I don't see that there is a risk that the European Countries end up like the US. That, however, was the utopia. But as utopia remained and will remain. We all have a long, very long history which can not be compared with the comparativelly very short time that the thirteen colonies existed before the independence. However, in Europe, that won't happen because it simply isn't possible. It simply isn't possible to erase histories which go back, in some cases, more than 1000 years, by decree. But it won't be for lack of trying!

Wayne, URRAY to what you said regarding military service. I, for one, also believe that the abolition of compulsory military service for all young men was something which left us all as societies at a loss.

davebetty, please kindly allow me a little something regarding your post. One thing was the EEC. A very good one as a matter of fact. Another substantially different thing is the EU, an absurd which has always been an absurd and which will keep on being an absurd till the day someone finally issues its death certificate and this game of extend and pretend ends once and for all. I truly hope that from the remants we all can recreate the EEC but, somehow, I doubt it. Too many hard feelings are being created between several different countries and I'm very much affraid that in the end even something like the former EEC won't be possible.