From: "Andy" <as-AT-spelthorne.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 10:29:43 +0000
Subject: Europe


I think on balance I agree with your thoughts about a bank run, 
corporate federation of States.

A few more thoughts though:

1    The trade unions seem also to have embraced the single currency, 
which raises the usual historic issues about how naff they are 
anyway. Nonetheless, when looking at some of the Eurosceptic Tories 
who see the UK as a low wage slave economy on the periphery of 
Europe, I can understand that view. [source: ranking civil servant 
who worked with Tebbit and  Nick Ridley dcd.] - I think it's a 
residual class reflex : 'If they're agin it, I'm for it.' Certainly, 
in the 80s, elements of the Tory party wanted a 'second world' 
economy, with a 40% lump of the population  cut off from welfare and 
jobs, and this was concomitant with the move from manufacturing to 
service.

2   While capitalism is firmly in control, from a Euro-centric point 
of view, there is perhaps marginally less destructive currency 
speculation, though other economies will find themselves increasingly 
de-stabilised.

3    With a highly centralised bureaucracy and people further 
alienated from decision-making, and with that lack of 
self-determination  made more obvious, are the conditions possibly 
more fruitful for a bit of dissent?

4    What's the betting the referendum doesn't happen?





_as