Sternly Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 this will be my last thread tonight, promess! :lol: why do Britons are always the exception in Europe? It's like everyone got the Euro less then (I know Finland doesn't either, and Sweden not too, but they are like isolated, so you get to understand that? everyone in Europe uses 220 Volts and 50 Hz, I think and they don't everyone drives on the right side, and they don't (Aussies do too [left side], but they are not in Europe, and I've got the impression Irish do too, but forget that) like.... I can't remember the other example I had, but it was something with the referendums and the EU......... they are just different! why is that? cause Ireland is also and island, but they are not like so....... different ah, your monarchy is the most scandalous ever and your newspaper like :stunned: showcking.... wow, like........ big letter and huge shocking titles........... the question is why! (btw, does it to be or not to be belong to Macbeth?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mycdplayerisbroke Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 what? englanders drive on the left side of the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 uh yeah! I meant that...... will change that .... thanks, I guess! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybeeburns Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 some Englanders still drive on the right hand side even though its against the law over here we call them "joyriders" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 why do Britons are always the exception in Europe? It's like everyone got the Euro less then (I know Finland doesn't either, and Sweden not too, but they are like isolated, so you get to understand that? - We value our sovereignty, also the main reason is the Euro cripples economies as seen in Germany and France...Germany has an unemployment rate of 4 million, the UK has an unemployment rate of 1 million...this is because we aren't forced to change our interest rates by Brussel...one rate doesn't fit all...the interest rates in UK are governed by the Bank of England, it keeps the pound stable and competitive, then the foreign investment comes, for example Honda/Nissan build their car factories in UK due to set up costs and so people get jobs. Gordon Brown (Chancellor of the Exchequer) has a 4 point check list that the Euro hass to meet before he will consider accepting it as our currency...its never met all 4 yet. everyone in Europe uses 220 Volts and 50 Hz, I think and they don't - no idea, I just guess the rest of europe being a mainland set up their power supplies...the UK being an island set up ours differently. Wasn't that long ago that the train tracks in UK were a different width to euro trains..and that meant a bit of trouble for the Euro Tunnel. everyone drives on the right side, and they don't (Aussies do too [left side], but they are not in Europe, and I've got the impression Irish do too, but forget that) - Driving on the left comes from medieval times...Horsemen would always pass on the left of another rider, keeping their sword arm closest to the enemy...this is how it was until a certain short Frenchman called Napoleon, who was left handed...as he conquered most of europe he forced his army to go on the right so his sword arm would be closest to the enemy...a lot of countries still drive on the left...most of the commonwealth (Except Canada) ie South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India...and some cultures who were know for war too..the japanese drive on the left too, due to the Samurai and feudel systems they employed. like.... I can't remember the other example I had, but it was something with the referendums and the EU......... - EU referendums cause fear in the UK, cos it will mean a loss of sovereignty to europe, our lives will be dictated by people we didnt elect in Brussels..most brits don't like that thought... they are just different! why is that? cause Ireland is also and island, but they are not like so....... different - you gotta remember, we spent over 1500 years fighting most of these nations in some war or other (except Portugal, they're our oldest allies) There's a natural distrust...we're a island nation, we're used to being alone...i guess you can call it isolationist. ah, your monarchy is the most scandalous ever and your newspaper like showcking.... wow, like........ big letter and huge shocking titles........... - Freedom of speech, the UK has it :) the question is why! (btw, does it to be or not to be belong to Macbeth?) - What's MacBeth got to do with it? We just don't believe europe has UKs best interest at heart..it's the powerful Franco-Germanic alliance that runs europe, and we struggle just to get heard..so often we reject everything, cos it's not in our interest to sign up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 This is quite possibly one of the most intelligent posts by Sternly. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Worrying aint it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 I knew some of that staff, the other no, so Thanks but now I've got another question, don't you think you, as Britons, are like too paranoic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Paranoid? Not really, just sensible, we've seen how the euro affects powerful countries (germany and france)...and we aren't going to rush into anything that ties us down to anything without making sure it's in our best interests... Would you sell yourself out just to make others happy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinned Alive Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 (btw' date=' does it to be or not to be belong to Macbeth?)