ELECTIONS TIME in Europe
Why should we bother about elections?
May 2019 is definitely a politically intense time. Today is the final day of the elections to the European Parliament, which was being held all over Europe during recent days. I have recently became an adult, so this is the first time when I am able to "impact the world".
This fact led me to a serious reflection and I realized how incredibly important these elections are. As an European Union (I would even say as a whole world) we are witnessing a serious crisis nowadays. Conflict in Iran, Brexit, Venezuelan crisis, Global Warming are issues that may seem to be distant, but actually they may affect you directly, no matter from which corner of the world you are.
This is the reason why choosing the leadership of the institution with the combined GDP almost equal to United States is so important. Apart of the global problems, European Parliament has a direct impact on decisions regarding EU citizens. Many of them are controversial and raised a lot of hype, so I think it is important to analyze them and choose an appropriate politician according to your beliefs. Even if you are not the EU citizen, I think that discussing such topics is always valuable - you never can be sure what reforms your government will come up with.
Brexit
Brexit is a symbol of a current Euroscepticism among EU citizens and politicians. This attitude is constantly gaining popularity nowadays, and many people consider EU as an institution with primarily negative impact on its members. This situation is most likely caused by disagreement between EU and some member state governments (e.g. Poland's migration policy). Increasingly can be heard that Europe should only cooperate on an economic field. Therefore, current elections may drastically change the shape of European integration.
Acta 2
Acta 2 is probably the most important in terms of Steem community. Some people claim that this directive will lead to the censorship of the Internet and smaller services will not be able to afford complex analysis of published content in respect of authors' rights abuses. Such scenario would definitely be disastrous for Steemit, DApps and similar websites. On the other hand there were plenty of fake news regarding Acta 2, so we cannot be sure how it is going to actually impact the Internet. Most of people on Steem are creators, and perhaps this regulation will bring fairer principles and prevent abuses in our work.
Global Warming
Global Warming raises plenty of emotions in my country, most likely because our energetic system is almost fully based on coal. Additionally, in December 2018, a city of my origin - Katowice - has been the host of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change which only added a fuel to the flames of social discussion.
Some politicians claim that Global Warming does not exist, others say that it will cause the extinction of humankind. Regardless of what the truth is, we need to be aware that current elections will surely impact the Europe's approach to the climate changes. United States have already withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, and some European politicians declare similar intents.
Share your opinion
Mentioned issues are only the tip of a very interesting iceberg that we could discuss through all day. I have chosen these three topics, because they are controversial and I believe they will be significantly affected by the result of the current elections. I would be really glad to hear your view on these issues and the future shape of the European community.
EU is a great experiment on supra-nationality, where citizens of countries agree to form a supranational body which will govern them on certain specified issues rather than their own political masters.
Should EU succeeds, it may set an example for other countries, like the Asian countries, South American and African Countries to follow suit by forming their own supranational bodies.
Eventually, all these supranational bodies then can coalesce and form a global supranational body with a Global Parliament and Global Commission, where the Global Commissioners will be required to take an oath of supranational loyalty in which they swear to act completely independent of their nation state and neither seek nor take instructions from any government, in order to act in a way that best promotes nothing but the Global interest.
Well this may sound quixotic but 70 years ago any suggestion of the present EU would have sounded quixotic too!
Well that would be a wonderful idea to move towards global citizenship without borders. With the world becoming more and more connected with the proliferation of new technologies under the 4th industrial revolution taking place now, it may not be a tall order after all.
I think something like an international Schengen Zone would be highly appreciated. Imagine traveling, studying and working all over the world without all this bureaucracy.
Great comment @invest.country
Thx for sharing your thoughts with us on that particular (and quite sensitive) topic.
Yours
Piotr
Thank you for your amazing reply @invest.country!
Interesting conception, but do you think that as a humanity we will be able to achieve that much of unity? EU works, but it still faces a lot of serious problems. The results of current elections show that there are a lot people wanting decrease the level of cooperation between European countries. And we need to notice that EU consists of countries from the same cultural field, with the same traditions and history. I can't imagine my government cooperating with Arabic government (unfortunately).
@neavvy, My point may sound ill and without any Logic but in my opinion crisis will not stop in this overly Materialistic world.
Now we have to make a choice and that is, let's not think in a way that crisis is faced by one geography, instead whole world can come forward to help the country which is facing crisis and these kind of steps will showcase a message that we all belongs to one tribe and that is Humanity Tribe.
