This is an excellent editorial from the FT. Check it out!
via Lost illusions on Europe – FT.com.
Personally, I very much endorse the views of the editorial.
What do you think?
Subregions of Europe (UN geoscheme) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Dr Alf's Blog 
There are four arguments that have to be taken into consideration – and three of those are not addressed by that editorial and, indeed, not addressed by most of those commenting on the UK/EU relationship.
The first is economic. Yes, there are good reasons for staying in the EU but there are also arguments against that. As far as I can see, nobody honestly knows whether or not membership is a good thing for the long term economic well being of the UK or the reverse. I certainly have no idea. Probably – on balance – if this was the only argument I would favour remaining within.
However, consider number two – democracy. I believe in democracy. I believe that the main reason this country went to war in 1939 was to protect certain concepts of freedom from totalitarian control. The EU is not a democratic organisation and does not even try to pretend that it is (although some commentators do just that).
Then there is number three: accountability. The EU is funded by taxpayers and it is not unreasonable to expect it to be accountable to those who pay those taxes. Either as a result of appallingly bad book-keeping or something far worse, the accounts have yet to be properly signed off.
Lastly number four – security, stability, call it what you will. The EU has morphed from an organisation that was designed to ensure that there would not be a third European war – by binding the people closer to each other. However, tensions are rising between the people (not their leaders or the leaders of the EU) in Greece on the one side and Germany – caused by the way the EU has steamrollered the Greeks (who feel they are being dictated to by their old enemy: Germany) and the concern that the Germans (who feel that their hard-earned cash is being used to prop up peoples they see as feckless).
Why are these three not considered? Do we really want to be party to an undemocratic and unaccountable organisation that is now creating tensions among the people of Europe?
Rodney, many thanks for sharing your views here. The points that you raise are valid and should considered in any re-negotiation