Thanks to the Christmas Season, the media make a little less ado about the Euro rescue. The press, however, is still full of what our politicians have to say about the Euro Stability Pact and related topics. In 2010/2011, the Euro became the legitimate replacement for bird and swine infections.
Now they start making noises about starting a European Economic Union.
And again, there is plenty I fail to understand. For instance our politicians telling us in unison like a mantra that there will be huge disadvantages for us without the Euro and that we will lose the “fight” against the dollar (USA) and the Yuan (China).
This, too, is just an assumption you have to ask additional questions about.
Who among us really knows if a great European currency for all of us is a “must”?
It might just be possible that an elastic network of many small European currencies is a lot more effective in our “fight” against the Dollar and the Yuan. After all, in modern wars, the great armies of the super powers do not seem to have much of a chance against the flexible guerrilla and terrorist tactics, either.
We could put the national (maybe even sub-national) currencies into a European frame and thus softly balance the intra-national problems of Europe’s national economies. This concept would be more consistent with the historical structure of Europe, as well.
There is no such thing as Europe as a nation. After all, Europe as a nation does not have a history of several thousand years like the Chinese Empire. Neither can you compare Europe with the USA. The USA are actually a national (even if multi-racial and multi-cultural) state that understands itself as “God’s Own Country” and considers itself in the possession of the world’s truth. They know the one and only suitable “American Way of Life” and their Stars and Stripes are sacred.
Luckily, Europe still has some way to go. Incidentally, Germany does not have a long history as a centralized state, either. Not too long ago, Prussia and Bavaria still waged war against each other and there are still some people who feel more comfortable with the colours white-blue (not blue-white) than with black-red-gold.
No, basically, it is not just their legislation, their economical habits and their cultures that make the countries in Europe different from each other. I see it best when I travel through Europe by bike. Those are the times when I really enjoy the diversity as something positive and beautiful.
Consequently, it gives me pause to hear our Federal Chancellor, too, talk about the “economic union” of Europe. It reminds me of the COMECON. And I fear there might be parallels.
Thus, I wish for the freedom and self-responsibility of all ethnic groups (Ethnien) in a de-centralized Europe of regions which gives itself a clear frame with ethically responsible rules and abides by them. Instead of trying to copy China or the USA in a megalomaniac fashion.
RMD
(Translated by EG)
P.S.
The always again strange developments in Europe, such as the recent attack against the freedom of speech by the future President of the Council of the European Union (Ratspräsidentschaft) Hungary and several declarations of the political leaders in fashionable European neighbours make me afraid of a centralized Europe.
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