European Union Forums

[neweuropean]

Hello all,

Born in Germany in 1963, was "taken" to the USA in 1965.
Pretty much lived all my life here ( with a few trips back to
visit family over the years ), until the German court gave me
back my citizenship last year. So, naturally, my interest in
European national politics, and EU politics in particular, went
way up.

I took the EU Profiler survey to see where I stand on European
politics ( by European standards ). I found that it said I was
very Anti - EU ( I am probably biased by seeing how a monster
central government can't respond to the people over here, and
the eventual loss of states rights to the central government.).
It also said I was just a tiny bit to the Socio-conservative side.
Though so little off the line, almost touching, that I would say
neutral or moderate. ).

Unfortunately, it couldn't seem to match me with a political
party that matches my views. So I guess that means I have to
join the other 55% of Europeans who don't vote. That seems to
be the biggest co-operating party in Europe now...

Great Forums here, and lots of interesting topics! I'm looking
forward to sharing and learning!

Take Care, neweuropean

[Big_Becka]

Hi New European!

It's sounds like you have a unique and interesting perspective on things - I'll be interested to hear a bit more about how central government works in the US and people's feelings about it. Do people think of themselves as American, or identify themselves according to their state?

It's also interesting that you got your citizenship back - are you going to move back sometime? How do you rate the US against Germany? (I ask because it's an ongoing debate between me and some of my America-loving friends!)

[neweuropean]

Hi Big_Becka!

My perspective comes from living here almost all of my life. I can't honestly
say that I'm anti-American, since I have made a life here, and it can always
be worse elsewhere. But that can be true anywhere in the world.

I think I was just shocked, as I started looking into, and understanding, the
path that Europe was starting to walk down. In the beginnings of our "Union",
the States agreed to give some limited powers to the central government. The
States, in turn, would help support and guide the central government. If the State
found itself being pushed into something that was against it's fundamental
principals, it could walk away. This is where the EU stands at this moment, to
my way of seeing it.

But a funny thing happened. As the "Union" grew more powerful, the "Union"
decided it was more important than the States it served. It's logic was pretty
good. "If a State can secede ( leave ) the Union every time it disagrees, then
we have no real Union." So, in the case of the American Civil War, even though
slavery was the spark that started the war, the fundamental reason to attack the
southern States and bring them back into the Union, was to show that the Union
was more powerful, and important, than the States it used to serve. When that
war was successful for the Union, it placed the power of the Union forever over
the States. Like I said, for America it was the issue of slavery that was the spark,
but it could have just as easily been philosophical, political, religious, or
constitutional issues that forced a confrontation. But sooner or later, that
confrontation takes place, when two groups are fighting for the same power.
Replace the word "States" with "Countries", and I think you see my worry...

Actually, maybe you could answer me a question... When did the "European
Community" become the "European Union"? I thought the Treaty of Lisbon
was the document that was supposed to make all countries give up their
national rights to the EU, and change all references of the word "Community"
to "Union". If I remember right, there were countries that voted "No" on the
Treaty of Lisbon, making it null and void ( at the moment, anyway ). So what
gives them the right to call themselves the "European Union", instead of the
"European Community"? Or is it just some public relations stunt from the
EU, just say "European Union" often enough and it will be true?

Anyway, like I said... the USA has gone from States supporting and directing
the federal government, to states begging for our monthly handout ( which we
can get only if we pass our state laws to match Fed laws ).

Identity. Yes, we're Americans, but don't walk into Texas and call a Texan a
Virginian, or into Virginia and call them Californians, unless you want some
funny looks, or maybe some not so nice things said back.

USA compared to Germany. Hmm, hard to say... both are beautiful countries
and have wonderful people, for the most part. I've had a nasty comment or two
said to me by a German national thinking I was just American, but most have
been very friendly and helpful to me. I've also heard a comment or two about
Germans or Germany made here in the USA, but it's mostly positive things I
hear. Every country has it's share of disgruntled individuals.

Americans are kind of wide-eyed at the tax rates in Germany, and all the social
programs funded by those taxes. And I think Germans tend to shake their heads
at what they see as no social programs to give everyone an equal chance in
America. Americans go for small government and people looking out for people,
I think. And it looks like Germans trust their government more than we do ours,
to do the right things, and to help others.

Finally, yes, I would love to live in Germany. I've had several yard sales to clean
out my house. I've sold my vehicle. I've sorted through my few things to take
with me and/or ship. Now all I have to do is put my house on the market. I even
have family in Germany to help me get started. I can't speak the language worth
a damn , so that will be highest priority at first. But I just can't pass up
a chance to live and see another part of the world, and learn it's culture. And I
would like to do it before I get too old to try it...

Thanks for the welcome. Look forward to seeing you in the forums!

[Big_Becka]

Hi! Thanks for the detailed reply - it's certainly some food for thought.

I remember getting horribly confused between EU, EC and EEC at school, so I thought I'd better check my facts before I replied!

The Maastricht Treaty (The Treaty on European Union), was signed in 1992 (coming into effect November 1993). This officially replaced the name 'European Community' with 'European Union.' [http://europa.eu/abc/index_en.htm]

You are right that we're not currently a Union in the same way as the USA: the Lisbon Treaty was rejected by Irish voters at referendum, and was not ratified by several other member states. But it may still come into effect with some amendments. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6901353.stm]

Personally, I can't see Europe becoming too unified in the near future: we've actually gone through a process of devolution in the UK (Wales and Scotland now have their own parliaments or 'assemblies,' and some areas - Scotland and the Isle of Man off the top of my head - still have their own design of currency). You can probably tell fom Winston's posts that there is significant opposition to the EU in the UK, and I think this is the same in many of the member states. Since the recession, there has been a rise in support for the BNP (basically Nazis, though they've tried to rebrand themselves).

Finally, I'm so impressed that you're going to Germany! I thought about taking a job over their last year, but chickened out when it took me two days to translate my work contract I'm told there's plenty of english-speaking jobs over there, but I can never find them So I'm learning some more German at the moment! I've found it quite an easy language to learn (once you get your head round the genders and declensions), so you shouldn't have any problems picking it up if you're using it every day

[neweuropean]

Thanks for clearing up the EU question. I guess all the replacing of
"Community" to "Union" in the Lisbon Treaty is just to get the language
of the treaties to match the name of the new government.

I'm not familiar with the national parties of the European nations yet,
so I'm not really familiar with BNP policies or philosophies. I had noticed
that Winston was slightly less than enthusiastic about the idea of handing
over the keys of the UK's sovereignty to the EU.

I hope I have a slight advantage on learning the language. Mom swears
I was speaking it fluently as a child, though I don't remember it. And I've
noticed on my trips over, that even though I have no idea of the words to
say, I seem to understand more of what's said than I thought I would. So
hopefully, some hard core immersion in the language might help it come
back quicker.

Have a good one... Catch you in the forums!

[hellodear]

HELLLLLLLOOOOOO!!!!!!!