[/quote'] No, it comes from Hamlet... I don't know how this is relevant, though :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 omg i finally get that last question lol...and Hamlet was Danish if i remember correctly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 Paranoid? Not really, just sensible, we've seen how the euro affects powerful countries (germany and france)...and we aren't going to rush into anything that ties us down to anything without making sure it's in our best interests... Would you sell yourself out just to make others happy? yeah, Paranoid I meant. Well you know that question you make is slighty, very to be honest, different to the actual case..... the UK is a country, I am a person. I can tell you yes or no (and that's really a stupid thing to say because there is a huge difference between what you say and what you end up doing) and that could affect you and maybe 10 more people, but that's it. It just affects a very narrow spectrum (correct?). Now the UK is huge, not is size, but in power. Their desitions will affect almost everyone, inside or outside the country, and Europe. Hence, you can not only think in what's good for you, you must think of it as a whole. You've joined the European Union, you take advantage of it, and you've got the power to stop things that are not in favour of your country; then why be/being so selfish? It's like you want it all, but don't want to give up a thing....... I might be wrong though, I'm not sure about that, but that's the impression I am getting. I am not saying joining the EU was a bad thing or not having the Euro; there are countries who are just like yours, and there are some who use the Euro and are not member of the EU, but I would re-think that part of "... making sure it's in our best interests..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StupidIntel Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 ...add... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 Now the UK is huge, not is size, but in power. Their desitions will affect almost everyone, inside or outside the country, and Europe. Hence, you can not only think in what's good for you, you must think of it as a whole. That's the crux, the UK is the 4th biggest economic power in the world right now, it's one of the only nations not currently in a recession, work is plentiful, the nation is prosperus...why would we jepordise all that just to join a single currency that has been seen not to work at it's best. It would be economic suicide to join it right now. Sure we get stuff out of the EU, but likewise the EU gets stuff out of us, its a trading block, that's the point. We don't take advantage of europe like you state in your post. Of course we think as a whole, the EU has great potential, but essentially, we are still British, and that should come first no matter what, else we wouldn't have a country to live in to start with. Therefore we have to think about what is best for us before we think about anything else. nd you've got the power to stop things that are not in favour of your country Do we? That's the thing, we don't always...for example metric came in, people in this country still rebel about the metric system...you can be put in jail just for displaying your wares at market in imperial (pounds ounces) with no metric equivalents (grams kilos)...The whole question at the moment regarding the EU constitution has been raised in the UK, we want a referendum, because the constitution could lead to power being taken from UK government and placed in the hands of Brussles...where do we then have the power to chose what we want to do? We wouldn't, and that's the point of our rejection. End of the day, I'm English, and to the greater whole British, what happens in the EU effects me and people in this country. So everything that comes from the EU we view and decide whether or not it is in our best interests to abide by. You don't seem to like the term "best interests", as if that's some crime and we must all conform to the EU no matter what the consequences...that just won't happen aslong as the people of this country have freedom of speech and the right to express that. Which they do everyday, from the papers (that you don't seem to like) and rallies/debates. One final point.. there are countries who are just like yours, and there are some who use the Euro and are not member of the EU, OK tell me who uses the Euro and aren't in the EU..I'd love to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manders Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 :o tries t.....o.....re....ad I GIVE UP! :o :o :o :o :o :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 18, 2004 Author Share Posted May 18, 2004 nd you've got the power to stop things that are not in favour of your country Do we? That's the thing, we don't always...for example metric came in, people in this country still rebel about the metric system...you can be put in jail just for displaying your wares at market in imperial (pounds ounces) with no metric equivalents (grams kilos)...The whole question