I can follow the idea in your first paragraph Doug! To me it seems it's eather all the way: The EU - one state - one goverment or no EU at all!
But I get annoyed by people who keep on nagging about the more powerful nations around and the fact that Europe can't seem to get its act together.
As I tell people who gossip and nag at work: Don't nag, ACT! Same goes for the European Union. We'll never get to a workable entity unless we shake the nationalism out of our heads.
And I also agree with Craigl's point of view. But what he says, no offence, is that we should take care of our own country instead of raising the whole continent to a higer level. Sure, the newer eastern countries don(t have the same standard as we do, but they'll never reach our standard on there own in a reasonable period of time.
Let me give you a little example, if I may, don't wanna lecture you guys... ;)
When I started working with my employer I didn't receive any form of decend education on the job. I was followed by people who didn't understand what they were talking about. 4 years later and after lots of struggle I am beginning to get the feeling I am mastering my profession. To my collegues it was easier that I found out my own way, but I can not begin to explain the loss we've made during this process. Towards the compagny, our clients, our suppliers, ... If they had prepared me well, I think I would have been standing where I am now within 1 year. Nowadays I am the one explaining my collegues how to do things.
I think that should be the main goal of a united Europe! To grow as an entity and not just as one country.
But I guess I am drifting way of topic here...