Briando55,
I completely relate to your postings and Jo Cox appears to have been a wonderful young lady, a young MP demonstrating conviction with humour, a rare commodity these days. It is difficult to post responses at this moment in time given the sensitivities following this atrocious attack, which if I have understood correctly appear to have come from an extreme right wing element.
I like you, personally do not wish to be associated in any way with such extreme views and am so sad that this has now led to reactions that can easily be misunderstood.
Nevertheless I wish to make the following observations given your understandable response and decision to remain in the EU, Brian.
Having written to many MEPs over several years and encouraging others to do likewise (via www.writetothem.com) in an attempt to gain reform of the system, gain greater accountability and transparency, and more recently bring to the EU Parliament and Commission's attention the need for the EU to ensure that member states adhere to the rule of law, the basis upon which acts as a civilised and effective benchmark to protect citizens rights, I have sadly come to the conclusion that the EU is failing to listen to citizens concerns, and has failed to demonstrate a willingness to address reform.
I am not looking at this from a purely economic perspective but to the wider immoral and unethical implications that are hidden from view from the average voter.
Not turning a blind eye to the needs of citizens but defending their rights.
It appears wrong to me when the good intents of a Union turn out to be corrupt, unaccountable, hypocritical, underhand in their actions ( strong words I know). A union that has created a system that appears to have pampered to political elites, allowed financial institutions to control and decimate member states societies (Greece a classic case in point ) who turned a blind eye to immoral complex financial "structures " that encouraged accession in full knowledge that they failed to meet entry requirements and in that process ignored the major risks upon a nation of people, which have now been sadly realised.
That through its rules and regulations and inflexible political dogma has failed to recognise the impacts that have resulted in mass unemployment, stripped countries of their skilled labour, separated young from their families as they had no option but to move from their homeland in desperate search of work, etc. without due regard for their homelands (and here I'm not referring to refugees).
Likewise a union that in its application fails to ensure member states adhere to the rule of law, protects citizens rights, protect pensions that people have made provision for all their lives with regard to companies that they have supported with their loans, that "allows" the strongest member state to amass surpluses at the expense of other member states ( it's complex) and ignore stability pacts intended to protect from the outset.
And in that process fail to recognise the potential to create divisiveness and proliferation of extreme right wing ideology, thereby undermining the wonderful tolerance that has taken decades to establish in our western world.
I am not thinking of ourselves in the main, my thoughts and concerns are genuinely for others and the hidden implications of a union which sadly appears to be all too distant from the aspirations and best interests of its citizens.
It is the system I am disillusioned with (as many others also), not the citizens, " our neighbours" for whom in the main I have every respect.
Reform has not been adequately debated in this EU referendum, which leaves many to conclude that the establishment are satisfied with the status quo. For other citizens who have reached the conclusion that you have Brian, I feel they deserve better, and my fear is that apathy will return and without a realistic mechanism in place for citizens concerns to be realistically addressed and reported back to the EU Commission, that this will only exacerbate the very real concerns that are now coming to the fore.
As citizens we have no easy access and direct means of discussing the problems with MEP's, no "surgeries" as exist in the UK (and sadly from my first hand experience the system of emails is inadequate and too easy a mechanism to ignore), no easy means of ensuring that our concerns are heeded and reflected upon, so as to identify from a wide perspective the direct impact of EU failings on us, as citizens.
Its time that the EU were willing to recognise this. But silence has not been golden I'm afraid, and sadly this has only added to the distrust and feeling of lack of control that so many now understandably regard as a fear in their minds. Especially when they see that the EU is over-ridding their own Governments ability to control (and I understand that many consider there have been failings also from Govt in that regard , but that should not detract from the responsibility of the EU to respond to citizens genuine concerns and protect where required, to be willing to be more transparent and accountable, to look for realistic solutions and REFORM …..).
Perhaps best I leave it there.
This message was last edited by ads on 17/06/2016.