They're also not that unhappy with EU regulations, so far as I know. Europeans are used to putting up with things like that.
You disagree with him about the EU. That's because you have different interests and view the question from different angles. It doesn't mean he's stupid.
From his own point of view, if nationalism meant he was shut out of commissions in Madrid or Copenhagen or Riga, it hurts his income. Other Dutchmen might feel that they benefit from the opportunity to work in those cities as well. Americans and Britons don't feel the same way, but maybe the Dutch know their own interests better than we do.
But isn't the EU supposed to be imposing restrictions on imports? If they're doing their job, aren't they supposed to be discouraging outsourcing and factory flight?
I agree with you. The interests of the citizens (be it EU or Netherlands) are from their citizenry to their government. The citizens vote for that control. I have no issue personally with Europeans voting for the EU or against it but it’s not all one way. It’s their vote but my issue is the comment about manufacturing being impacted by automation. If I am automating a factory, I do it in a country that can support and maximize the automation. Our (USA) loss doesn’t look like it’s due to automation. It looks to me to get around our government and its regulations. Wages are the third maybe second order cause. I think, maybe I just hope, that the US population woke up about the cause of our 30 year decline.
Anyway, I do wish I had more experience with European politics and economics.