[tjwmason]

As an aside, are you in favor of Britain joining Europe? You speak of Europe as a continent, not a country, but I thought that's what the game was over there. Common currency, etc., common foreign policy, ala the United States, and with the ultimate goal of competing economically, etc..

By 'Europe' do you mean the European Union? Britain joined the European Community (which became the E.U.) back in the 1970s, we're already members (though I would like to leave).

As to whether the E.U. is intent on becoming a country, a proper answer would take a couple of academic tomes. In many ways the answer is 'it all depends on what you mean by country'; there is no stated intent to move to a unified culture, and indeed the Scottish National Party believe that Scottish independence is best aided by closer European ties (I think that's a tad nuts myself). There is certainly a move towards statehood, with the Union as the principal tier of government though the principle of subsidiarity is officially held. The move to a Common Foreign and Security Policy is currently a dead-duck (thanks to the U.K.), and the chances of the U.K. entering the Euro are minimal.

Nothing wrong with that, and considering Europe's long and quarrelsome history, welcome indeed.

I disagree. The intentional suppression of legitimate national awareness has the potential to create great problems a few years down the line. If the rest of Europe wishes to unite, then that is their decision, but I want no part of it at all.

[hershey]

I was talking about Europe competing economically against the US...nothing wrong with that, and maybe consumers would benefit worldwide. But I was keeping mum about the wisdom of stuffing all those European countries (cats), in the same burlap sack and hoping for nirvana.