Regarding the whole EU thing, I have but one question: why?

Why do we need a ‘better’ union? What benefits does it give? The EU was sold to the new countries as an economic union, but it ceased to be that in 1990 and became a politicial union first and foremost. Why?

Why was it not just left in it’s pre 1990 state? Why did it need a single currency? Why a single (and extremely limiting) bank? Why are 50% of the laws in this country sent from a union which we joined for purely economic reasons?

And, with regards to the preamble, just why?

…Drawing inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, democracy, equality, freedom and the rule of law.

Believing that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences, intends to continue along this path of civilisation, progress and prosperity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and most deprived…

Convinced that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their ancient divisions, and, united in an ever closer fashion, to forge a common destiny,

[members of the European Convention… have agreed as follows:]

Why with the united in an ever closer fashion? Do the peoples of europe want ever closer union? Do we fuck. This isn’t the US, with the ‘more perfect union’ stuff. We are citizens of soverign, independant nations, not of states. And we want to stay that way, from what I’ve seen.

So why bother with a constitution ensuring that we all move together when most of us are happier moving in the other direction?

Luckily for me, I am a citizen of two EU countries. one of which is bound by it’s own constitution to have a referrendum to ratifty the new EU one. The other will probably hold one as well. So I’ll get to vote twice. Can you guess what box I’ll be ticking?