Should the UK........ - Page 5

2escapees · 22-01-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacken

I don't wish to be controversial but you should never give the man in the street a referendum. He knows virtually nothing about the proposed subject. Think about it. How much do you really know about the EU. Most people don't even know how many countries are in it, yet alone how it all works. They just vote for their personal benefit not for the good of the country as a whole. We elect MPs to act on our behalf and that is how it should be. For what it's worth, I would vote for it.

ken

Do we really elect MPs or do most people just vote for a Party and don't really care who their MP is?

Harley Dave · 22-01-2008, 03:42 PM

You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink

We all (presumably) have the privilege of being entitled to vote but whether you do or who you vote for is your personal decision

Personally I vote for the person I believe will best represent my interests

jacken · 22-01-2008, 05:51 PM

Also, if we do join the euro, will it not show up our rip off prices at a stroke. Like for like, you'll see a difference between the countries. For example music CD in Uk= 14 euros, music CD in france 10 euros. At the moment, businesses etc. love the way it is confusing to convert the different currencies and can get away with charging us more in the UK.

ken

GJH · 22-01-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacken

Also, if we do join the euro, will it not show up our rip off prices at a stroke. Like for like, you'll see a difference between the countries. For example music CD in Uk= 14 euros, music CD in france 10 euros. At the moment, businesses etc. love the way it is confusing to convert the different currencies and can get away with charging us more in the UK.

ken

Like for like in terms of different prices for the same products but not like for like in make-up of those prices (most oft quoted being the difference which tax makes to fuel prices). Joining the Euro might enable people to better judge whether they prefer to harmonise tax & benefit structures with (e.g.) France/Germany/Italy.

Graham

Supertractorman · 22-01-2008, 08:33 PM

The Common Market may well have helped industry ( still not found out who ) but it certainly has never helped Agriculture in this country, which was the lifeline of this country after WW2. Most of my working life was with the Milk Marketing Board with all its minor faults. It did however mean all Farmers were paid for their milk monthly, and there was always milk and dairy products on doorsteps and Supermarkets at prices which let Farmers make a living, and housewives pay a fair price. Joining the Common Market meant that a monopoly like that had to go, as other member states saw it as a challenge to their over production which they could not control. What did they do but close the MMB and other similar organisations, resulting in our Farmers struggling to make money out of Beef, Dairy, Sheep, Pigs etc., in order that our Supermarket shelves can be filled with products stamped with a small EEC mark but PACKED in Britain.
If we get the EURO it will be another part of our heritage gone, just so that it can be controlled by Brussels and we will be another country under the thumb.
Sorry for going on, but I feel strongly against this Mickey Mouse Money and the Organisation contolling it.

David

xgx · 22-01-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:....If we get the EURO it will be another part of our heritage gone... unquote

Let's think heritage and bring back the Groat...

Be forward thinking, create tomorrow's heritage,
the €

Mickey Mouse money? We've been using that for years, time for a change... get on board or get left behind

Just as an aside, it's great to go to France and come across € from Spain, Germany etc all part of the Euro yet uniquely identifiable.

I do wonder if the similarity between the € and £ sign was a subtle sop to the UK....

jacken · 22-01-2008, 11:13 PM

Fordson,

I thought it was the supermarkets that stuffed the farmers. we keep hearing how the 'big four' pay peanuts to the farmers for their milk, beef, veg etc. Is this correct or am I on the wrong track?

ken

Supertractorman · 23-01-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacken

Fordson,

I thought it was the supermarkets that stuffed the farmers. we keep hearing how the 'big four' pay peanuts to the farmers for their milk, beef, veg etc. Is this correct or am I on the wrong track?

ken

Ken,

Yes the Supermarkets have a lot to answer for, but now with only really 4 or 5 Dairy Companies going for the Contract to supply them with milk and produce then of course they keep on shaving margins, and the farmer inevitably suffers.
In the days of the MMB then all Dairy Companies paid the same price for their milk depending on what they were doing with it, therefore a reduced price to the Supermarkets was based on their manufacturing / bottling efficiency. Veg, Beef & Lamb were never controlled to the same extent, but a few years ago there were more local Butchers & Greengrocers which have also disappeared. With EEC legislation all the local small killing houses have gone meaning less buyers in the cattle markets, so less competition, resulting in lower prices to the Farmers.

David

ksebruce · 23-01-2008, 10:33 AM

Also don't forget the CAP soaking up loads of dosh and putting our farmers at a disadvantage cos they are efficient. Grrrr