Kasz216 said:
I don't think you've digressed so much as started your own counter arguement against your point. Don't underestimate the advantage of having a bunch of poorer europeon "states" to have full control over because they need the money... making sure they buy German and French products, and that their building efforts are done by german and French companies, with loans made from german and french banks.... etc. They can use those countries kinda like China uses some of it's areas. Build it up economically, but make sure that the benefits of the economic growth mostly benefit Western Europeon states. |
Not all of it is bad, nor is the US aiming for a poorer, southern state such as South Carolina to secede like John C. Calhoun advocated for in the antebellum era.
As for a counter-point to my own point, I just don't see it. I was illustrating the wealth and geography theory I laid out in my original comment here. Alabama shares a lot more in common with California than Poland does with France or the UK in terms of shared history and culture.The history I am most aware of is the centuries of conflict between the european states prompting the US and UK to agree to the Monroe Doctrine concerning the Americas.
What the EU does is tie all of Europe together whether Germany, France, or the UK likes having to increase their share to help Greece out or not. I am not one of those EU doomsayers with a calendar on my computer counting down the days until the EU will dissolve. Instead, I understand the economic importance that ties them all together.
The interesting point is a country like Turkey. Is it foreseeable with the plight of Muslims and nativist reactions in European countries to ever accept a Muslim member into the EU? I think it will happen, but it may take another two decades.