Roughly speaking, I think closer Eu links cannot be forced. The nation state has not yet had its day, I may be something of a leftie with a desire to shake things up, but the sheer history and practical size of the nation state is not something to be currently gainsaid. Therefore, the EU trend of centralisaiton is to be abhorred. The part of that which is so worrying is as you say the crimial justice acts, and the harmonisation across the EU. There is a different between saying "right, taht kind of X is equal to two of them, and that level of degree in the UK = a Y in France and a Z in Spain." That is how i would have thought it best to proceed, but no, its more a case of europeanisaiton everything. Then, since decision making is such a mess, you geet the council of ministers, acting on behalf of the executives of every country, making decisions that affect teh future, in a very tight band of people. Then theres the business input eg my the european round table of business's, who have gotten their way in many cases in the last 20 years. The bureaucrats are another danger, since the harmonisation encourages the growth of rules etc. Now, you ahve to accept that some of this growth in rules is part of the natural growth of control in general. The more you control the more there is to control, just look at your car for example. But what has happened is its capture by vested interests, and this is made easier by the simple amount of distance from here to there. Now, in the UK, Thatcehr continued the trend of gvt centralisation, and Blair has only carried it on. Town halls are comparatively powerless. Moreover, the biggest other threat is the simple fact that the PM has usurped every monarchical prerogative going. From waging war to freedom from prosecution, to packing the law courts with stooges, its all there.
Now, to try and tie it all up is hard. BAsically, the west lothian question is coming to the fore again, ince the gvt is relying on scottish mps to push through legislation, i think its on hospitals, or is it tuition fees? cant remember. anyways, it is a simple logical point that the scots shouldnt vote on matters affecting only england, and preferably vice versa as well. I am not so sure a parliament jsut for englan is relaly a good idea, its too far along to regionalisation, same with a parliament for yorkshire etc. However, what shoudl be done is decentralisaiton of power from westminster. This will require much effort and itnerest taking y the electorate however, but i dont see it as beyond the bounds of possibility. Second, the house of lords should be fully elected, but by a different system to the commons, and possibly with different tenure etc. That will do for starters.
ow, for Europe, i would immediately put on hold the constituton, and single currency. IT might even be wrth dismantling the single currency, ut at this point i have to juggle two has. My revolutionary side sayd stuff it, killl it off and lets d something different, my conservative side says look at the economics and world power potential. But htat aside, i think the whole negotiations of european wide laws etc shoudl be repealed back some way. The Eu cannot be dragooned into being one nation state. That will take at least 2 more generations of prosperity and happy living together. Ramming the laws for it through now is pointless and will damage everything. Actually, what to do to the EU is something i need to look at, its an area outwith my previous studies.
What would you like to do?
Now, to try and tie it all up is hard. BAsically, the west lothian question is coming to the fore again, ince the gvt is relying on scottish mps to push through legislation, i think its on hospitals, or is it tuition fees? cant remember. anyways, it is a simple logical point that the scots shouldnt vote on matters affecting only england, and preferably vice versa as well. I am not so sure a parliament jsut for englan is relaly a good idea, its too far along to regionalisation, same with a parliament for yorkshire etc. However, what shoudl be done is decentralisaiton of power from westminster. This will require much effort and itnerest taking y the electorate however, but i dont see it as beyond the bounds of possibility. Second, the house of lords should be fully elected, but by a different system to the commons, and possibly with different tenure etc. That will do for starters.
ow, for Europe, i would immediately put on hold the constituton, and single currency. IT might even be wrth dismantling the single currency, ut at this point i have to juggle two has. My revolutionary side sayd stuff it, killl it off and lets d something different, my conservative side says look at the economics and world power potential. But htat aside, i think the whole negotiations of european wide laws etc shoudl be repealed back some way. The Eu cannot be dragooned into being one nation state. That will take at least 2 more generations of prosperity and happy living together. Ramming the laws for it through now is pointless and will damage everything. Actually, what to do to the EU is something i need to look at, its an area outwith my previous studies.
What would you like to do?
bless all the good folks who work to try to replace hatred and bigotry with love and respect for one another...