Maybe in your head. Latest polls in Norway show higher approval (46.4 %) for becoming a member than disapproval (41,6 %).
Source: http://www.welt.de/data/2005/03/02/554251.html
My
: by 2008 we will have them in the EU.
Posted on 03/10/2005 7:08:15 AM PST by franksolich
Germans accuse skiing hooligans
Bayern police say that a large cow made of synthetic material on display in connection with the skiing world championships in Oberstdorf has been stolen, and "Norwegian cowboys" are suspected.
Police said that the 1.4 meter (4'7") high cow was on show at the cross-country skiing stadium for the world championships recently staged in the city.
Newspaper Abendzeitung München reported that the defenseless cow was abducted on the last day of the championships.
The cow was last seen at the railway station in Oberstdorf in the company of two people the newspaper described as "norwegischer Cowboys" (Norwegian cowboys). Local police confirmed to Aftenposten's Internet edition that they believe Norwegian's are behind the cow rustling.
After this lead the trail goes cold. Neither Norwegian State Railways nor the Norwegian National Rail Administration had any information about the arrival of a large artificial cow.
I'm sure you're going to be constantly surprised at what you find in Omaha, and in Nebraska.
Another thing that confuses me--besides the negative connotations with "cowboys," in the failing eyesight of the old men of Old Europe--is this notion that "red states" are more ignorant than "blue states."
Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska have the highest literacy rates in the United States; next to them, places such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, &c., &c., &c., look as if third-world countries.
I live out on the prairies, and so there are not many people living near me. But when I look at the area, for two miles on all directions, and examine the "neighbors" (all of them farmers; no cowboys in this part of Nebraska, other than myself)--well, I see that one of them is a graduate of Harvard, 1988; another is a graduate of Stanford, 1974; a third is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, 1981; a fourth is a graduate of Columbia, class of 1992; the fifth, well, he got a girl into trouble in high school, and so went to work right away, rather than going to college.
These are farmers, who during the height of summer boast red necks.
: by 2008 we will have them in the EU.
That was already discussed on the Norway ping list a couple of weeks ago; this news that the latest polls show joining the European "Union" is currently more popular in Norway, than staying out of it.
But other such polls taken before votes in 1972 and 1994 had also shown such a "lead," then some hesitation, and finally, defeat.
Interestingly, for members of Free Republic not acquainted with the situation in Norway, where the Liberal Party is actually conservative, to be pro-European "Union" is "right," and anti-European "Union" is "left."
It appears to be the "greens," the socialists, the left-wingers, the environmentalists, the anti-Americans, who are the most strongly against being mucked into the European "Union."
One of those many contradictions one encounters, in a futile attempt to compare American politics with foreign politics.
But some Norwegians on the "right" seem to have it right; that it SHOULD be an issue of national sovereignty (for some reason, it is not an issue, but one hopes it becomes one).
I think, myself, Norwegians, especially the younger ones prone to all sorts of fads and fashions and fancies--yeah, sure, it's cool, it's trendy, it's hip, to be "European"--should pause and reflect.
Tens of billions of dollars have been stashed away from the North Sea petroleum revenues, lockboxed for their future.
What happens when they have to give the key to that lockbox, to the old men in Paris, Brussels, and Berlin?
I really think pro-European "Union" Norwegians should pause, and think about that.
The height of payments members make depends on their GDP. They can keep the key to that lockbox.
Another thing: in 1972 and 1994 the EU wasn't was far less developed than now. For the man on the street it was mainly a concept. Things have changed since then.
Norway needs the EU. If the decision is on the edge the next time again, I'm sure there are some screws the old men in Paris and Berlin can fasten a bit to make them love us more :-D.
Love us?
> Love us?
The Europeans
I mean the non-Norwegian Europeans :-)
...that would be Cattle Rustlers.
BAD cowboys.
Face it, guys (and gals). Some guys lifted a COW. What else would you call them?
Apparently, the French has removed us from the continent of Europe, and we are now classified along with Ethiopia and the United States as far as postage stamps are conserned.
We will see. I must admit that I am vehemently against Norwegian membership in the EU. I'dd rather we just do the occasional raid for plastic cows.
Seriously, I think the EU might be further off in Norway than you believe. As have been mentioned in this thread. The red-green socialist alliance is very likely to form the next government after the elections this fall. Two of the three parties will most likely demand that the EU question is not going to be touched during that four your period.
