Keep The Pound & The Union Flag Thongs Riding High (The Euro)

Name: Sexy Kay

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Product:	The Euro
Date:	16/03/02 (544 review reads)
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If I'm off somewhere, indulging myself with a spot of much needed retail therapy, all that really matters is that I have a sufficient supply of money with me. What the money is called is unimportant. If it's Pounds, Euros or even Dollars - so what, as long as it has equal purchasing power.

It would be easier for me, of course, if prices were in Pounds because I'm familiar with what they represent. Tell me the price of a pair of jeans is £35 and I can judge if that is either too expensive, or about the right amount I'd pay. If instead you were to say the jeans are 58 Euros I'd have no immediate idea if that was fair, or if I was being ripped off - but I'd soon learn.

When I've travelled, and had to use different currencies, it has never been a problem. For a while I'd work out what, say $62 was in Pounds, but after a while there would be no need as I would start to think in Dollars. And so it would be if the UK switched to the Euro. At the beginning we'd still be converting back to Pounds in our heads, but this wouldn't be necessary for too long - depending on how much spending we actually do to familiarise ourselves with prices. I reckon I'd learn extremely quickly!

So, all in all, no problem if we switch to the Euro then?

Well, we'd soon adjust to the prices, as I have already indicated. We wouldn't have to change our currency when nipping over to Europe. That would be great, no commisssions to pay, and if we were in the South of France and wanted to pop along the coast into Italy we could use the same money. Perfect!

There would be no currency fluctuations for businesses selling to Germany, Spain and the others. This would obviously be easier for all concerned. Though, of course, we have to remember that we trade with the rest of the world as well, so how the Euro performed would be important.

I'm sure you are familiar with the arguments
in favour of the Euro. It all seems pretty straight forward - done and dusted.

But, guess what? I don't feel that we should join the Euro, in spite of what I have just said, and some of the advantages briefly mentioned. Maybe one day, but not now. I realise this may make me the odd one out, as most Dooyoo opinions seem to be in favour, and so is my boyfriend and most of my friends.

I'm not against it because I'm some sort of out and out traditionalist, or a little Englander, who doesn't like change - because I do. Change is an essential part of life. Pounds and Ounces, Stones and Pounds, Feet and Inches - it's fine by me if we ditch them. Miles as well if you want. You can't have units of 16, 14 or 12 'somethings' to a whole one. This makes no sense in todays world. By all means lets standardise and co-operate with other countries - but not with our currency.

So why shouldn't we switch to the Euro?

I think the answer is because of what this will 'really' mean. It's not just about giving up the Pound. It's more to me a case of where joining the Euro will lead. I have no doubt in my mind that the end of the Pound would be the beginning of the 'United States of Europe' proper. Our politicians may tell us this isn't the case but they are telling us porkies. They'll simply try and brainwash us when the time comes. There are signs of this already. We are called Member 'States' - not countries. This is to get our minds softened up and used to the idea.

Let's nip back to when the European Community was first formed in 1967, before Britain was a member. The main commitment of members was for economic and 'political integration' as envisaged by the Treaties of Rome, as set up in 1957 - this included the statement, '... and the ultimate establishment of political unification'.

I see the aim of Europe as being a
united front to rival the power of USA, regardless of whether this is beneficial to us as individuals.

OK, now let's look at one major problem of joining the Euro: that of the same interest rates for all member countries - whoops, sorry, states. I'm no economist, as you may guess, but it's pretty obvious to me that this can't work if all of the states are doing their own thing. If some have high inflation or spending and others don't, for example, there is a problem. Variable interest rates are needed to tweak individual economies. This tool would be lost to Eddie George (I met him once, a very nice man!) and the Bank of England. No matter what was right for Britain we would have to stick to the interest rate as set by Europe.

