Is the EU becomming a rehash of the Soviet Union?

[R1Geezer]

There is an emerging "privileged elite" where as the rest of us must live according to their orders but they effectively have created a state within a state for themselves? Where corruption and nepotism are the norm?

[Count-A-Strong]

(I think you've just described Chatterbank)

anyhow, I think there has been a privileged elite born out of the days of the Empire and the public school system for hundreds of years.

[youngmafbog]

You are correct R1, this has been getting worse and worse for years, particularly with the likes of Bottler signing away as much as possible.

So Count, does it make it right a load of foreigners take over from the public schoolboys ? And I am not sure they were quite so much into the corruption these EU scum are, neither wre most with their fingers in the till so much. True they had other arrogance issues but the EU lot have that as well.

[jake-the-peg]

And you want to steal back power and control to the paradise of virtue that is the Britsh Parliament?

Duckhouses!

[Gromit]

Can you please find me one link that states nepotism is a problem. I have no doubt it occurs, it would in any large organisation, but you seem to imply it is rife, the norm, which I doubt.

[Count-A-Strong]

'not sure they were quite so much into the corruption these EU scum are'

Very naive.

[R1Geezer]

so you're happy with the way the EU works then jake? Riight oh, maybe they can get their accounts signed off one day, eh?

[jake-the-peg]

Show me the UK governments accounts being signed off

Show me the US Governments accounts being signed off

Show me them even trying

[McMouse]

Where are the EU gulags and KGB death squads?

[Gromit]

Is this question just to justify your stupid avatar?

What does EUCCP suppose to stand for?

[R1Geezer]

So why are the "accounts not being signed off" a regular item when the nrth year comes up?

[R1Geezer]

They're on the way mcmouse!

I'd have thought that was obvious gromit! So my avatar is stupid because you don't like it, you'd fit well into a totalitarian superstate!

[rov1200]

If you want to belong to a club you have to abide by its rules. We didn't have to join the EU nor did 26 other countries. We did it for self interest and get more out than we could as an individual country. Some instances we have the power of veto but because of its size and complexity this would create havoc with nothing ever being decided.

[R1Geezer]

That'd be great rov if everyone abided by the rules but the others do what they like only us Brits obey. Now would you join a club where you are the only one required to obey the rules? Oh and most of the time it's your round!

[jake-the-peg]

Signing off the accounts means ensuring there is absolutely no fraud.

You try getting a national government to do that

They can't

They won't even try.

The fact that the EU is even attempting it shows how far ahead of Westminster they are in their thinking.

[Gromit]

EUCCP

European Union Советских Социалистических Республик,

Nope, still don't get it?

[Innovation]

McMouse, that also happened to my Muslim mate in Wetherspoons. They asked him to remove his skull cap. They told him it was tradition, so he complied.

We thought it was racism, we've never been back.

[birdie1971]

Jake - “The fact that the EU is even attempting it [getting their accounts signed off] shows how far ahead of Westminster they are in their thinking.”

In their wishful thinking maybe, but not in their actions.


“Signing off the accounts means ensuring there is absolutely no fraud”. Indeed it does - so it begs the question, just how much fraud is going on now that they have failed to have their accounts signed off for the 16th year running?

[birdie1971]

Jake – When you attempt to defend an entity such as the EU by effectively saying, “Well, at least it not quite as 'bent' as these other institutions”, it's hardly a ringing endorsement is it?

You're defence of the behemoth that is the EU rather reminds me of the court case between Mohammed Al-Fayed and Neil Hamilton. Do you remember 'cash for questions'? In a nutshell, Hamilton had been accused of asking questions in the House on behalf of Al-Fayed. Hamilton denied the charges but was found guilty. After the judgement, Al-Fayed left the court triumphant and proclaimed that he had 'proved' that Hamilton was corrupt – conveniently forgetting that he was the corrupting influence.

I admit that the allegory is not perfect (they never are) but that is how it appears to me that you are defending the EU. Like Al-Fayed, you seem to be proclaiming a victory by admitting that the EU is rife with fraud. It seems a bizarre position to adopt.

[New Judge]

The trouble is that mankind does not seem intelligent enough to learn from past experience.
Every attempt throughout history to coerce nation states to amalgamate into a federation has resulted in failure. The amalgamations eventually broke up, often violently. The most recent example (and the fact that there was not more violence than there was is more luck than judgement) was the Soviet Union.
At the moment the EU is at a crossroads. There are signs that it is creaking at the seams, particularly bearing in mind that its one and only apparent success – partial monetary union – is on the verge of failure (mainly because it came about through ideological dogma and insufficient thought was given to the consequences). The grandees who oversee matters EU will do all they can to ensure it limps on for as long as possible. As has been pointed out, they have taken it upon themselves to enrich their lifestyles and obviously do not want to see their riches snatched away by something as trifling as the will of the people.
To suggest that the UK government should “sign off” its accounts in the same way that the EU has failed to do is a fatuous argument. As unsatisfactory as it is, the UK has a democratic system which gives voters the chance to change a government if they do not like the amount of money they pay in taxes and the way it is spent. They have no such option with the EU and some different form of accountability is necessary.
The EU will eventually collapse. Unfortunately I think it will be later rather than sooner and not before untold damage has been done to the economies and wellbeing of many of the nation states. No, we were not forced to join, but since we did the aims of the club, the membership and the rules have changed beyond recognition and the electorate deserves another say on whether they still wish to be members.

[modeller]

You don't have to be corrupt in the EU or in Westminster . They can abide by the rules , they made them , and still make a fortune. Look at our new lot of MPs they are playing the system for every penny they can get. What are the party leaders doing about it ? Nothing !