned out for that referendum. Fewer than 25% turn out for MEP elections. This is not through disaffection with the EU. This is run of the mill stuff in UK politics. Huge numbers refrain from voting in General Elections as well. Of course, they still moan about what "they" do, whether "they" be in Westminster or Strasbourg. It's rather pointless calling for referenda under such conditions. Much better, in my opinion, to whip up some enthusiasm about elections than to encourage people to turn out once every forty years, jerk a knee, and then start another 40 year campaign!
I assumed we'd all learned quite recently that the real problem in this Western world of ours is created by the financial institutions, not by Strasbourg or Brussels or Washington D.C. Until these boys are fully accountable we are going to continue going from boom to bust. However, the flag is waved and we are told, by patriotic politicians that we need to be at the centre of banking. I wonder how true that actually is; and I wonder what really brought about the demise of our manufacturing base, on either side of the Atlantic - and why.
During the last recession we had many British workers going to Germany to get work. I do not recall a political party being formed here to fight against that. "Not in my back yard" seems to be getting more and more common here though.
Earlier today I went out to buy a power tool, one of those small sanders. I bought one in the mid price range as it seemed solidly built and had the functions I wanted. I could not see where it was made, but the print was small. I assumed it was from the Far East as many of these things are now. Having reached home with it and put it through its paces I was impressed by the build, quality and control I had over it. I sat down with a magnifying glass..."Made in Germany". There is still hope that we shall not cut off noses to spite faces...