Should GB screw the EU and go with NAFTA?

[chrisjk]

Okay, as the subject says. It's long been debated but not on here (at least I don't think so). Americans, Europeans and Britains are free to vote...should we??

[HarryW]

Sorry I have no idea what NAFTA is

[Active]

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Association.
Currently Canada , Mexico and US are it's Members.

[chrisjk]

I only said US, Britains and Europeans because I thought nobody else whould care...but if you do, you're of course free to vote...

[HarryW]

Is there any chance that we wouldn't have to use such a stupid currency as the 'Euro' (who came up with that for a currency name? It's just crap) if we did the NAFTA thing? I mean, with the trade benefits still.

[amesjustin]

I think the merging the EU and the members of NAFTA would be a boost for all countries involved. in NAFTA, all countries still maintain their own currency, though. NAFTA has given a small boost to the USA, but a large boost to Mexico, who needs it more...

[chrisjk]

'Euro' (who came up with that for a currency name? It's just crap)

If you're reading this and you're German, it was the French. If you're reading this and you're French, it was the Germans

Well, US has Dollar, Mexico has the Peso, and Canada has the Canadian Dollar (different or not, I don't know), so I assume Stirling would stay with us, and the rest of EU can keep the Euro

[amesjustin]

probably

Canadian dollar is a little less than the US dollar, the Peso is ALOT less. not sure on the conversion values though.

[HarryW]

I like British currency, it even has a pretty cool name if you ask me, 'Pound Sterling". Better than "Euro"... that's just... well sh*t.

[simonm]

I am the solitary (so far) voter for the European Union.

What I can't understand is why so many britons want to 'get in bed' with America and are so terrified of Europe?

I favour Europe over NAFTA because in Europe, we will have a democratic say over policy and are equal partners with the other major european countries.

The NAFTA organisation is heavily unbalanced containing one superpower (with the largest economy on the planet) and two 'dominated' economically minor countries (relatively speaking). Joing this 'alliance' would lead Britain to being dominated (even more than it is currently is) over a wide range of issues.

The european union is more environmentally friendly minded than the US and combined, has a larger economy.

Let's join the Euro and forge a future for europe rather than being subverted by the back door when America flexes it's economic muscle.

for once I actually read the thread before voting (bad, I know) but for once the arguments seemed evenly balanced...so I chose sod them all!

I realise that the british empire was an ugly and oppressive thing, but our country was at its most successful when we were independent...

[alex_read]

I know there are many nationalities that post here, so very, very simply put...

I think the UK is far, far better off if we kept "as is" - own currency, own language & own useless overpaid farts to rule the country ...

[simonm]

You think we have an option to remain independant? In the ever emerging global economy of the world there will be no independants! Only players and isolationists will remain.

If you trully want britain to be an isolationist country then there are a lot of luxuries we will have to do without.

If we are going to be a player, we need to join the best team. Forget the days of the empire, the world has changed and we've got to move on.

If we sit back (complacently) thinking of ourselves as independant but still trying to play the global market place we will we walked over and bullied into certain actions by economic superiers.

Independance is an illusion these days and the best thing I believe Britain can do to maximise her self control and independance is to be a fully participating member of the EU where we can attempt to shape Europe into a more favourable environment rather than sitting on the fence and watching europe take on it's own shape outside of our influence.

[alex_read]

There can be only 1 ...

Sound's like you've been watching too much of the highlander films to me Simon

[Jamagei]

well, i reckon we should take over the world, we did it once before we can do it again, but this time there should be no, half arsed jobs in it. i mean we only had half global domination. RULE BRITAINIA!!

[alex_read]

Well, everyones entitled to their own opinion, in this case, they should keep it to themselves as its obvious Briain doesn't need all of this c**p !

[HarryW]

Could we just not call it the Euro? Seriously, that is the biggest thing about the whole European Union malarkey that I hate... it's such a crappy name for a currency... ugghh... we could just call them European Dollars or something, anything but the Euro.

[Jamagei]

they were thinking at one point of calling it an Ecu (eck -oo) as in European Currency.

[alex_read]

Has anyone actually seen "a euro" yet ?

They've been in operation for a while & I think I'm right in saying that shopkeepers are obliged to accept them already, saying that, I've never seen one.

[simonm]

When the Europeon curreny was first introduced, it affected only the banks and big business as there wasn't an immediate change of notes and coins.

I don't know what the big probm is with the name. It must be so difficult comming up with a currency name that all the euro countries can agree on. At the end of the day, though, who cares? Who gives a s**t what it's called or even if the notes have the f***ing queen on one side?

What really matters is whether there are benefits for joing what soon will be the largest economy (using one currency) on the planet.

[HarryW]

Well it ought to be obvious by now that I care!

[simonm]

HarryW, you said previously:

the biggest thing about the whole European Union malarkey that I hate... it's such a crappy name for a currency

Is that really your biggest concern over joing the european single currency? Aren't there more important issues at stake?

We've had crappier currency names in the past, take 'Groat' for example. Not the flashiest of names.

Still, if you don't like the 'Euro' or the 'Ecu', what should they call it?

[HarryW]

Well yes I'm sure there are bigger issues at stake, but frankly I'm not interested in getting involved, I have other things in my life that are more important to me. I'm just an ignorant (about European politics at least) member of society to whom the only obvious difference will be that the money in my pocket could be different.

You can call me small-minded if you like, and quite honestly you'd be right. I quite openly admit that I don't understand the issues involved and I am not willing to put in the time to learn about them.

What I do think is that it's a stupid name for a currency and I will feel I am using a stupid currency if I have to use it.

I already suggested they could be called European Dollars. I'm not saying it's a great name but at least it's better than 'Euro'. I would prefer 'European Pound' but I don't think the rest of Europe would appreciate it.

[alex_read]

I have to disagree there, you need a short, one sylable word like "groat" or "pound" for it to catch on...

[alex_read]

And how do you spell sylablle anyway ????

[HarryW]

Well that's fine, I'd just call it just 'Pound' anyway.

[alex_read]

"knickers"
"sh**e"
"WastOfTime" ...

[simonm]

HarryW, You have subscribed to this thread. You're already involved!

Fair enough, If you aren't interested and don't want to get involved, that's up to you.

I did not mean to imply you are small minded for not being interested in the wider issues. It's just that I know most of the British public take about as much interest as you do and are opposed to joining the Euro most avidly.

The future of our country will be in the hands of people who don't (and won't) learn more about it but it won't stop them from voting against it when we have a referendum over it.

I don't like 'Dollar' as a currency name because the US has it. We need a new distinctive name for the euro. Maybe it should be an anagram of the first letter of the name of all the member countries.

[Jamagei]

Well, no offense but that is one of the dumbest things i have heard today. All the member countries, something like a superkagafragelisticexpealidocius in order to fit in all the letters.

Customer: "How much is that?"
Shop Keeper: "It is one superkagafragelisticexpeali.....
Customer: "F**k it"

That wouldn't work. But the concept was there. Also the british appernetly have it best with the Coins as there is a picture of Europe on them and Britain is right in the center

But i agree with harry on the crappy name, it seems a little self-appreicating. I think that a groat is a good sounding currency. it is only one syllable.

But people don't like change, it is simple as that. The british are great for it, and bloody obstinate too.

[simonm]

Nope, you're right there.

The British don't like change.

They didn't like it the last time the currency was changed and they don't like metric.

You've really summed up the main reasons people are against the EU. Change.

[HarryW]

Only change I want is in Pounds Sterling thanks