When we will forget the race of Domination, Overly Materialistic and False Politics then we can see the bright side of life and without any doubt whole world can live happy lives like one big happy family. Stay blessed.
Thx for sharing your thoughts with us on that particular (and quite sensitive) topic @chireerocks
Yours
Piotr
Welcome and have a great time ahead. Stay blessed.
Thank you for your comment @chireerocks!
Indeed your point may sound ill and without logic to many of people, but I agree with you. Crisis may help to "clear" this consumerism approach we are currently witnessing.
Welcome and let's hope that Human Beings will awake for greater good.
Firstly, people do not understand, that EU was established (decades ago) because few people wanted more centralised power. Why would every country have its own monetary system, it's own civil/public/criminal/international laws, it's own economy....
...when one state, one center in Brussels can take over all of that. And when country is under EU, local banks, local firms, local shops are taken down - because mostly German economy wants to take over the European states.
Should I be happy about that?
Should I fall on these elections as a way out of the mess? Each vote can only mean consenting to the present situation and giving legitimacy to the further plans of the neoliberal Brussels nomenclature which acts solely in the interest of capital. Even the boycott of these elections does not change anything.
Global warming is a hoax, I hope you already know that. If we have a global warming, you better don't even ask what kind of weather was in Europe few hundred years ago, when they were planting vine on whole Britain island... that must have been hell on Earth ;) Just joking
Truth is pretty hard to find in media today. You gotta go deeper and deeper to find it. Wish you a lot of luck.
Another amazing comment @worldfinances. Love it!:)
Thank you for your reply @worldfinances!
This is very popular opinion is my country, but I thought that only Polish people have this feeling. Where are you from?
Do you think so? I've read that 98% of climate scientists agree that global warming exists and is caused by the humanity. They also have pretty hard evidences for that. I am not saying that you are wrong, just want to discuss that :)
Voting is very important. We the people if this world have very little say in how things are run. Usually to the advantage of the elite.
We must always use our vote to make our lives mean something and make sure that the governments around the world see that we care.
I am always in favour of keeping trade as close to home as possible but not all things we need can be produced at close by so using a larger trading base is favourable.
Europe is a huge place and we should all work together for a better life. We only have one planet so that should always come first.
Climate change is happening whether man made or not but we are definitely impacting it in a huge way by using fossil fuels and that needs to be addressed in an age where there are better and more environmentally friendly options.
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Great read Andy
Thank you for sharing your insights @andyjem
That's definitely the point. I hope one day governments will understand this fact and start seeing a positive long-term consequences of renewables.
Unfortunately many people don't even bother to vote. In my country 43% of population voted, which is not the best result.
Greetings @neavvy my apologies for having answered something late to the post (I'm somewhat busy with finishing the semester at the university and some personal matters that ended yesterday), thanks for sending it is very interesting and as you say is just the tip of the iceberg as of this has a lot of cloth to cut.
All the points they raise are very interesting, in some more than others I know what they are about the others I've just heard and barely read about them.
Starting with the part of global warming, I could say that the best way to solve it is for all of us to cooperate in this, since while it is true that the cheapest and most common forms of energy generation are coal and the burning of certain fuels , they are not the best for the environment, I particularly think that investment should be made in taking advantage of all those natural resources that we have that allow us to generate energy, such as wind, solar, or simply hydrological fields (dams).
Another thing that could be done is to continue research to find new ways to generate energy without being so harmful to the environment.
While it is true that not all countries have these resources I think they could be used in some way or another, because if not bad memory (in a country) made a river not suitable for dams, it will work for that purpose, of course great work but that benefits all, except that it is a great source of work for all.
Continuing with the record 2, I could say that I am not very polished in the case but it is harmful for many since it deprives them of certain things (the freedom that is enjoyed on the internet) but its like everything has its benefit that it It allows you to have at some level the control of what you do or is done with your content online. While it is true that should be considered to be free on the Internet (under a certain level since this does not promote illicit activities, bad practices, etc).
Brexit is the least I dominate, I know it is very controversial but I have not had the opportunity to fully sit down to read and understand all this problematic so I will not omit comment on that topic.
Regarding what you said at the beginning of the post, politicians want or not are responsible for representing us before the world and against other countries, so it is important to participate in elections as long as the electoral system is fair, not biased nor in direct favor of any side (as is the case here with the CNE (National Electoral Council) ...) So I always comment or those who ask me about it if they have the opportunity to have a fair electoral system take advantage and get feel, give your vote and participate, if your excellent candidate wins good for you, but unfortunately you have to accept what the majority decided or what the representatives of the parliament decided. But the important thing is always to participate.
