He is sort of right, but the way he states his opinion is just rude.

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Da boyz need themselves a Nob they do

lol

Given I am one of the 'majority ok uk citizens' he mentioned I have absolutely no idea what he is on about, let alone why he has such a beef with that Belgium guy - and that i suspect would be what most of the people in the uk would be thinking.

Still unlike most politicians at least he made it clear how he felt.

p.s. - that how all us Brits would like to speak to you folks from across the water

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

And it's exactly how you should communicate. Politicians should stop bullshitting eachother around the entire day. Say whats on your mind, and your allowed to say it, because you represent people who have voted for you to voice your opinion.

He has a beef with him because he's the 'Elected' President of Europe.

And yeah, I'm absolutely in agreement with the statements he makes. I don't remember voting for any European President or indeed being informed, other than through the media, that any such position was being made. The man is 100% correct in the fact that his position holds zero legitimacy and he should be ousted.

I have no idea what kind of authority or sway he has with individual European states, and I really don't want to find out. Countries as part of the EU should Govern themselves, plain and simple. And if they want to spring a 'President of Europe' on us, then we should be adequately informed and given the chance to vote on whether we even want it. I sure as shit do not.

Frankly, the idea of it sounds like one massive Americanisation of Europe. And if that doesn't scare the shit out of you, then I dunno what would.

Don't complain that nobody informed you. I'm sure there has been plenty of information around, you just didn't bother to look at it. That's what most people do, anyways. And of course as politically mature citizen it's your duty to inform yourself and not the government's. And why do you mean by "other than through the media"? How else should you be informed?

And yes, for better or worse, that guy is our president. And he's not 'elected', he is elected! That's how democracy works. We people choose some guys to represent us, our federal governments and parliaments. And they all decided that we should have a new EU 'constituion'. So the people YOU have elected, thought this would be the best thing to do and then them selfs elected the president of the EU. That's pretty much how it works in most nations around the world and it's only right that it works the same way in the EU.

And don't talk about the "Americanisation of Europe", because the UK is the foremost ally of the US. They are actually the little brother of the US inside the EU, always trying to prevent the EU from outgrowing the US. They are blocking progress and demanding some special rules for themselfs, just so the EU doesn't get too strong compared to the US. Tbh the UK should just leave the EU. Everybody would be a lot happier.

Excuse me all to fuck Demm, but do we have the same flag next to our names, cause mines looks suspiciously like a Union Flag. Don't come in here and try and tell me that I was or am ignorant to the fact that there would be a European President, cause I wasn't. Maybe there were posters plastered all over Austria declaring his glorious rise to power but that simply wasn't the case here. Like I said though, the European Presidancy candidacy was covered in the Press here, but the usual bullshit that usually comes with Politics was conspicuously absent. And I suspect that the only reason it was covered to the level that it was here, is because Tony Blair was supposedly in the running for the position.

Which is kind of like finally getting rid of a Cockroach infestation only for it to replaced by a Mountain Lion infestation.

And I like that you choose to have a go at the UK, even though I just voiced my opposition to any kind of Americanisation. And when it all comes down to it, I'd be happy if the UK did in fact leave Europe. Then you can have your President with free reign to do whatever he wants. Like dissolving your pointless little Horn blowing country and just making it part of Germany.

Well shucks guys yall think wees american, thats simply just not a cotton picking true. I says we end this kinda friendly like and bomb belgium back to wheres they belong.

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

Yeah. I think it's time we liberated the Belgian people by bombing the everloving shit out of their homes and businesses.

Sorry Orange.

Ok, true, I don't live in the UK. But I read a lot on international online news, and I know that the controversy around the EU 'constitution' was well covered in the UK. I think everybody should have heard, that it didn't go through the first time because of the Netherlands and France. Then they renamed it from 'constitution' to 'treaty' and tried it a second time. Then the Irish blocked the ratification through a national referendum and the whole process stopped. After they had big economical problems in Ireland, the people where finally convinced to vote 'yes' in a 2nd referendum and the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect December 2009.
You can't tell me that you've heard nothing of this story. If you really didn't, well then the media in your country must be really shitty.

The contents of the Treaty of Lisbon where also much debated. All the media in Austria and Germany covered it, and the fact that the treaty established a 'President of the European Council' and a 'High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy' (=foreign minister) should be well known to anyone interested in international politics.


And yes, you stated your dislike for Americanisation and I fully agree with that opinion. But the fact remains that the British government is the bitch of the US government. Or at least, it was for a long time (just think of the glorious Bush/Blair years and the war in Iraq). I do believe that most people in your country share a similar view to yours, but tbh your government fucks you over.


