Chill Ice, it's called banter.
Overtaxed? 22% here earning £17,000 per year - also have a tax free allowance of £4400. In fact you get taxed 22% earning up to 28k a year, I believe. How about you?
Jealous? Of what? We've had our turn in the lime-light and it lasted 300 years.
Pzvg - My comments were in reply to the assertion that the US is somehow 'better' than the EU.
For a start the EU is not like the US. Member states still have controls over all issues of national importance. This might change, but it is where we are now.
The EU was primarily created to form closer ties with neignbouring countries on common issues and particularly trade. It is also designed to give more stability to Western Europe and hopefully enable former Eastern Bloc countries to eventually catch up with us. The theory here is that relative equality will avoid conflagration.
Some countries want a 'fast-track' to a Federal State; Britain is not one of them. Hopefully, the fact we are the second biggest and wealthiest country in Europe will help us to have a good deal of influence in decision making.
The EU needs reform, but (correct me if I'm wrong) so did the US when it was in its infancy.
BTW, I reckon the Sterling Pound will be gone within ten years.
