[ClearCase_guy]

Europe has a long history of oscillating on this issue. It either wants to be one big place -- under the Hapsburgs, under Napoleon, under Hitler, under the EU ...

Or else it wants to be a number of sovereign nations.

The modern concept of Nation State largely grew out of the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years War in 1648 (and essentially broke the Hapsburgs).

I think the EU has run it's course, and I hope national sovereignty makes a comeback in Europe.

[rktman]

I remember when going to europe was fun. Of course that was in the 60’s so...................

[ek_hornbeck]

Europe has a long history of oscillating on this issue. It either wants to be one big place -- under the Hapsburgs, under Napoleon, under Hitler, under the EU ...

There's a difference. Nations other than France that were ruled by Napoleon or nations other than Germany ruled by Hitler did not become so voluntarily. Nor did the smaller polities conquered by the Hohenzollerns or Hapsburgs.

In contrast, today's Europeans subjugated themselves to EU bureaucrats completely voluntarily - without a shot being fired or a sword being drawn.

[dfwgator]

The desire for European Unity was a result of envying the US.

But you simply cannot create a US-like country out of Europe.