[extropy-chat] Re: POL(L): The Constitution of Europe

[Dirk Bruere]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JDP" <jacques at dtext.com>
To: "Dirk Bruere" <dirk at neopax.com>; "ExI chat list"
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Re: POL(L): The Constitution of Europe


> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
> > From: "JDP" <jacques at dtext.com>
> >>
> >>Do/did we need a formal Europe at all? Are European Extropes pro-Europe?
> >>Why?
> >
> >
> > Because having a relatively coherent economic bloc of around 450m people
is
> > a base which can wield enough power to maintain the economic and
military
> > independence of its member states with respect to other world forces.
> >
> > However, I am not in favour of an EU govt in Brussels that feels it can
poke
> > its nose into the purely internal workings of its member states eg
criminal
> > law, various Rights issues etc. The EU should be limited to inter
national
> > issues only.
>
> Are there good reasons to think that agreement and coherent behaviour is
> possible in economic and military international matters without
> political unity?

Yes.
NATO, EU (current)
However, if you mean launching global military adventures at a moments
notice on trumped up charges (eg WMDs) then no.
Which is a good thing.

> Suppose a situation similar to WWII, with fascist Germany invading
> nearby countries, and causing a potentially global threat, and where the
> US got involved. Will a politically loose Europe manage to make the
> decision to get involved, or will it stay irresolute and passive while
> no clear agreement can be reached by the member States, except on the
> most extreme cases?

Hopefully, it would stay out of other peoples business.

> In other words, can Europe really leverage its military (and economic)
> power as a bloc while preserving the freedom and independence of its
> member States? Can you have the advantages of being a big State when you
> are a loose, ad hoc federation?

I do not call neo-imperialism and a huge military/industrial complex an
'advantage'.

Dirk

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