at the moment regarding the EU constitution has been raised in the UK, we want a referendum, because the constitution could lead to power being taken from UK government and placed in the hands of Brussles...where do we then have the power to chose what we want to do? We wouldn't, and that's the point of our rejection. Well, I must say I fid that quite a silly example. I don't see what's the big problem with using the metric system, not because I use it or I find it easier than the imperial system; just because it doesn't change the things. I can tell you that my weight is 450 Newtons or that my mass is 45 kilos, and it won't change me or what I am trying to say. It's just a conversion, but it doesn't change the value/mass, so I really don't see the problem there (apart from the fact that you need to convert most things) End of the day' date=' I'm English, and to the greater whole British, what happens in the EU effects me and people in this country. So everything that comes from the EU we view and decide whether or not it is in our best interests to abide by. You don't seem to like the term "best interests", as if that's some crime and we must all conform to the EU no matter what the consequences...that just won't happen aslong as the people of this country have freedom of speech and the right to express that. Which they do everyday, from the papers (that you don't seem to like) and rallies/debates.[/quote'] You are getting the wrong impression; I do appreciatte a lot the freedom of speech, and I find your Parliament extredimely funny, dinamic, respectful and yeah, there is that what you called Freedom of speech, a thing that you don't see here for example (not in Parliament really). Now, what I don't like much it's your newspapers..... I think they are like shallow... you are probably going to diagree with me, but I think they are (well the big newspeapers, that foreigns like me get to know) too sensasionalistic (a real word?) and they just do not focus on what's "important" (you can argue that what's important for you might not be for me, but I hope you get actiolly what I am trying to say, and do not go into those small details)... that's my opinion though. I do watch a lot the BBC, which is the most reliable media I have. (I must I admire the BBC system, I mean how they get funds, the 'law' I mean, but that's another story) there are countries who are just like yours' date=' and there are some who use the Euro and are not member of the EU,[/quote'] OK tell me who uses the Euro and aren't in the EU..I'd love to know. Kosovo :) [/i] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 read next post lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 These 12 countries use the Euro Belgium, France, Netherland, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg, Finland. Kosovo using Euro is akin to Asian or South American countries using the US dollar...it's not technically their national currency just one of their adopted ones...so Kosovo is invalid. There are no countries outside the EU using the Euro as a sole official currency. As for the metric system introduction...it is a big deal...sorry, but when 60%+ of this nations population grew up using one system, to be actually forced to change is wrong...I can give you my height and weight in Imperial, you ask me to tell you the same in Metric, I have no idea. I love how you find my examples silly, try telling that to the farmers, to those who sell their wares at a market place. It is important. English papers.../shrug, some are shallow, mostly the tabloids (Sun Star Mirror etc) But newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian, The Independent are internationally known, and so respected. On the positive side for the tabloids...they may be sensationalist, but more often then not, they have the finger on the pulse of public opinion. Since it's the public who elect those at parliament, then knowing what's happening is vital. I read The Sun (sorry hehe), it's views are very pro war in Iraq, very anti Euro, and it tells it like it is for the EU. I read it because I agree with its views...and since the Sun is the most popular paper in the UK, it does voice popular opinion of current events, no matter how sensational they are. So any other problems with the UK sternly? It's funny you have such a strong fascination for how things are run over here when your all the way over in Chile? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 19, 2004 Author Share Posted May 19, 2004 So any other problems with the UK sternly? It's funny you have such a strong fascination for how things are run over here when your all the way over in Chile? That sounds to me like ironic, but nevermind. I have another question, not a problem, there wasn't any problem really; is it true you don't have like a constitution? Like.... how do I put it, so you don't get all upset..... ah, like things are not writen down, people just know something, and that's not writen on a paper, but everyone respects it...... it was something like that, is it true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 19, 2004 Author Share Posted May 19, 2004 ah, and the Kosovo thing! "Currency in Kosovo" In accordance with UNMIK regulation No.1999/4 the Euro (“EUR”) was adopted as one of the official currencies in Kosovo from January 1, 2002. It replaced the German Mark (“DEM”) being then the measurement and reporting currency