Over the years currencies have always fluctuated against each other in a natural way. In the past the European Monetary System tried to set boundaries for currency fluctuations, and what happened? It all went to pot and virtually collapsed in 1992, when Britain, Italy and Spain were unable to maintain their currencies above the limits that had been specified. They also had to juggle their figures to accommodate other countries. In other words ...

Different economies have differing cycles and have different needs.

It's therefore no easy task to merge a dozen or so currencies and set them one interest rate without running into all sorts of problems unless ...

Unless, that is, you are heading for one economy with the same VAT, same taxation, including what you and I pay, same pension schemes, same national insurance, same - well everything. And that means one European bank and, of course, the formation of the United States of Europe (USE).

Perhaps you may like the sound of the USE, with Brussels, Berlin, Paris or whoever setting laws (would they be elected?) and dictating what we can and can't do. It'd be great though, wouldn't it? We'd a
ll live together as one big happy family - like hell we would! States would still each be trying to look after, what they considered to be, their own interests. Look at France at the present time. They still have a ban on British beef despite the EU and its courts stating this is illegal. As a veggie this doesn't particularly bother me in some ways, but it illustrates how all of the states do not follow the rules as conscientiously as Britain does (and would).

Moving on, this is where I get a bit fanciful! I love John Lennon's words in Imagine of 'no countries'. It's a wonderful ideal and I fully believe that this will come about one day - but I doubt if any of us will see this happen. We are just not ready for unity. We are all different and these differences are ingrained and cannot, or will not, disappear overnight. One day we 'may think as one', which will be fantastic, but there is an awful lot of work to be done first on the way we all think and act.

This may seem extreme, but look at what happened in places such as the old Yugoslavia. Different races and religions fall out. Man turns tribal at times and I can see that a USE may lead to long term unrest in some quarters. I say this even though my philosophy in life is to be positive! If we look at our own country, we have some Scots and Welsh who wish independence and even a few Cornish! Then there is the N.Ireland problems. But what a USE would do is lump us all together in a much bigger, and even more diverse pot - maybe not at first, but it would follow. And remember also the idea is to include more and more countries / states. Eventually, after enforced unification, I believe some of the tribes would fall out. As to what this would mean, I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

So, if you want, we can steam on into the Euro, as 'all' of the main political parties 'really' want - no matter what they may
say. There will be a few advantages, as I mentioned briefly earlier e.g. travelling abroad, no currency fluctuations for businesses to worry about when exporting to Europe, a currency to perhaps rival the U.S dollar etc. If you are happy about being a member of a state of Europe, and appreciate what this may well mean, fine - join the Euro.

Otherwise we can keep the pound and build a strong currency - and this can be done. Britain has had nine years of sustained growth, according to the International Monetary Fund, and this is better than any of the other Group of Seven top nations. Since the 1991/92 recession output has risen 3% a year and inflation has dropped from 9.5% to 2% - the lowest in the EU. The Pound isn't in too bad shape. (Mmm, now I wonder how the likes of Spain, Greece and Portugal have done? And isn't there a rumour that Italy were printing money in the past to pay for their pensions?) By keeping the Pound we'd also retain some independence and control over things that matter, other than what we have already surrendered.

If I look into my crystal ball ...

I see a tall handsome man, but besides him, I see a world where one day there will be only one currency. There will be freedom of movement. People will be simply citizens of the world, and not from any country, state or class. But this is a long way off. There are many lessons we have to learn first. We have to overcome worldwide poverty, greed and religions. We have to accept that, though different, we are all the same. Our whole outlook and spirituality have to change first.

Until there is some visible movement that we are heading in that direction I say - keep the Pound!

- Kay

P.S. Right, I'm ready to fend off your arguments. I'm obviously wearing my red, white and blue armour and union flag thong. I may be out numbered - but you know deep inside I'm right. I'm British, by gad! Rise up and
join with me now, "Land of hope and glory ..."

No? Oh well, I won't bother either then. Have your Euros (and you will), but don't say I didn't try to warn you. ;-)

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