Jacques Chirac
Discussion
Is that like the gesture of European solidarity that the French just showed us then? They who have raped Europe using the CAP for years, then suddenly get cold feet because they're actually going to have to pay some money into Europe for a change?
Eff off Jacques you corrupt old git - I can't wait for you to be kicked out in 2007 so they can take you to court.
Eff off Jacques you corrupt old git - I can't wait for you to be kicked out in 2007 so they can take you to court.
Having said that, I reckon Blair is going to go for the compromise proposed by Junckers and accept a freeze on the rebate. He can at least TRY to sell that to the british public, but a complete deletion of the rebate won't wash.
The problem is that Maggie won us the rebate on the basis of our lack of income from the CAP and the lower british per capita earnings. While that sack of shit the CAP is still just as bad, the British economy has now overtaken those of our neighbours (though I'd maintain that it's a false impression - the British have never been so in debt!) and it will be harder to justify.
The problem is that Maggie won us the rebate on the basis of our lack of income from the CAP and the lower british per capita earnings. While that sack of shit the CAP is still just as bad, the British economy has now overtaken those of our neighbours (though I'd maintain that it's a false impression - the British have never been so in debt!) and it will be harder to justify.
Chirac is a corrupt git who has taken every gesture of friendship from Blair (who I can't stand anyway) and thrown it back in his face. The sooner naive British policticans realise that the French establishment (as opposed to the French people at large) want to see England humiliated and powerless, the sooner we'll be moving in the right direction.
The fact is that the French establishment have an appalling record in terms of fighting on the side of good (Vichy France anyone?) and haven't left the jealousy behind generated by the days of the British empire.
To me, the French are much more of a threat than the Germans. The Germans recognise their past crimes and are trying to move forwards, the French deny they ever happened whilst showing nothing but contempt for the countries whose people died to save them. Of course, we have our fair share too, but I think we get our face rubbed in those rather frequently at the expense of anything good we did.
Right, that's my bit said, I'm off to bed.
The fact is that the French establishment have an appalling record in terms of fighting on the side of good (Vichy France anyone?) and haven't left the jealousy behind generated by the days of the British empire.
To me, the French are much more of a threat than the Germans. The Germans recognise their past crimes and are trying to move forwards, the French deny they ever happened whilst showing nothing but contempt for the countries whose people died to save them. Of course, we have our fair share too, but I think we get our face rubbed in those rather frequently at the expense of anything good we did.
Right, that's my bit said, I'm off to bed.
Witchfinder said:
Don't we pay proportionately much more than France?
About 2.5 times what France pays. Without the rebate, it would be more like 15 times what France pays.
I can't, for the life of me, work out why Chirac wants us to give up the rebate.
Because the French Goverment have been a bunch of corrupt ingrates since time immemorial. Don't forget that Charles DeGaulles thankyou for freeing his country from Nazi tyranny with all the Brtish lives lost, was to try and block our entry into the Common Market immediately after the war.
) and the contributions relative to GDP: 
roadsweeper said:
To me, the French are much more of a threat than the Germans. The Germans recognise their past crimes and are trying to move forwards, the French deny they ever happened whilst showing nothing but contempt for the countries whose people died to save them.
No there I have to draw the line. I live and work with the french - as is so often the case as people they are really nice, it's the "superior" culture and socialist politics that I have some problems with.
But the GERMANS!? I'm sorry, I don't trust them even now. Both the WW1 and WW2 were essentially kicked off by the krauts getting too big for their boots and trying to establish their dominance. They completely impoverished Europe - the 4 1/2 years of WW1 represents a turning point that started a major decline in the wealth of the established European "empires". Just as well they act contrite now - they bloody well should be.
Iraq , bomb France.......... M@H said:
At least TB has effectively given him two fingers on this one..
>> Edited by M@H on Friday 10th June 09:27
yeah? What thi sPM says and then does are mostly 2 different things.
Its one thing talking tough to impress us. Results matter not tony blairs lies.
I would imagine this time he may make a deal to keep our rebate but only for a few years by then he will be gone so he doesnt care.
...and I'd like to know how many of you guys have lived for any length of time in a "foreign" country(ok Nel I know you have). Even people from other countries are human beings and think and act in pretty much the same same way that British people do (except they are WAY less xenophobic). Why does everyone counsider them to be "suspicious". It's truly sad and pathetic.
>> Edited by driller on Saturday 11th June 08:10
>> Edited by driller on Saturday 11th June 08:10
driller said:
Even people from other countries are human beings and think and act in pretty much the same same way that British people do (except they are WAY less xenophobic).
Less xenophobic? Hmmm, not sure about that. My Danish "farming stock" family in Jutland are among the most racist people that I've ever met. The French have a big and growing problem with anti-semitism, though that is probably becuase the population includes 6 million arabs compared to only 500,000 jews. The French will happily vocalise a dislike of the USA or the ros-bifs. The Germans, having made the most of strong political ties to Constantinople at the beginning of the last century, now have many turk immigrants and bitch about them constantly. The Dutch have the immigrants from their ex-colonies in SE Asia, and racist tensions are rising there too.
But it is true that the british have a rather small-minded view of the rest of Europe, stemming I think from the ribbon of water separating us from them - an island mentality. The british press doesn't help either - other European newspapers don't make frequent references to WW2 in the same manner. Part of this is mere populism, but some of it is also personally motivated. For instance Murdoch has tried to get a media foot onto the continent and been kicked back each time. He thus uses his rags to bash Europe at every opportunity - this doesn't exactly encourage the british to be open-minded and welcoming!
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