EU ROll over for the rest of Europe (The Euro)

Member Name: Charris2002

Product:	The Euro
Date:	18/11/08 (127 review reads)
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This debate has been going for years now but it still isn't an easy question to answer for a whole raft of reasons. There are economic issues, political issues, and 'national pride' issues to take into consideration. For that reason I am going to keep this quite short (I hope lol!) and try to keep it as simple as possible, without losing the thrust of my arguments. Here goes.

Shall we join? Let's have a referendum, let the people decide!! Isn't democracy grand? Without wishing to generalise too much, the majority of the great British public aren't and won't be, made fully aware of the implications of voting to join the Euro. If the government of the day wishes us to join the Euro, it will happen, make no mistake about it. Referenda are very short, simplistic questionnaires, usually put together by very clever people, who know the answer they want, and will phrase the question(s) in such a way as to get the answer they want. End of story.

Why we should join?

A common currency - is a fine aspiration but what about when you travel outside of Europe or even within Europe to member states who aren't Euro users? You will still be required to convert currency. In the 21st century, we can already many cashpoint machines abroad (see the Visa or Mastercard signs??) although if we cannot read the host countries language...that's a separate issue though!! We will still probably take money abroad in the shape of travellers' cheques (Euro travellers cheques but still cheques) and your flexible friend is accepted worldwide. However, we won't need to convert prices to local currency anymore (Euros is Euros right?) as prices will be roughly the same price anywhere within Euro using countries. A staggeringly naive assumption - different tax rates, different tax systems e.g. VAT will prove this unfounded (but we could adopt Mr Prodi's suggestions of a Euro tax for all member states). We will recognise the value of these (admittedly colourful but somehow childlike) notes and be able to tell when we are being ripped off though.

It will harmonise relations with the rest of Europe - Hmmm rose tinted spectacle time. Think farming, think export, think asylum seekers. We have not exactly ever been bosom buddies with our nearest neighbours, we have a disturbing habit of fighting wars between ourselves and Euro 'partners' for hundreds of years, we can't even agree that a cucumber should be bent or straight, or whether its really on to produce wine generously laced with anti freeze and sell it our partners!! A more serious case is the ongoing issues raging with France over asylum seekers at Sangatte, which still shows no signs of abating.

It will bring trade benefits - see above. British beef, lamb, anything anyone? Hmm thought not. However, we are an island that produces nowhere near enough consumer goods, food or natural resources to allow us to be independent, but if we were to join the Euro, our partners would give us preferential trade rates on these. Err, flaw here is that it is companies, not nations, who produce these.

Who will pay?

That one's easy. Me and You! The cost of joining the Euro will be colossal, even if it is introduced in stages. Just think for one minute, what changes will be needed - tills, cash points and banking facilities, signage, ticket machines at stations etc etc. You can bet your bottom Euro the companies involved will pass this on to you as a consumer.

What about countries who have already joined?

Hmm a poll conducted 5 months after Germany joines reported over 50% of Germans wanted it scrapped. Oh dear, why? I hear you cry - some examples:

A half litre of beer was 5 Marks (£1.50) it now costs 4.4 Euros (£2.60)

A kilo of cheese was 15.6 Marks (£4.50) it now costs 15.6 Euros (£9)

Carrots that were 1.9 Marks (60p) now cost 2 Euros (£1.20)
Not really surprising that they are somewhat unhappy is it?

What's your view then?? I hear someone shout from the back.

I, as you may have begun to realise (you clever Sherlocks, you!) feel we should not join the Euro. This not for any xenophobic reasons, nor through a particular sense of national pride, but for purely economic reasons. I cannot see the benefits for us as individuals, or as a nation in aligning our currency. I truly believe that when we do, we will live to regret the decision that will, at the end of the day, be made for us.

Summary: Just my tuppenceworth (or should that Euros worth?)