15-05-2003 13:08									#1
	Uk keeps its economic independence Enter the AD-FREE zone

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/homepage/in...ics/3029135.stm

Good news

Although it is quite clear if Blair thought he could win the referendum the tests would have been passed.

	15-05-2003 13:21									#2
	Support Apolyton

I don't care about our economic independence. I'm worried about the financial implications for the UK of staying out of the Euro but as I don't have all the information on that I guess I'll have to accept that it's not time yet.

	15-05-2003 15:40									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2423783.stm
strange, I would interprete those as Reasons TO join , not against

	15-05-2003 15:43									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Bah! Mind you, suppose it was to be expected.

	15-05-2003 16:42									#5
	Got spare money?

Could it be that Gordon Brown just wants to be the prime minister who takes us in ??

Personally, I wish we were voting on joining the Dollar, but such is life.

If its true that we will eventually join at some date anyway, then we should be in there now. To argue that the Economic systems of Europe are not quite reformed enough for us to join, and then stay out, robs us of the chance to get the reform we need.

Eventually we will be forced in some way or another, and at a totally unfavourable moment, with no say in how anything works.. and we'll wonder why the French and Germans appear to be running the show.

Seriously, if the UK wants to give us a serious option to the Euro, lets have a vote on joining the Dollar also .. I know which id prefer.

	15-05-2003 16:49									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Can someone explain to me why we can't keep the pound, why are we inevitabley going to join. What influence do we lose by keeping control of our own monetray policy

	15-05-2003 16:50									#7
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Can someone explain to me what's so good about the pound? Why we've delayed so long and how much influence we lose in the EU by not being part of it?

	15-05-2003 16:53									#8
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

What lost influence?

	15-05-2003 16:54									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Yes, essentially that was the question.

	15-05-2003 16:56									#10
	Full PM-box? Change here!

keeping the pound means economic decisions being made by an elected governmane chosen by the people of theis country. As for influence what influence, the we would have 1 vote on the ECB, wow thats just great.

	15-05-2003 16:58									#11
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Hear, hear Stinger.

	15-05-2003 16:58									#12
	Support Apolyton

Either we are in europe economically or we are not. In practice we are and that was decided a long time ago so we should get on with it and join the Euro.

We delayed joining the EU and didn't get a good deal when we eventually went in. I fear the same will happen over the Euro.

There is also an issue about timing. Tony Blair was successful up to the Iraq war because he had good political timing. Now would be a good time to show a commitment to europe and joining the Euro would do that but I think he has lost his touch and sense of timing. If I am right he won't last much longer. It rather reminds me of Maggie Thatcher in 1988 when she was so set on the poll tax and didn't deal with other issues effectively.

	15-05-2003 16:59									#13
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I understand the negative aspects. I just think that in the long term being part of it is going to be much better for all involved.

As soon as losing significant proportions of our financial sector becomes a reality rather than a danger we'll have to join or it'll have a horrible effect on us.

	15-05-2003 17:01									#14
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

What's with all these discussions about economics anyway? The single currency only barely registers as an economic issue...

	15-05-2003 17:02									#15
	Inflate your Upload Space

I just don't buy this idea that we have economic independance .. we don't .. unless your defending our right to screw up.

There is an economy, a global one, and nobody is independant of it, even those that try as hard as they can to play no part.

The reason I personally believe in consolidation in the currency markets, is because it increases trade. The level playing field it provides allows for a more stable business environment (no currency fluctuations to blow your market plans out the window).

	15-05-2003 17:03									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by TheStinger keeping the pound means economic decisions being made by an elected governmane chosen by the people of theis country. As for influence what influence, the we would have 1 vote on the ECB, wow thats just great.

The reality is that we live in a global world in the economic sense and our government has a limited influence on the bigger picture. The ECB overall has more global significance.

Personally I don't trust politicians or even regard most of them as competent, either our domestic ones or the EU variety. If they have to work through a bigger organisation they have less individual power and less opportunity to make a mess.

	15-05-2003 17:04									#17
	Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: Originally posted by *End Is Forever* What's with all these discussions about economics anyway? The single currency only barely registers as an economic issue...

In that case I can't see any reason not to join.

	15-05-2003 17:05									#18
	Support Apolyton

Its a political decision in that the question of who retains control of our economy is political. We are economicaly tied to the rest of the world are we supposed to have the same currency as them

	15-05-2003 17:08									#19
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

I don't see any great rush to tie our success to the economies of Germany and France. Er, no thanks.

	15-05-2003 17:10									#20
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by CerberusIV The reality is that we live in a global world in the economic sense and our government has a limited influence on the bigger picture. The ECB overall has more global significance. Personally I don't trust politicians or even regard most of them as competent, either our domestic ones or the EU variety. If they have to work through a bigger organisation they have less individual power and less opportunity to make a mess.

The ECB will be very powerful, how will that help the UK.

AT the moment the chancellor sets the bank of england an inflation target,who then set interst rates accordingly. he is otherwise free to set his budgets as he sees fit. If he cocks it up either through the target or in other ways, I as does everyone else has the opportunity to vote the government out. There would be no such opportunity if the ECB set interst rates

	15-05-2003 17:12									#21
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Our single interest rate doesn't even fit the entire UK well. How on earth can a Europe-wide interest rate be more appropriate?

	15-05-2003 17:15									#22
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

If the single currency is bad for the UK as we want control over our monetary policy, then why do we have only a single currency within the UK. The economic needs of the north of England are different from those of the south, and are different of those of Scotland. I'm always hearing about how BoE decisions favour London and the southeast. Would we be better off splitting up the UK into two or three currency zones, each with their own monetary policies?

	15-05-2003 17:15									#23
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

I've never quite figured this argument about interest rates. Can someone explain to me why America is able to cope with a single interest rate but Europe apparently can't?

That was a genuine question, by the way, and not a snide attempt at argument.

	15-05-2003 17:16									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

It's a nice thought, but I look forward to hearing how it can be implemented...

	15-05-2003 17:26									#25
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Because the US is 1 country, I know you all like to pretend that you are 50 independant countries but your not. You have a central body deciding fiscal policy europe doesn't. The economic disprities between rich areas and poor areas are not as great as in europe.

	15-05-2003 17:29									#26
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

France and Germany are cool.

	15-05-2003 17:32									#27
	Full PM-box? Change here!

They're fast becoming economic basket-cases.

	15-05-2003 17:34									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Well, just wait for the England basketcase when the real estate bubble goes *pop*.

	15-05-2003 17:35									#29
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

At least we won't be taking the rest of the continent down with us...

	15-05-2003 17:36									#30
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

the economy would indeed go pop if the house price boom required a rise in interest rates to stop it, it does however appera to be slowing of its own accord.