So... does anyone actually care about the upcoming EU elections?

[SiD the Turtle]

I've noticed an advert on TV and online reminding everyone to register for the right to vote in the EU elections this summer. The question is, does anyone care?

Like the UN, to me the EU seems to be a bunch of old men debating policy and making mandates that they might do something at some point in the distant future. I'm sure that behind the scenes a lot of deep, technical and useful stuff is being done, but when all I can conjure up in recent money is a badly thought out data retention directive, why should I vote?

Of course the argument is if you don't vote, don't complain when they do things you disagree with, but unlike national elections I don't see the members we vote in being able to swing massive policy changes.

 

[Burned_Alive]

Some influence is better than no influence.

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Bump! Seems about time to ask the same question.

 

[Gammawolf]

Looking at the lack of response... I'd say it answers the question , I'm going in to vote for who ever my dad votes for xD becasue he has our familys best intrests in mind . I don't really care myself though. Least I have basis to complain now .

 

[Edinho]

Like the UN, to me the EU seems to be a bunch of old men debating policy and making mandates .

While I can understand where you're coming from. Complacency is dangerous. The UN was set up after the disasterous League of Nations, look where that ended up. And the EU has meant that practically Europe has been at peace for probably the longest time in history.

 

[dirtydog]

The election is more about sending out a message to the main parties than the EU itself. Consider it a referendum on their performance.

 

[dirtydog]

And the EU has meant that practically Europe has been at peace for probably the longest time in history.

Probably more to do with nuclear weapons than the EU.

Oh and Yugoslavia wasn't very peaceful, a few years back.

 

[sidthesexist]

While I can understand where you're coming from. Complacency is dangerous. The UN was set up after the disasterous League of Nations, look where that ended up. And the EU has meant that practically Europe has been at peace for probably the longest time in history.

The UN has turned into the same old taking shop that the league of nation did, just look at how they stood to one side whilst the massacre happened in Rwanda, the same has many times in recent years. As far as peace in Europe goes i believe this has nothing to do with the EU and more to do with the nukes we now have than anything the bureaucrats have done.

 

[Mr Jack]

Second to the national parliament (parliaments in Scotland/Wales), the EU parliament probably has the most influence over your life. Yes, much of what they are debating is esoteric; but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

 

[RDM]

Second to the national parliament (parliaments in Scotland/Wales), the EU parliament probably has the most influence over your life. Yes, much of what they are debating is esoteric; but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

Is that really true though? I was under the opinion that it was the Council and Commission that made all the laws. The only bit that is actually democratic just gets to talk about them?

 

[dirtydog]

Also the cornerstone of our defence is NATO, primarily the US. In a world where the US did not exist, but the Soviet Union of the cold war era (or even today) did exist, would we have enjoyed freedom from Soviet tyranny and would the Berlin wall have fallen? I doubt it very much.

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

The UN has turned into the same old taking shop that the league of nation did

thanks to countries like the USA and the UK you forgot to say

 

[4T5]

People fought for the right to vote & Everybody should exercise that right !!!



/Climbs off soapbox.

 

[sidthesexist]

thanks to countries like the USA and the UK you forgot to say

And Russia/china

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

you really have to sit back and think , have your lives turned for the worse since the UK has joined the EU ? is britain in decline? the same applies for all the rest , i have yet to see a country not profiting from this union , yet no one cares and most dont want it. I guess its good ol european nationalism still kicking

 

[dirtydog]

you really have to sit back and think , have your lives turned for the worse since the UK has joined the EU ? is britain in decline? the same applies for all the rest , i have yet to see a country not profiting from this union , yet no one cares and most dont want it. I guess its good ol european nationalism still kicking

How do we know we wouldn't have been even more successful outside the EU. Plenty of countries in the world enjoy successful and wealthy economies who aren't EU members. I don't think the richer countries of the EU should make net contributions to the EU coffers in order to make other countries better off. Yes that is a nationalist stance but I don't see anything wrong with that It doesn't mean I 'hate' the Spanish or the Greeks etc but I don't think we should have to drive on potholed roads while funding shiny new ones for them out of our taxes...

 

[NeoNemesis]

People fought for the right to vote & Everybody should exercise that right !!!



/Climbs off soapbox.

Thats what I was always taught too

Just got back from my polling station

 

[Iraklis F.C.]

dirtydog have you ever wonder where would the richer countries sell their goods if there wasnt anybody who could afford to buy them? you have to get over colonial economics , you became rich because you have , partly , ripped off colonies from their wealth. You have to sell in order sustain your lifestyle , someone has to buy. Investing , because thats the right term , in the south of europe will sustain your lifestyle and improve mine .

 

[Mr Jack]

Is that really true though? I was under the opinion that it was the Council and Commission that made all the laws. The only bit that is actually democratic just gets to talk about them?

That's not anywhere near as true as it used to be. The EU parliament is increasingly powerful. However, the EU is still not a terrible democratic institution.

 

[NeoNemesis]

dirtydog have you ever wonder where would the richer countries sell their goods if there wasnt anybody who could afford to buy them? you have to get over colonial economics , you became rich because you have , partly , ripped off colonies from their wealth. You have to sell in order sustain your lifestyle , someone has to buy. Investing , because thats the right term , in the south of europe will sustain your lifestyle and improve mine .

This isnt a critisism, but I am interested why you put spaces between your commas but not between your full stops.