So, I'm studying for my Internation Business exam...

[Phoenix5]

I'll tell you what...

I'm not the only person in this class to not know what EU did or why it is there, etc...

All I knew was that there was the euro...didn't know there was a monetary union...nothing...

All I've been hearing about here in the last few years is how republicans and democrats don't get along and all this US focused political BS...

Not to mention I work for an electrical wholesaler and only delivered to contractors around the area for the last year...so I've been living vicariously through people who, like me until recently, have had no understanding or care of what is happening across the world...

I guess we knew China's economy is getting a lot stronger haha...

I guess that's why all of this is so confusing to me...

Eventually, I'd like to get into some of this International Business stuff so I'd like to get views from people and not stuff straight from the media or a textbook...

 

[Dead_Lioness]

There's also that Counting Crows song. !!!

Oh that's right!!! #$@%#$!!!

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

wow.

 

[derek]

Much of the American deficit is owed to companies that are from the world's developing nations, China especially. It's economy is becoming larger at the expense of ours. China and India will be economic powerhouses in years to come, and so bye bye established post WWII World Order.

As for the E.U, it's probably best not to imagine it as some homogeneous entity, it was essentially an economic agreement to help ease the flow of money and goods which has been taken, somewhat, to it's logical conclusion. Germany is still Germany and Italy Italy, despite the same currency. To be honest, I think it's a reasonable European response to world economic change - i.e. to keep Europe vital. I really only consider it in that light - the other bollocks about uniform shape of fruit etc can eat a dick, to put a quite fine point on it.

 

[Phoenix5]

As for the E.U, it's probably best not to imagine it as some homogeneous entity, it was essentially an economic agreement to help ease the flow of money and goods which has been taken, somewhat, to it's logical conclusion. Germany is still Germany and Italy Italy, despite the same currency.

Ahh okay, I think that's what was so confusing to me...

It seemed like the entire organization was to take over all of the governing of all of the countries within the union, but now that I understand it as an economic gathering it makes more sense.

 

[derek]

Nope, in fact, it's a hot topic for debate just how much power the E.U has over it's member states. It may increase with the Lisbon Treaty (if the Czechs relent), but almost every country has independence high on it's agenda.

It's still essentially an economic organisation, but it does move closer to influencing each member state in domestic politics with each passing year, although it will probably, I think, never replace single country autonomy. It's kind of a secondary government for all it's members, but it only deals with how each member interacts with the other members, not how each country acts domestically (although there are certain standards or legislation expected to be held/enacted by each state).

It has it's own Parliament (in Brussels) and each country contributes Euro MP's who form a kind of Pan-European representational democracy that deals primarily with economic factors.

 

[slashvanyoung]

As for the E.U, it's probably best not to imagine it as some homogeneous entity, it was essentially an economic agreement to help ease the flow of money and goods which has been taken, somewhat, to it's logical conclusion. Germany is still Germany and Italy Italy, despite the same currency. To be honest, I think it's a reasonable European response to world economic change - i.e. to keep Europe vital. I really only consider it in that light - the other bollocks about uniform shape of fruit etc can eat a dick, to put a quite fine point on it.

Yeah, this is your answer.

As I said in another thread, I think Americans who haven't lived over here get confused because they understand the EU as a federation similar to the US and its states.

Now with Ireland agreeing to the EU reform treaty, we'll make another step into that direction, but we're still so far from being a homogeneous entity - and quite possibly never will be.

But... You knew there is the Euro, but you didn't know there was a monetary union... So what the hell did you think the Euro is?

 

[Phoenix5]

But... You knew there is the Euro, but you didn't know there was a monetary union... So what the hell did you think the Euro is?

I know...I feel stupid now that I know about it...

I always just thought it was a form of currency that was commonly used in Europe...not that there was an actual reason for it...

 

[Phoenix5]

Nope, in fact, it's a hot topic for debate just how much power the E.U has over it's member states. It may increase with the Lisbon Treaty (if the Czechs relent), but almost every country has independence high on it's agenda.

It's still essentially an economic organisation, but it does move closer to influencing each member state in domestic politics with each passing year, although it will probably, I think, never replace single country autonomy. It's kind of a secondary government for all it's members, but it only deals with how each member interacts with the other members, not how each country acts domestically (although there are certain standards or legislation expected to be held/enacted by each state).

It has it's own Parliament (in Brussels) and each country contributes Euro MP's who form a kind of Pan-European representational democracy that deals primarily with economic factors.

Much of the American deficit is owed to companies that are from the world's developing nations, China especially. It's economy is becoming larger at the expense of ours. China and India will be economic powerhouses in years to come, and so bye bye established post WWII World Order.

As for the E.U, it's probably best not to imagine it as some homogeneous entity, it was essentially an economic agreement to help ease the flow of money and goods which has been taken, somewhat, to it's logical conclusion. Germany is still Germany and Italy Italy, despite the same currency. To be honest, I think it's a reasonable European response to world economic change - i.e. to keep Europe vital. I really only consider it in that light - the other bollocks about uniform shape of fruit etc can eat a dick, to put a quite fine point on it.

These are basically what I was looking for as to what it essentially is.

Thanks.

 

[derek]

This is just my interpretation, of course. I've never studied political science, so I'm rather just an interested observer.

 

[Phoenix5]

For now a lot of this information works...

Big test today.