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| Europe |
| EU: The Model is Collapsing. Brussels Calls upon King for Help |
| 2007-08-20 |
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| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #11 If they are serious about the EU Belgium should disolve and enter the EU as two seperate nations. The Basques should make their case as well. Same with Scotland, Bavaria, Tuscany, etc, etc. The natural progression of the EU will lead to a number of large regional states leaving their member countries since paying taxes twice sucks and many places like Bavaria will have more power in the EU rather than providing power to all of Germany. As soon as the citizens realize this the EU will die. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-08-20 18:08 |
| #10 Scots take note. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-08-20 16:30 |
| #9 Belgium has no longer areason to exist. It existed because at one time it seemed necessary to keep France down. If you look at a map of France you will see that it is bordered either by high mountains, seas or a wide river (the Rhine). Everywhere ecspt between France's right "elbow" and teh North Sea. In addition this border is close to Paris and there is no obstacle between it and Paris. No mountains, no river, nothing. As long as France couldn't gob what is today Belgium it had to keep a huge army and was unable to challenge teh Royal Navy. Building a string Navy meant either a weak Army and invasion like in 1870 and 1940 or, in case France tried to have both, bankruptcy and revolution like for Louis XVI. That is why France who until middle XIXthe century had two or three times Enagland's population was never able to mount a credible threat of invading England. But if France had had its whole north-east border on the Rhine she would no longer have a need for large army. That is why when the Belgians expelled the Dutch the union between Flemish and Wallons was forced upon them and then in an independent state. The Wallons would have been French instead and the former I don't know what 1830 Flemish wanted but their fathers had served with distinction in Napoleon's army and kept loyal. Now the need for Belgium has gone. But I am not sure to want Wallons into France. |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-08-20 15:21 |
| #8 If Flanders becomes his own country, Moe and Apu are going to want the same deal. /Homer |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-08-20 15:02 |
| #7 Flanders has a pretty long history as a distinct area with its own entrepreneurial ways. In the mddle ages it was a center of industry/craftsmanship/trade, with a thriving bourgeoisie (i.e. anti-feudal folks) and home of the northern renaissance. |
| Posted by: moody blues 2007-08-20 13:27 |
| #6 Split Belgium into two nations. Southern part goes to France, northern part goes to the Netherlands. Problem solved. DV - no it doesn't. Not for the Flemings. (I am married to one). They hold the same disregard for the Dutch that they do for the Walloons. The language is not exactly the same. Flemish is more Old Dutch than current Nederlandse. Flemings are prominently Catholic. Dutch prominently Protestant except for the far south (Breda) districts. Believe me the best solution is an independent Flanders but only with Brussels as part of it. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-08-20 12:27 |
| #5 The Flemish should immediately start polling for secession, to get their people thinking about splitting Belgium in two. They could even gain the high ground by proposing a split like the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia between the Czechs and the Slovaks, which ended up with smiles all around, instead of any lingering animosity. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-08-20 10:31 |
| #4 Funny comments in the article: I think you should rename Wallonia "New-Albania". Ouch! |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-08-20 09:52 |
| #3 Perhaps they should try a Unity Government™. It's worked well in other places, I hear. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-08-20 09:35 |
| #2 QUAGMIRE!!! Split Belgium into two nations. Southern part goes to France, northern part goes to the Netherlands. Problem solved. (Gee... why does the above solution sound familiar?) |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-08-20 09:27 |
| #1 Nomination for Snark of the Day... (From the comment section) "Much advanced machinery and software does NOT have a french version." |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-08-20 06:30 |