There is no rush anyways. The doomsday scenarios of the pro-EU crowd has not taken place at all. One feels, that it is vain politicians like PM Bondevik who misses most eating canapees with the bigwigs in Brussels.
Ironically, the people screeching the loudest at the moment in favour of EU membership are the ones who want the EU to be a rival power to the US.
Let the EU sort out its own issues first. What will become of the constitution? What about Turkey? Growth and stability pact?
Heck, I am even sceptical against the common market. Let's go back to EFTA. I believe that works for Switzerland.
Cheers.
I think there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the World will end when Norway gets the bomb.
But Norway is on the Euro. The aspect ratios are not right, that's all.
I agree, that the EU shouldn't enlarge any further to the east (Turkey, Romania), before the problems got solved. We now need a few years to consolidate everything. The eastern European countries have to get on their legs and everything has to settle down a bit. I'm optimistic that Norway will join when they feel the time has come. Norway naturaly is a part of the EU.
Regarding the EU as a rival power to the U.S. - I don't think the EU countries aim for that. Most see the EU simply as a protection from getting pushed around and duressed by superpowers.
There was an interesting commentary in a Lithuanian newspaper just before the beginning of the War for the Liberation of Iraq, back in 2003.
Lithuania was getting some flak from both Russia and the European "Union," for her support of this war of liberation, being called "lackeys of America" and somesuch other lies.
The Lithuanian newspaper (no link; this was a VERY long time ago) reminded everyone that it is the inevitable fate of smaller countries to be dominated by larger ones.
Myself being deaf, this is a concept which I accepted in infancy; the world is dominated by hearing people, there is nothing one can do about it, and so one might as well adjust the best he can--the "inevitablility" of things.
The Lithuanian newspaper continued, describing its experiences of having been dominated by its neighbors the Germans and the Russians in the past.....and then concluded that if a small country is doomed to such a fate, better that the dominating power be, geographically, very far away, rather than right next door.
I am sure if someone took a poll of Americans, they would find that more Americans would prefer to be dominated by faraway, distant Norway, than by next-door Canada.
Do most Europeans really want to be dominated by the old men sitting right next door to them, practically on their doorstep?
I couldn't agree more with you on the whole red staters are stupid hicks, blue staters are thoughtful intelligent people silliness. I've been here for just over 10 years and the bulk of the people I know are smart and well educated.
In my sons' Scout troop/pack most of the Dads are professionals. We are part of the local home school community; there is a diverstiy of education levels. The parents are intellectually curious and thoughtful; not a Karl Rove mind-controlled robot among them.
I think conservatives tend to view education as tool to help them in their future endeavors, whereas liberals seem to think education is the end all of their existence. If they go to Stanford or Harvard and finish they think they have arrived, and all the unwashed masses need to have these college educated 'intellectuals' run their lives for them. My husband is a computer programmer who learned his trade on the job; an extention of his hobby. He also has three post secondary degrees that have been mosty worthless as far as putting food on the table goes (He used two of them in the AF, but civilian airlines have no use for bombadiers). Red Staters aren't any more stupid, ignorant or mind controlled than blue staters, of course, I doubt we'd ever convince them of that, though.
I don't have a red neck; but I do have a farmer's tan all summer long.
That was my mistake, madam--but I was young and green in judgement, a sallow youth. I figured that getting that degree in history was enough of an "end," after which only good things would happen, and effortlessly too.
I had to grow up in a hurry.
I don't regret getting a B.A. in the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth--it has surely provided me with much intellectual satisfaction--but as for putting food on the table, well.....
Whenever I read the DUmmie FUnnies on Free Republic--the democraticunderground is the whacked-out counterpart to the more-sober Free Republic, I am constantly reminded of myself when I was in college, thinking that all I had to do was so much, after which life would be a piece of cake.
Bah, humbug.
Once I entered a room where I was the only non-deaf. There was a group of about a dozen deaf people who were all wildly gestiuclating and giggling. Appart from the not so loud giggling it was very quiet. I didn't understand anything and felt deaf. Boy that was strange.
The only country in Europe which (in my opinion) wanted to dominate the others was France. I think they've realized in the meantime that they don't have the means for that. The same goes for Germany which didn'n't even ever had the ambitions to dominate the others. In fact we are underrepresented in Strassbourg. In the EU nobody can really dominate anyone else.
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