I say goodbye, not without first wish you a good day, greetings
Wow. What an amazing comment @jjqf
Thank you for this amazing comment @jjqf. And I'm sorry for such a late reply, I'm also really bust recently.
That's really important approach. I'm happy to see that the growth of solar (and generally renewable) technology is exponential. It gives some hope for the future.
That's mature decision, I wish more people implemented such behavior :D To be honest I'm also not sure what to think about Brexit. It is so complex and developed issue that probably even the politicians and economists don't understand its consequences. No matter what they are, I thin that the democratic choice of the society should be respected and Britain should leave the EU (I'm not saying that it will be good, I just think that their choice should be absolutely respected).
Sup @neavvy, thank you for your memo! I appreciate it :)
Congratulations on becoming an adult and hats down that you decided to vote yesterday. I know it is very important but people from 18-24 do not often realize how important those elections are :)
I am really curious about what is going to happen when the new parliament is "constructed". In Germany, a lot of people voted for the "Green ones" and the percentage of people who actually voted are quite big :)
I am quite happy about those results.
How is it in your country? Are you happy with the results?
Cheers,
Max
Great comment @mcnestler
Thx for sharing your thoughts with us on that particular (and quite sensitive) topic.
Yours
Piotr
Thank you for sharing your insights @mcnestler :)
Yes, plenty of my friends don't even bother to vote.
I wish such "green ones" won in my country, unfortunately that's not the case. The winner in Poland is a current ruling party, which for example declares that Poland is not going to give up coal and other fossil fuels for the next 200 years. They completely don't care about the environment and spend an insane amount of money for social income, which results in economic stagnancy.
At least I'm happy that you are satisfied with the results in Germany :)
Hi @neavvy
Now we just have to wait for the results of those elections, as always, politics and its unfinished business. The options offered by demagoguery are always for the individual benefit of those who are elected. A status quo
Unfortunately you are right @lanzjoseg. Thank you for your comment.
Hello @neavvy,
I don't have much to say about the issues you have raised as regards to the EU of which has its pros and cons but one thing is for sure, any politician at whatever level of influence that thinks that global warming is a hoax is delusional!
Thank you for your reply @straighttalk
I fully agree with you. Unfortunately this approach is more and more popular among politicians, as it much easier to convince people that there is no global warming than take some action to prevent it.
Well said @neavvy... some people can be very gullible!
If only they could do some research for themselves and read between the lines.
Unfortunately this is not a common skill :(
Dear @neavvy first let me congratulate you on becoming an adult and becoming eligible to vote.
Our world is becoming an increasing complex place. Now a days the policies of one nation have effect not only for it's people but in many cases they also affect other parts of the world.
This is even more true for the case of Europe.
A United Europe is certainly what the world needs for it is the right mix of art. Culture .tech and humanity.
So vote wisely my friend because how you vote decides not only the Future of a country but also of the whole world,
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Thx for sharing your thoughts with us on that particular (and quite sensitive) topic @thetimetravelerz
Yours
Piotr
Thank you for sharing your insights @thetimetravelerz
Indeed. I was shocked when I figured out that EU has a direct impact on policy of for example Kongo. They formally don't control them, but can make some "suggestions".
This subject is quite controversial, from the comments I've read. Some for, some against. I did not know that 427 million citizens vote to elect the European Parliament. It would be great if blockchain technology were used in this.
This subject is quite controversial, from the comments I've read. Some for, some against. I did not know that 427 million citizens vote to elect the European Parliament. It would be great if blockchain technology were used in this.
It is complicated about Brexit, on the one hand this sovereignty and part of economic control, and on the other hand it would be at a disadvantage not to have representation in Parliament.
Surely it is as difficult as agreeing in our country to the opposition and the officialism.
Thanks for sharing
Thx for sharing your thoughts with us on that particular (and quite sensitive) topic @jadams2k18
Yours
Piotr
Thank you for your constant support dear @jadams2k18. Really appreciate that.
It would be amazing. Blockchain is perfect to be utilized for such purposes.
I think that the best proof how complicated is that situation is the time that has already been used to prepare for this operation. It is over a year since referendum and they don't have any agreement. It's ridiculous.
It's weird. I thought the English were very organized or were the Germans? I don't remember which country was synonymous with organization. Maybe the Dutch.
Don't even mention it. It's a pleasure.
Germany is a symbol of perfect organization :)
Yes, I heard about that. I hope someday with can share German's perfect organization