France And The UK Could Be The Lynchpins Of Europe en-us Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500 Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:42:07 -0500 John Browne Sebastian Thaler Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:18:18 -0500 "Lynchpins"? Seriously? Might want to grab a dictionary, Mr. Browne... Dr David Hill Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:36:44 -0500 It does not matter if the UK is in or out of the EU as it is the economic strategy and policy fundamentals that are all wrong in Britain. In this respect far greater problems for the UK lie on the horizon and until politicians realise that their advisers, that have got it so terribly wrong over the last half century, are the fundamental reason for our continual dire economic circumstances, Britain will never get out of its problems. What is needed is a fully inclusive system of involvement with its people and where then their creative ideas can enter the system. Presently in this respect with the elitist mentality and only the few have the answers (history shows clearly that this is not the case) there is little hope. Therefore the UK has to change where a pluralist society exists, where all can contribute and where only no more than 3% of the population do presently. In this respect over 75% of all the inventions that created the modern world came from the people outside the confines of mainstream R&D, not leading-edge research establishments et al. For if we do not change, Britain can only look forward to continual decline - Unfortunately this is a true assessment and where projections state that things will be much worse than what is presently perceived, even by government. <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a> Things therefore have to change if the UK is to capture any future economic dynamism and that change process starts with our political mindsets which are transfixed by the current non-innovative governmental advisers. Independent advisers free from vested-interests can only provide this and where government have to start to take far greater notice of this vital need for the nation's future. Dr David Hill Chief Executive World Innovation Foundation Huddersfield, UK - Bern, Switzerland - Arlington, USA EuroRules Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:19:35 -0500 This article is either carefully written by a true PIG anglo anti-EU propaganda or it reflectls our point of view that americans are stupid ignorants. It's all about Savings Sat, 19 Jan 2013 04:24:34 -0500 "Except for print money and flooding banks with Euros nothing has chnaged in Europe." Sorry, but that's simply not correct. Either you're lying, have a political motive to lie or you're ignoring the news and financial data. The fiscal pact that Merkel reached with 25 countries is at full steam. (compare that to your super-committee, if you have complaints about European politicians, what are your bunch of useless "representatives" worth?). <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a> Any European can spell out to you the severe austerity measures that has taken effect in her/his respective country. Pensions are cut, income and other taxes are raised and so on and so on. Governments could still be smaller, there are too many privileged civil servants. It's no fun for the population at all. Not at all. As to civil unrest, like I said people are burdened. I wouldn't be surprised if we had more strikes and this story isn't over yet. However, it beats the hell out of a situation where politicians are still in complete denial of their dire state finances. PS there is one major flaw in the article: the UK won't leave the EU, but the Brits might. Great response Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:39:23 -0500 When you want to ignore bad news Free John Corzine Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:37:48 -0500 This is a well written and accurate article. Except for print money and flooding banks with Euros nothing has chnaged in Europe. The Eco did this to protect banks from a smaller country exit. No growth and more goverment. This s a 20 year problem like Japan. Also, agree that the politicians have unde estimated social unrest. Citizen won't starve and live like pugs for a decade. With that said its impossible to call the timing of the explosion. It's all about Savings Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:17:41 -0500 Sure people are burdened, but fiscal deficits are below 3%, there is no trade deficit (EU is the largest exporter in the world) and gross debt levels are at 80%. Not bad after three years of austerity. Whereas Japan and the US - still in hope-mode, running triple deficits and kicking the can. "Trillion dollar coin, anyone?" "Shall we simply ignore the debt ceiling this year?" Camco Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:28:57 -0500 This is more fear mongering -- typical of BI -- and not quality journalism at all. European Union Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:16:39 -0500 It's bad because the benefits of the European Union are too numerous to mention, and it would set the European continent back a few decades if it falls apart, precisely in a time where more, and not less, co-operation is needed. In this increasingly globalised world, scale and size matter and individually, even the bigger countries like Germany and France, have little to say, let alone the even smaller countries, like Sweden or Austria. The European Union is a force multiplier and it greatly increases Europe's clout in the world. Chris Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:50:10 -0500 Aside from an economic crisis, what's the big deal about letting the EU fall apart? Rich countries should not have to subsidize poor nations. Capitalist nations should not have to support socialists. Flawed Analysis Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:49:13 -0500 "If either France faces an economic bailout or the UK votes to leave, the EU likely will begin to disintegrate." Not at all. With a British exit from the European Union, European integration would likely speed up quite dramatically, especially if the europhobes in other countries see how damaging the exit really is to the British economy. Many will finally realise that EU exit is not beneficial at all, and some, or all, would take a more pragmatic, maybe even pro-European, stance. Not only that, but the British veto is what's mainly holding the other European countries back from moving forward with steps toward a fiscal-, banking- and political union. See the Euro Summits, where Britain was a pain in the arse with their veto threats. It was so bad, they got completely isolated eventually, with the other twenty-six countries forming a bloc. As for the French economy, even in the extremely unlikely event that it suddenly deteriorates so badly that they face a bailout, I'm absolutely certain that the European Central Bank would step in as a lender of last resort. They've already done so in the past with their SMP, and, more recently, their OMT, so it's not even unprecedented. The ECB would never allow a 'too-big-to-fail' country as France collapse. Worldwide systemic effects are simply too great. Even the Germans would agree and support intervention. So there's no risk of EU disintegration from this angle either. Especially if you realise how highly speculative this scenario is. At the moment, 10-year French bonds stand at a super low 2.1 percent. Aqua Buddha Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:34:15 -0500 Excuse Me! Europe is going to explode! Spain's state-owned luxury hotel chain cuts 350 staff after being hit by economic crisis <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a> Spanish economic crisis led to 2 men setting themselves on fire Read more: <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a> Greek journalists bombed over economic crisis reports <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a> Italy's economy to shrink by 1 per cent in 2013, central bank says <a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ></a>