Well, it had to be done, didn't it? And since this is both the first and last post, I have won. Thank you all.
But all you busy little bees are not the winner. It's me :)
I'm a moth, not a bee. So I win.
your rant worries me Dez
Europe has decided that its' better to have one currency instead of 12 (or is it 20?)
and believe me one currency has nothing to do with dictatorship
I do miss the Dutch gulden, but only because the graphic design design was so much better that that of the euro
http://www.catawiki.nl/catalogus/bankbiljetten/ontwerpers/58047-oxenaar-r-d-e
I think one currency is ok and I don't miss the old D-Mark and I don't start to count 2 Euro feels like 4 D-Mark... For what? We don't know how prizes have developed with our old currencies.
Shopping mall everywhere looks the same, if you are in Germany or Netherlands, Great Britain or Czech. Everywhere H+M, Foot locker and how the shops are all named.
But every town and country has an own charme which is not made by the global players. It comes from the people who live there and from their history.
You can see it in EU how difficult it is to bring the member nations together. No country wants to loose the own image and that is ok. They only should work together better and should not make such a nonsens like E10 (Fuel with 10% renewable source) or to say how long a cucumber has to be when it is sold in EU.
One currency has everything to do with laying the groundwork for totalitarian government, which isn't quite the same as dictatorship. With a savvy and educated population, you appeal to their desire to solve a niggling problem first. The complicated monetary exchange system in Europe was one such problem. Get control of a country's monetary system - a whole continent's money system - and replace it with a common currency. Some countries don't have the resources to back the new value of currency, so you back them financially, knowing the debt is growing and you will eventually own them. Plant the idea of countries working together for certain outcomes, foster it, then bring on the common enemy. This can be those who disagree with the majority, but anyone will do. Start small, with a few problem people you can get everyone to agree on - terrorists (and if they aren't active, plant a few bombs and blame them) - and people will gladly allow more and more punitive laws, without understanding that those very laws can be turned against law abiding citizens who have been falsely accused. Laws like no right to trial, being held indefinitely with no trial, allowing torture. I've left out lots of steps, but that's the rough outline. Homogeneity is a bad thing in nature, and it's a bad thing in society.
Anyway, I think people should not close their eyes and trust their leaders. In modern times intelligent people have woken up to find themselves caught up in a deadly machine, with no way out. History repeats itself a lot. And I think we are on the brink of something very deadly and totalitarian. Read 1984 again, listen to news services that inform, not entertain.
Having said all that, it would be remiss of me not to remind you that you are losers. I win.
A government which want's to know everything about their citizens with the make-believe they need it to have security for the country and it's citizens is very bad. Our government tries it always, they are not better than any other country. I think that is the danger. People believe them even though they were never affected by crime. But it could happen and there for they live in fear and agree to loose freedom in little slices so they don't remark it.
Of course I read 1984. But I still think it is not the currency. It is the lausy habbit of governments, equal from which color, to try to control their inhabitants by law.
Puh now I'm the one who wins ;-)
thank you gesinek for your thoughtful wording ;D
After 2 devastating wars Europe has come a long way
by recognizing each others national identity, we have learned that borders are not that important
it's people that count
and I do read quality newspapers and I've read 1984 (in the year 1984!)
Echoes the star wars scene, few large trade federations/ blocks controlling the riches, and the destiny of the pawns - the common people.
I'm going to change the subject, but I want to say one thing to Grunn. I didn't "rant". It was a considered opinion and not at all emotional.
Now, where was I? Oh, yes. In the winner's glorious robes.
Oh, I'm borrowing it for short !
Give it back. It won't fit you.
Those are the bath robes you have on - the winner's robes are with me!
Then avert your eyes!
rob the robe. winner takes all (?)
Been away from the site for a while, glad to see all of the more 'eccentric' members are still here and trying to win! (you never will).
Yep, it's true that the eccentric members are still around, Jon, but you and I are still here, so there's hope yet.
And by the way - I'm winning.
:)
I resent that remark. I'm winning.
@2369: Without being a little bit eccentric you'll never have a chance to win. And you can see it's me who wins.
See what did you say?
Speak up, Gesine. He's a bit hard of hearing. Well, they get that way at their age, don't they?
Seems to be so - WINNER
certainly a winner, thank you! * takes a bow*
"the winner takes it's all"
Prizey loves karaoke
:D
From the Japanese 'Kara' = 'loud' or 'empty' and 'Oke' = 'Orchestra' or 'Bad noise'
Thus 'Karaoke' means either 'Empty orchestra' or 'Loud bad Noise'.
I've seen Karaoke. I know which one I believe.