I think the EU is a good idea, and a common currency is a net benefit, despite the obvious drawbacks.

I agree for all the reasons you stated

The USA? Hardly. They're on the slippery slope to third world status in my view - a small group of wealthy elite surrounded by scores of increasingly desperate people with ready access to guns in a culture which extolls their virtue.

I agree completely

Ultimately I government (or should I say politicians) can not be counted upon to do the right thing no matter how much sense it makes ... citizens in countries like Greece, Spain, Italy etc have been rule breakers for centuries and have little regard for teh fair play that I believe is required for a good idea like the EU to work.

A perfect example is in Italy it is illegal to wire tap conversations between government offiicials and the mob ... in other word they can be crooks without impunity ... the moral hazard asscoiated with such a mentality makes me believe that a good concept will be destroyed and the politicians of many of these countries inability/unwillingness to do that to which they have committed is something I view as inevitably breaking the union.

In some respects it is nearly unimaginable that the country whose agenda was to take over Europe is the anchor of the union and that those they attacked are amongst their biggest allies ... for a minimum of half of the last 100 years it was unfathomable that the French and Germans would work so closely together ... positive yes but I still believe fragile.

orgy