[Devongone]

The truth is surely that countries aren't independent anyway? Giant corporations encircle the globe and their tentacles manipulate the responses of every major government.

Countries are a convenient way of dividing up the world. They provide identity, offer people a sense of control, and in general maintain a viable environment for corporations to get rich and grow. Their existence maintains the illusion of competition and the belief that ever-expanding markets can guarantee our future. Countries are nice for the Eurovision Song Contest, the World Cup and the Olympics, they create a bit of news, but deep down big capital knows countries don't matter. That's why the Bankers behind the EUropean project think the concept of ever-closer union is the future. But people ....... they do identify with town and county and country ......... and no one identifies with Microsoft or the European Central Bank.

In the end places exist and stay where they are, corporations and money go where they will, bringing riches and devastation in almost equal measure.