The UK is to have a referendum on the treaty and I am wondering about the other EU countries. I am interested in everybody’s perspective - there are some questions for Americans and others down the bottom, but feel free to answer any questions that you want to.
1) What country are you from?
United States.
2) Are you having a referendum on the proposed EU constitution? If you don't do you think you should?
3) Have you read the constitution?
Actually, I have read parts. Too long to read it all.
4) I have read parts (because I don't trust the BBC or any other news outlet to portray it in an unbiased fashion). I plan on reading it fully. Would you find it useful for me to make post summaries and what I think the implications are of the various articles?
Well for others.
5) If there were a referendum tomorrow how would you vote (assume just a yes or no question – yes to accept, and no to reject)?
6) Do you plan on voting in the European elections in the summer?
For those that are having a referendum:
7) Do you think that your government will set a simple, unbiased question just about the EU constitution?
For the Americans & others:
The EU is getting to a scale where it can compete with the US economically. The EU is enlarging from 15 to 25 countries this year. At this point it will be bigger than the US in terms of population and the economic gap will diminish even more, possibly, over time to a situation where it will be bigger than the US.
a) What is your impression of the EU at the moment?
Highly favorable.
b) Do you know much about it?
Yes
c) Does the above (the intro to question 8, i.e. EU getting just as big if not bigger than the US) bother you?
Nope. I prefer a multipolar world. Besides China is growing too and a three polar world is better than a two polar world.
d) Why? / Why not?
e) Do you think it is good to have a counter-balance to the US?
very much so. As the US republican party is being hijacked by the conservative christian party, there needs to be outside voices that are more secular.
OK, that's about it. Thanks to those of you that take the time to respond - I am really very interested in all your opinions .
You know I am not a Euro-skeptic. I do believe in the rise of suprastates as I dont consider the nationstate the final result. Anything that gets to the point of a world government.
Though I must state, that the current constitution, should it fail, will still have a chance to reform later on. The United States and the Articles of Confederation is the perfect example.