in the territory of Kosovo. Today, Euro is the most widely used currency in Kosovo. Taken from Banking and Payment authorities of Kosovo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sternly Posted May 19, 2004 Author Share Posted May 19, 2004 They also use the Serbian Dinar though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mycdplayerisbroke Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 hahah what do you care about kosovian money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soleil Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 I think I learned a lot today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 stupid double post read next one again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogieJ Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 ah, and the Kosovo thing! "Currency in Kosovo" In accordance with UNMIK regulation No.1999/4 the Euro (“EUR”) was adopted as one of the official currencies in Kosovo from January 1, 2002. It replaced the German Mark (“DEM”) being then the measurement and reporting currency in the territory of Kosovo. Today, Euro is the most widely used currency in Kosovo. Taken from Banking and Payment authorities of Kosovo Yes sternly this is where I found my information too, so posted what I posted. It's "one" of the official currencies of Kosovo, it isn't "the" official currency...only the 12 EU states have the euro as sole official national currency. Each EU country that uses the euro has specially minted coins showing an icon from their country...the German euro has a Standard eagle on it for example. Kosovon money i very much doubt has this, they would just use euros already in circulation, because they aren't seen by the EU as an official user of their currency. That's what I'm try to say, no-one outside the EU uses the euro officially. As for the written constitution...no we don't have one..we have laws, but we have no piece of paper with them all written down/amended etc...laws come and go, this can lead to some funny examples where old laws haven't been repealed and so technically could still happen...for example, it is legal to shoot a welshman in the city of Chester with a crossbow after midnight...I'm sure if anyone tried they'd get arrested, but it's still law to do that...also the death penalty hasn't existed in the UK for nigh on 50 years, but there are/were still cases that could get you killed if you performed them...these were regicide (killing on the monarch), High treason (traitor against the UK), burning down of her majesties shipyards and grave robbing...some have been looked at recently and changed, but atm i can't remember which. So no-one in the UK can say "Hey, this is unconstitutional" cos we don't have one :) The only reason i can give is this country has gone through so many forms of government in it's time that we never did it...from Rebublic (under romans) to Feudal to Monarchy (with feudal ties) to democracy...I believe the nearest we got was 1215 when the Magna Carta was signed between the king and barons. Following link provides info. http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/magna.html Oh some other useful stuff... http://www.uknow.or.jp/uknow_e/about/100faqs/qa08.htm , this question 1 taken from it. Q1. Why doesn’t Britain have a written constitution? A1. The British constitution has evolved over many centuries. Unlike the constitutions of America, France and many Commonwealth countries, the British constitution has not been assembled at any time into a single, consolidated document. Instead it is made up of common law, statute law and convention. Of all the democratic countries in the world, only Israel is comparable to Britain in having no single document codifying the way its political institutions function and setting out the basic rights and duties of its citizens. Britain does, however, have certain important constitutional documents, including the Magna Carta (1215) which protects the rights of the community against the Crown; the Bill of Rights (1689) which extended the powers of Parliament, making it impracticable for the Sovereign to ignore the wishes of the Government; and the Reform Act (1832), which reformed the system of parliamentary representation. Common law has never been precisely defined - it is deduced from custom or legal precedents and interpreted in court cases by judges. Conventions are rules and practices which are not legally enforceable, but which are regarded as indispensable to the working of government. Many conventions are derived from the historical events through which the British system of government has evolved. One convention is that Ministers are responsible and can be held to account for what happens in their Departments. The constitution can be altered by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to alter a convention. The flexibility of the British constitution helps to explain why it has developed so fully over the years. However, since Britain joined the European Community in 1973, the rulings of the European Court of Human Justice have increasingly determined and codified sections of British law in those areas covered by the various treaties to which Britain is a party. In the process British constitutional and legal arrangements are beginning to resemble those of Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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