The United States of Europe. What do you think?

Napoleon wanted this, too, and it was a bad idea then. The simple fact is that the countries are too different. Trying to legislate from one central location for the UK and France - two countries that are reasonably similar - would be hard enough, let alone the UK and Greece (for instance). The US has the advantage of smaller cultural differences, despite appearances. The majority of the population are expected to conform to American standards once they're on US soil (although obviously they retain most of their own culture as well, the public social norms are determined by American ideals and culture). In the EU, we're still individual countries. What's considered a norm here in the UK is flat-out weird once you cross the Channel. There would be no way to govern countries with such massive differences. The UK will never give up her sovereignty. Caveat: world war or worldwide civilisation-destroying disaster might change that. You want proof it doesn't work? The European Parliament. On the other hand, the Euro was probably a good idea. Making a common currency - which could be extended to other common systems - has made travel and commerce a HECK of a lot easier. Similar commonalities could be found, I'm sure. In fact, my oldest brother is one of the top bods working on a UK and Europe without cash, believe it or not. A lot of the computer-based systems for easy share trading and suchlike over here were spearheaded by him.

Well, maybe I am not an European, but hmm, I think it is really hard to realize it.. How can you solve this question: ~ Who will be the leader/president? - Who will involved in government area? With much of interests from each countries, then it would be reeaallly hard..

It would be like the ancient Roman Empire and we know how that ended. There was so much bureaucracy and it was under one federal government. The Roman Emperor appointed the judges, governors, etc. for each province. A United States of Europe would not be like America unless it has the same style of government, a Republic where each state has been a state since the beginning and those of the state appoint their governors and those of the federal do the same and that there are some laws that apply to individual states and some to the whole country. The European countries are countries. They have different languages and different dialects. A person who speaks Italian may not be able to speak English, a person who speaks Polish may not be able to tolerate a food a Swede eats, etc. And besides if there were a United State of Europ,e they would have to learn one language. An d that wold divide them because the French would want theirs to be the official language as well as the English and the Spanish, not to ;mention German and the others. It would to work.

Once in the EU all sovereignty is lost

I think if the move is taken to make them economically stronger then it is going to be a wise move. I am not a economist so I have no idea ho w does the economy works. I think they can learn from teh united states of America and then they can also become a good economy. It is not a bad idea at all.

I think there are still much differences between the European countries. One of them is the different languages. Another difference is the existence of rich and poor countries. Rich countries are very high developed in contrast with the poor ones. The mentality of people are different too. I think they will have still more economic crisis if they persist on the same economic structure which increase the distance between rich and poor people.

I am not in Europe, but I do believe that there will be a one world government and religion, I just never considered what religion or what kind of government. Not that I feel America has it all together, but I'd rather have that than a dictator kind of control...

The World Bank has wanted this to happen for a long time. Have you heard of the Bilderberg Group? Or about the Goldman Sachs scandal? This is scarey stuff boys and girls! Once just a few big wigs have the last say and we are out numbered we are in big trouble. Jim Tucker blew the whistle on them but no one listens.

The size of the union is going too be huge not only as far as land area is concerned but in terms of economy. Now putting that power in the hands of one if not a few persons is scary. Is the union in preparation for China whose growth seems to be stoppable?

I don't think that's true, I think Germany and France are doing their best to save the economy of the European union and that means making the other members try to live up to the obligations they've signed up for. So although that means they want to tell some countries what they have to do if they want to get financial support, it doesn't mean they're trying to take control totally. Getting a total political union of Europe has been tried several times, and as noone as managed to get there, much less stay there, I don't think it's likely anyone will try again. (if they're sane) As a European outside the Union, I just wish our government would take the no seriously and stop following everything they say blindly. Apparantly, we (Norway) are better at following the EU rules than many of the countries in the union, even though we can afford not to *grumble*

Oh my gosh..no way. The countries could never agree. They are not willing to give up their nationalism and self identity to join a group. I don't think it would work and I kind of hate to see that happen as each country is so unique and charming in itself. No way can they be a melting pot like the US. Look at all the problems the US has...

Hmm that's interesting indeed. But what about the UK? They are part of Europe and is very strong interdependently. What benefits would Europe have for joining altogether? I heard conspiracies about uniting Canada, USA, and Mexico, well at least uniting there currency into one. But I didn't see it happening because there was no benefits. Perhaps someone can fill me in on how this may become useful. I just see it becoming more complicated for Europe becoming one nation. Each country, does not matter how close they are to each other in Europe, all are just too different from each other to unite. To be honest, I don't see it as only a choice for their governments, but their citizens also. I do not think they can easily convince different citizens of different countries to go along with this idea. So I guess there it is, citizens will be the biggest conflict on this idea. But who knows, I also would like to hear yours, and others opinion

as someone who has visited many countires in europe, yes i think its a great idea. i think there is some ange rin europe over united states being more powerful and dominant and somewhere european countries feel that if they were more unified, it will become a more powerful entity which can take on the us.

yeah it really boosts the economy of the countries by bringing them together and forming united states of europe.

Any idea that strips people of their national pride is wrong . All I can see is a grad exit. They can always come over to the Original States here in America. The one thing that truly unites us is freedom!The one group od Nations I seeing saying No Way is Great Britain.

On a related note,I was reading in the paper Yesterday that the Eurostar trains connecting between London and Paris through the channel tunnel were trying out the idea of refusing to accept UK coinage on the trains,floating instead the "option" that People boarding in London should pay in Euro cash only on board,or use credit cards during the journey...Let's just say the customer response of outrage at this has made them drop the idea... So..with that as a barometer,IMO,until The day the UK decides to drop the £ in favour of the Euro as Coinage,this idea of a one Government European Federation isn't going to be complete...

hi Awinds can I join in even if I am from the US. It might work if all were willing to give up their sovereignty and become Untied and free. Just thinking it worked here but again our states were not sovereign-ties. that's probably were in they would have trouble. so many countries are again very different and would they want to lose their individuality to become a state of the US of Europe? There would be so many problems I doubt that it will ever come about although it sounds good on the face of it.

[i]Isn't this a Nostradamus thing? When Europe will become as one, and then the apocalypse would surely be near?[/i] I am in North America, but notwithstanding the prophecies, I think it is indeed a necessary move. Specially for the smaller states/countries. So as to protect against another recession that would surely reach the shores of North America.

It's an interesting idea,but I doubt most European countries will accept it,I think that many of them want to preserve their identity,and they will surely loose some of their unique characteristics if they agree to become federal states.I also don't think that the poorest members of the European Union,like my country,Romania,will benefit from this move,because the integration in the European Union has brought nothing but trouble and more poverty to the Romanian people.I think some members will keep on being seen as the poorest members of the union,while other countries,such as those who came with this idea,will benefit from it and become stronger and richer.I'm sure of one thing:there won't be equality between the members of such a big union,and that's why I'm against it.

It wouldn't happen because if they became one country i'm 100% sure that all the smaller countries would get all their resources and tax money used in different states. It would be ilogical to do it. The European union could represent themselves as a country but they gotta stay a union of independent countries