Twenty Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the EU is a Reincarnation of the Former Soviet Union
As a matter of fact, there are so many similarities between the old Soviet Union and the EU that mere coincidence is unlikely. Most Europeans have not yet understood this. Most are still indifferent, but their indifference will soon vanish when the full weight of repressive EU policies and EU taxation doing its destructive work will be felt. Sooner than anybody now thinks, the only way to vent criticism of the EU will be in the form of jokes. No doubt many of the characteristic old Soviet jokes will be dusted off and given an anti-European Commission twist.

The whole article here:
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-11-2009/110289-berlin_wall-0

You are right. The whole European Union wheeze wasn't about beating the Americans at their own game - but about beating the Soviets at theirs.

Hmmm I wonder what the real purpose of that article was. I still don't entirely trust news and editorial opinion stories coming out of Russia.

Usually the Russian Mafia is involved somewhere in the mix. The EU is nothing like as tightly controlled a federation than the USSR ever was.

It could be just sour grapes as they watch their former empire becoming assimilated by another economic bloc.

Americans generally regard the EU with a great deal of suspicion of course. It's more of an economic threat for them rather than strategic, and that suspicion is probably justified given recent currency developments.  

muso wrote on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 8:17am:

Hmmm I wonder what the real purpose of that article was. I still don't entirely trust news and editorial opinion stories coming out of Russia. Usually the Russian Mafia is involved somewhere in the mix. The EU is nothing like as tightly controlled a federation than the USSR ever was. It could be just sour grapes as they watch their former empire becoming assimilated by another economic bloc. Americans generally regard the EU with a great deal of suspicion of course. It's more of an economic threat for them rather than strategic, and that suspicion is probably justified given recent currency developments.

You obviously didn’t read the article that was written by a German author Hans Vogel.
Next time first read something what you want to criticise before making irrational dogmatic rejection.
Anyway its getting more and more clear that European union is just another failing Empire.

athos wrote on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 4:11pm:

muso wrote on Nov 6th, 2009 at 8:17am: Hmmm I wonder what the real purpose of that article was. I still don't entirely trust news and editorial opinion stories coming out of Russia. Usually the Russian Mafia is involved somewhere in the mix. The EU is nothing like as tightly controlled a federation than the USSR ever was. It could be just sour grapes as they watch their former empire becoming assimilated by another economic bloc. Americans generally regard the EU with a great deal of suspicion of course. It's more of an economic threat for them rather than strategic, and that suspicion is probably justified given recent currency developments.   Next time first read something what you want to criticise before making irrational dogmatic rejection.

Ouch!!!


Raw nerve, Muso, what?!?! (snort, snort)!


;D

athos wrote on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 4:11pm:

Anyway its getting more and more clear that European union is just another failing Empire.

I agree. What I can't quite figure out is - what' the motivation?

Is it simply the French influence? Considering that the whole EU caper is best seen as a French idea for the subjugation of the Germans: the French were conclusively bollocked by the Germans three times - 1871, 1914-18, 1940-44 - so this time they are milking German guilt and industrial prowess for all its worth.
But why do all the other countries, great and small, go along? If England had any sense they'd put in an application form for a free trade agreement with North America. A much better fit.

Just a fallback to an old European cultural instinct - unify after division... the European Union is the new Holy Roman Empire... How long before European Christianity (whats left of it) reunifies?

Good point. They need a unity of belief of some sort. Being post-Christian is not enough unless Christianity is kept foundational.  Otherwise they may as well think of themselves as post-Mayan or post-animist - obviously meaningless.

athos wrote on Nov 6^th, 2009 at 4:11pm:

muso wrote on Nov 6th, 2009 at 8:17am: Hmmm I wonder what the real purpose of that article was. I still don't entirely trust news and editorial opinion stories coming out of Russia. Usually the Russian Mafia is involved somewhere in the mix. The EU is nothing like as tightly controlled a federation than the USSR ever was. It could be just sour grapes as they watch their former empire becoming assimilated by another economic bloc. Americans generally regard the EU with a great deal of suspicion of course. It's more of an economic threat for them rather than strategic, and that suspicion is probably justified given recent currency developments.   You obviously didn’t read the article that was written by a German author Hans Vogel. Next time first read something what you want to criticise before making irrational dogmatic rejection. Anyway its getting more and more clear that European union is just another failing Empire.

нет, спасибо!  Pravda is not my favourite on-line source of information. Even nowadays, Pravda very rarely lives up to its name.

muso wrote on Nov 8^th, 2009 at 11:21am:

athos wrote on Nov 6th, 2009 at 4:11pm: muso wrote on Nov 6th, 2009 at 8:17am: Hmmm I wonder what the real purpose of that article was. I still don't entirely trust news and editorial opinion stories coming out of Russia. Usually the Russian Mafia is involved somewhere in the mix. The EU is nothing like as tightly controlled a federation than the USSR ever was. It could be just sour grapes as they watch their former empire becoming assimilated by another economic bloc. Americans generally regard the EU with a great deal of suspicion of course. It's more of an economic threat for them rather than strategic, and that suspicion is probably justified given recent currency developments.   You obviously didn’t read the article that was written by a German author Hans Vogel. Next time first read something what you want to criticise before making irrational dogmatic rejection. Anyway its getting more and more clear that European union is just another failing Empire. нет, спасибо!  Pravda is not my favourite on-line source of information. Even nowadays, Pravda very rarely lives up to its name.

Well I agree that's the problem when we mix facts with our personal feelings.

athos wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 8:20pm:

Twenty Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the EU is a Reincarnation of the Former Soviet Union As a matter of fact, there are so many similarities between the old Soviet Union and the EU that mere coincidence is unlikely. Most Europeans have not yet understood this. Most are still indifferent, but their indifference will soon vanish when the full weight of repressive EU policies and EU taxation doing its destructive work will be felt. Sooner than anybody now thinks, the only way to vent criticism of the EU will be in the form of jokes. No doubt many of the characteristic old Soviet jokes will be dusted off and given an anti-European Commission twist. The whole article here: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-11-2009/110289-berlin_wall-0

I am not too sure, the finns are tha happiest people in the world, the whole of Scandinavia is up there actually & Norway has a strong economy with vast savings. Germany is the 2nd largest exporter, & the whole region produces well educated & competive civilians (especially Germany & Scandinavia). The Euro has advanced economically & politically very nicely. The bigger guys help pull the smaller, less developed/efficient ones(eastern europe, spain, italy) through, which allows for more stability regionally but I concede some far reaching laws stunt some countries advancement but nothings perfect. The worst off members are the members that dont have their full heart into the EU - the UK.

Call it socialism, communism whatever, seems like a content, working model to me. How much of the above can we say about the US, China, Russia, India?