Thread: The EU joke!

I expected a lousy joke, but I have to say I that it made me smile.

very good

“If we had no rules where would we be? France! And if we had too many rules where would we be? Germany!”

British comedian Al Murray, "the Pub Landlord."
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Pete Dredge, 2007.

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The Guardian, 1996
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I do not understand the negative obsession in U. S. Politics against the European Union. If I could afford it, I would move there in a moment. Their culture by far exceeds the United States. The childish behavior about America's debt ceiling is only the latest American fiasco. Europeans laugh at us with ample justification.

Originally Posted by Latterbach

I do not understand the negative obsession in U. S. Politics against the European Union. If I could afford it, I would move there in a moment. Their culture by far exceeds the United States. The childish behavior about America's debt ceiling is only the latest American fiasco. Europeans laugh at us with ample justification.

Europe is not heaven, it is not hell either. The problem with Americans is that many of them seem to believe it has to be one of those to things. Republicans tend to hell, democrats often to heaven. Reality is in between.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfas

Europe is not heaven, it is not hell either. The problem with Americans is that many of them seem to believe it has to be one of those to things. Republicans tend to hell, democrats often to heaven. Reality is in between.

Europe can´t be described as one area in this matter.
The differences in the standad of living of the european countries are too big.

Originally Posted by Bleipriester

Europe can´t be described as one area in this matter.
The differences in the standad of living of the european countries are too big.

The difference between Northern Italy and Southern Italy is also big. Still if you compare it to most other parts of the world these differences don't look huge anymore.

But what are these "big differences"? GDP (PPP) per capita varies between about 130% and above 40% of EU27 average. (Ignoring Luxembourg) When you take out Romania and Bulgaria and the Baltic states which still lag behind even though they have improved tremendously over the last 10 years, it is 130% to 60%. In other words the difference between the vast majority of the EU is a factor of 2.

Apart from that, we were talking about something else than wealth alone.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfas

The difference between Northern Italy and Southern Italy is also big. Still if you compare it to most other parts of the world these differences don't look huge anymore.

But what are these "big differences"? GDP (PPP) per capita varies between about 130% and above 40% of EU27 average. (Ignoring Luxembourg) When you take out Romania and Bulgaria and the Baltic states which still lag behind even though they have improved tremendously over the last 10 years, it is 130% to 60%. In other words the difference between the vast majority of the EU is a factor of 2.

Apart from that, we were talking about something else than wealth alone.

Wealth:
It is not the GDP only, what makes the wealth.

Other things:
Thinks like your race course comparison are a matter of opinon.
I like the "european style" too, but there are also speedways in America which are like this Formula 1 course, don´t you think?

Originally Posted by Bleipriester

Wealth:
It is not the GDP only, what makes the wealth.

No, and I was not talking about GDP but GDP (PPP) which is not perfect either but already a lot better than the mere GDP. If you have something better you are welcome to show it to me.

My original point above was not about wealth in first line anyway and if you reread it you will see it.

Thinks like your race course comparison are a matter of opinon.
I like the "european style" too, but there are also speedways in America which are like this Formula 1 course, don´t you think?

That was a joke man.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfas

No, and I was not talking about GDP but GDP (PPP) which is not perfect either but already a lot better than the mere GDP. If you have something better you are welcome to show it to me.

My original point above was not about wealth in first line anyway and if you reread it you will see it.

Cultural, it also differs country by country.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfas

That was a joke man.

During my time in forums, I saw many of these "European supremacy" comparisons.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfas

Europe is not heaven, it is not hell either. The problem with Americans is that many of them seem to believe it has to be one of those to things. Republicans tend to hell, democrats often to heaven. Reality is in between.

This Democrat, like Bill Maher, and Ed Schultz feels that President Obama sold us out on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid during the debt ceiling negotiations. John Boehner said he got 98% of what he wanted! Who knows this may be enough to get a Democratic primary fight going. Maybe Hillary Clinton would like to run for POTUS.

I will not work for Obama this time around. I may even be 'too busy' to vote in November 2012.

Originally Posted by Latterbach

I do not understand the negative obsession in U. S. Politics against the European Union. If I could afford it, I would move there in a moment. Their culture by far exceeds the United States. The childish behavior about America's debt ceiling is only the latest American fiasco. Europeans laugh at us with ample justification.

"If I could afford it" says it all. If you think US gas prices are high wait until you are paying $6.50 per liter....

We'll leave a discussion about income tax rates for a another day.