On the surface this looks like an unelected body of EU administrators interfering with an elected government. Will the EU turn into a large autocratic superpower? Should we be concerned?
Well, let's hope so.
It's crucial that the eu halt the seeping loss of general economic well-being to the weaker economies: Greece, now Italy. The eu itself is not obviously in favour of rampant capitalism. Much more a social model providing benefits and health care. So the Greek and Italian approaches are probably excessive in terms of social spending.
The Germans will end up paying for that. Okay with Greece given German behaviour there in WW2. But Italy? Wasn't it an Axis power? Indeed....
The eu is against tax and spend socialism, always has been. This explains Corbyn's ambivalence, I think.
Christopher NOCK
Thanks Chris, but do you think this might lead to greater centralisation of power? And also perhaps more direct election-by that I mean more involvement of the electorate in various countries in voting in EU officials?
Well Stanley, I take the point, but I don't think it's clinching. To be honest, I think the democratic deficit card has been well overplayed in this country, for Brexit reasons.
Economic blocs must have common economic rules. To that extent, any supposed democratic deficit is a red herring. But what the eu is not good enough at is in allowing diversity in social policy. Social policy should be the sole reserve of nation state provided: 1/ It doesn't violate rights, and 2/ It is paid for by national taxes.
I argued this quite a while ago, suggesting that it is implicit in the UK's socio-economic approach! Is that brave or foolish?
NOCK
I'm interested in all opinions, Nick.
I'm a great believer in effecting social policies but it has to be done rationally not ideologically, as with say the Corbyn approach. There is no reason why such an approach cannot also create, within its processes, wealth.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Correction