There are only two certainties in life – death and taxes, according to Benjamin Franklin.

I guess it has its pluses and negatives, like anything. Although, there was a fiasco back a few years ago, when our government tried to enforce water charges from a European directive.

Are you all not subject to EU directives?

Not always. Not necessarily, sometimes it is up to the discretion of each member state, other things are generally enforced, like on climate change action. Non-compliance costs of about €500 million unless measures taken. Others things, like Corporate Tax Rate, for example - varies in different states.

I just don't get why any country would want the EU to be their federal government.

We (Ireland) have a small, open economy that’s heavily reliant on exports. Being part of the EU's Single Market makes it easier for us to trade on both European and international markets. Also, as part of the EU has helped us attract billions of euro in direct foreign investment, creating thousands of job opportunities for EU citizens.The free movement of goods, services, capital and persons is a advantage. As a member of the EU it gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe without restrictions. European funds is of absolute importance. As a small country we have a net gain from EU budgets of €44.6 billion since joining. I would be pro-EU, even if some directives and regulations are a pain.

I'm not against free movement of goods or ideas, it just seems that many unilateral deals would work much better than one large multilateral deal. Just look at how Greece was able to take advantage of it.

I can see the logic in that. I know some may think that Greece would have been better off having never signed up to the Eurozone. Their economy was suffering many problems prior to joining the single currency. Granted, they could have benefited from a better equipped Eurozone. I think their government made a lot of bad decisions in the 80s by pursuing misjudged fiscal policies, which in turn effected inflation rates, high fiscal and trade deficits, low growth rates etc. It didn't help that Greece admitted to doctoring its budget figures in order to join the Euro. When the recession happened they were badly exposed.

Ya, but it also shouldn't be the rest of Europes responsibility to be prepared to help a country that is cooking books nd commiting fraud to gain forign investment...

The spirit of the EU, is that when a fellow member state is suffering then we all band together to help. The EU is comparable to a team. If a country is suffering a financial crisis, for example, then the other countries lend money to help that country recover. The EU is stronger as a unit.

But how do heathly economies grow out of a non competetive market?... (hint: very a few exceptions they don't). Teams don't get better unless they are competing against someone

In simple terms the nation's of the EU bloc have trade deals and agreements in place with each other, like the free movement of goods and services that i have mentioned previously. However, they can be and are competive within themselves. The Corporation Tax is a good example. Ireland has one of the lowest in Europe and therefore attract a lot of foreign investment. It is not forbidden. It is a friendly competitiveness if you will.

On a global footing. The EU is represented as a unified entity under the world trade organisation. It is the second largest economy in the world after the US. It represents 22% of global economy. So there is best of both worlds. Now see with the UK leaving the bloc, they will have severed the trade deals with the EU. They will have to create new deals. In some ways it will be harder for them to compete on the world stage at first.

When I hear friednlt competitiveness I think insider trading and crony capitalism.

I feel like borrowing that famous or infamous quote from Gordon Gekko: "Greed is good.", lol.

But no, we are happy to be a member of the EU.

Fair enough. I just get worried when that much of the global economy is intertwined as one body, but I don't live under it.

I made more money than I did last year (barely), and I got less money back on taxes this year (about 80% of what I got last year). Something about rates and brackets and changes since last year... oh well. It's still something.

It's because you paid less through out the year, thus you get back less. If you are single with no kids and in the lowest income bracket, a lower return is a sign of simply paying less all year.