And about the part where you think Austria should just be a part of Germany: that actually was the opinion of most people back in the days, but YOUR government didn't allow us to after the First World War. It was actually one of the reasons the Second World War started. And then after WWII it was your and the US governments that again didn't allow the unification of Austria and Germany.

You brit mates are aware of the fact the UK is projecting an image resembling US lap/guard dog though, right? Sure, you might not agree with it or like one bit but it's still there and the outsiders, such as myself, are going to look at it as it's seen through your/the government's actions.

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Comfortably Numb

I hear what you're saying guys, and I can fully accept how the UK is perceived.

You should understand though that I'm not going to sit here and defend the British Government. Cause however they are perceived where you come from, I can assure you it is 10 times worse here. The sad thing is that the alternatives are probably going to be even worse, so we're all in a pretty sorry state. I won't get into my own Political leanings though. Not on a public forum anyway. Anybody who I've discussed it with in the past though will know where I stand. I don't believe in defending them simply cause I live here. I love my country but I can see when it's getting fucked over from all sides.

Anyway, I'm off out into my fucked up country to get a fucked up haircut and play some fucked up pool.

Peace.

Let's all move to Mars before the whole world blows up

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Classy is when a woman has everything to flaunt, but chooses not to show it!

If any other country (as small as us) had strong ties with the USA, they would not want to give it up either. I don't think anyone would be able to deny that. I personally don't follow politics because I find it extremely boring

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

You say that like its a bad thing?

Personally I'd prefer to be someone's lap dog than a stray waiting to be put down.....

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

Guard dog to one of the most powerful countries in the world is fine by me

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

I completely get the problem he has with our former prime minister. We don't have any good politicians in Belgium which is why we didn't even have a government for two years. But taking a stab at Belgium itself and calling it a non-country gets me upset.
I don't like this shithole either but it's still the country I was born and raised in and I can't help feeling slightly chauvinistic when something like this happens.
He's got the right to have critique -- everyone has and I love that -- but he needs to pull his punches and needs to direct his anger to the 'president' instead of involving entire countries.

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'Belgium, a country with many homos also have a pedophile party as far as i know.' - Violetblood

Nick Farage is a UKIP douche. He has no idea what shit he is spouting, couldn't work a policy if it bit him in the arse.

Also, if you cant back up what your saying don't start spouting off what you think you know about British politics and the US/UK relationship or the UK/EU relationship for that matter; or Ill have to actually write a big wall of text to prove everything you say wrong. I dont jump about presuming to know German or Dutch politics cos if you wanna have any grasp of a countries political system you gotta actually research that shit and not make assumptions based on prejudices and media.

Different place(country), different time(anytime), same shit.

Are you not glad not to be under the German government after the first world war..?

That's it. I officially declare war on europe, I think this thread is the proof we need to make a legal case for armed intervention.

Who wants to be bombed first?

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.

I don't give two shits about anything said earlier in this thread, except the part where politicians should stop bullshitting and speak their minds.

Also, if that guy did an improv right there he should be on Comedy Channels roast.

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
-- Winston Churchill

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All roads may lead to Rome, but all Wikipedia pages eventually get you to the Third Reich. - m3n

He probably said that in the period right after WWII when his stong views got him booted from the politics stage. Still, gotta agree with it.

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Comfortably Numb

Dips on greece! In the case the war spreads over the whole EU.

Jees. Everybody is so quick to post their oppositions here but they're not addressing the point that Saint was making in the first place.

By giving control over a greater body, the sensiblities of a nation are lost. We all essentially lose what makes us people as a whole. If we merge in accordance with a supposed 'European ideal' then we lose everything that defines our nations and gives us our individuality. Not because we're afraid to, but because we simply don't want to.

I'm sorry that some people here don't seem to see it, but National identity is important to some. And we're proud of it.

national identity is bullshit. borders are just markers on a map. we're humans, no more, no less. patriotism, in all forms, are just some kind of egotastical way of patting ourselves on our own shoulders.

I don't care if I'm English or European or whatever

I have never really understood how people can be patriotic.

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a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

The reason it became a Belgian is quite simple, none of the bigger countries want a big country to have the president. So they had to pick a guy from the small countries and preferably one that would be easy to control and have no history.

And as far as he getting elected... I don't really think its fair to say that when the presidents of each country voted for someone and the EU parlament did pretty much squat all.

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Da boyz need themselves a Nob they do

Personally I think a lot could be learnt from the SPA approach to leadership

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The stats below lie. I'm actually much much worse.