A reflection of the differing expectations of the differing populations? The British democracy with inherited "safety valve" structure has been pretty stable for 200 years and there for close to 400. Our dictators give up the job by themselves when whatever emergency is over. The nearest similar set up is the Netherlands, but only 200 years in total with a gap when things spilled over from Germany. Germany was a dictatorship 70 or 30 years ago depending where you were, Spain 40 years ago and Poland 30. If the population remember Erik Honeke, General Jaraselski and Franco, Jacques Delores and the grey men of the commission seem benign and more stable that students with flags and petrol bombs. This is especially true when they are buying you motorways and handing out cash not to grow stuff.
Giving up freedom for stability seems mad to someone who's never had a Soviet or Nazi secret policeman kick in their front door.
If the UK manages to free itself I wonder how the rest will take their promotion to the rich, developed and therefore contibutable part of the membership?
Andy
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