There are plans to make EU into some kind of Federation. In one sense it might be good while it can make the euro more secure, because there could be more regulation coming from the EU to its states; inspections etc control. Each country’s economics would function under the EU centralized system.
Now the euro is in very weak position as the member countries can utilize euro economy as they wish. The loan mountain is growing in several countries and there is unhealthy competition of exports amongst the countries. There are some other reasons for euro weakness still.
US dollar can’t fall down that easily as it is the own currency of the entire federation, of united states. Japanese yen can’t collapse too as it´s own currency of that country, even if Japan´s economy is at the brink of collapse. But euro is not in that sense own currency i.e for Greece.
Of course the biggest reason for the agony of euro is the common economic down turn globally, partly the market manipulation, and the cap between rich and poor individuals - and countries.
Sarkar spoke about economic decentralization: need of local people to control their own economies. Anyhow as EU is at present rather centralized economically, the leaders should be spiritually minded at least. Are the leaders of EU spiritually minded - everyone can see – at least there is anti - democratic selections of leaders and groupism (Merkel and Sarcozy dictating) , political manipulation and narrow mindedness, clearly to be seen.
Prout proposes economically self-reliant regions - but only if the region has similarities in geographic potentialities, culture, climate, economic and social problems, and sentiments. In that case the people should develop a spirit of cooperation in their region and make it as self reliant as possible.
Now if we consider EU, there are quite extremes of climate conditions between the south and north, also geographic conditions and culture are different, and what comes to economics – some countries came from communist background. One example is the famous cucumber discussion, which was a work of countless hours and papers to solve somewhat, as Finnish cucumbers tend to become beautifully curved due to cold climate.
According Proutist economic planning, each socio-economic region would be further divided into districts, villages and blocks, based also on geographic and population considerations. The block is most important unit as it represents the “grass root” level and local decision making, thus creating base for the entire economic democracy. In decentralized economy, each country, region, district and even block strives to be as self-reliant as possible. This is not a dreaded centralized planning, but vibrant community process concerning local needs, environmental issues and desires. Thus also the raw materials and capital from local areas are not shoveled into hands of multinationals and foreign countries.
The decentralized economy attracts also city dwellers to settle down while having better quality of life and new development with job opportunities while at same time protecting the natural environment of rural areas and small towns. Anyone may settle in any region as long as that person merges her economic interests in that region. The minimum necessities of everyone would be guaranteed through full employment by sharing working time. Due to the constant flow of new technologies the production would still provide enough income for everyone. Lets remember the new technologies do exist, they just needs to be get out and in use, that’s what will happen soon too.
Sarkar: Due to the blessings of nature, there is no shortage of physical resources in any economic region. But due to the lack of benevolent propensities (of people), those materials have not been utilized for social and economic development.
Decentralized economy is the only way that people can attain all-round welfare because it will not only guarantee economic prosperity, but also pave the way for individual and collective psycho-spiritual progress.
Factors such as the fertility of the land and the availability of labor may be diametrically opposite in different regions, so there should be separate planning for each region.
The fundamental basis of these groupifications (of regions) is social, cultural and economic, and not religious or linguistic.
PROUT supports democracy in a limited sense – we support restricted democracy – because a better form of government will come in the future. Certain democratic principles are best for the time being.
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Didi Annapurna