Canada, of course, is not a member of the EU. NAFTA is bad enough, but the bright side is that we are saddled with only one basket case economy: the US. And membership of NAFTA doesn't compromise our sovereignty. This may seem like a wander; but it is addressing, though obliquely, the point under discussion. I'm really surprised at the sense of the UK's seeming powerlessness, and the reflection of this in the attitudes of voters (that's you guys)
I think it's time that your govt. was forced into doing something that the people want; something that would be good for the national (oops, that's politically incorrect) interest. I was reading in the local rag this morning that our Federal Government ... tories, free enterprisers, ant-protectionist ... has spiked a $39 billion bid from Australian mining giant BHP Billiton for Saskatchewan's Potash Corporation. Maybe you don't know all that much about potash, unless you are a farmer or avid gardener; but 53% of the world's known reserves are in Saskatchewan. Why would a free-enterprise, right-wing govt. reverse its decision to allow the sale? Answer is simple: the Canadian people, particularly those in Saskatchewan didn't want this immensely valuable Canadian resource to be owned by a foreign company. Of the 14 federal seats in Sask. (population less than a million), 13 are held by the tories. And the message was clear: ditch the deal or else risk losing those seats. And the tories are governing with a minority: so they listen. I think the point to this wander is that, on any major issue, the people can, or should be able to pressure the govt. to act as they wish them to. I realise you guys don't have a minority govt., but a coalition is close; so maybe it's time to cut out the fatalistic, "what can we do" attitude to things which affect the sovereignty and independece of Great Britain, and take a lead from the French people by letting the government know, in no uncertain terms, how the people feel.