[skummetmaelk]

> EXACTLY! There seems to be an almost cultish devotion to the benevolent institution that it can do no wrong, neither now nor henceforth.

You have to trust someone. Either the vast expanse of companies clearly mishandling your data, or the "benevolent" body which so far at least has a fairly good track record. It's not perfect. It's dangerous to give them too much power because you don't know how they will change in the future. But at the end of the day, I'd rather trust a governmental body which is at least supposed to look out for my interests, rather than a company whose main motivation is to exploit me for every penny I have.

[frockington]

A fairly good track record in which its own member states are constantly threatening to leave and one has already successfully left. As an American lokoing in from across an ocean, it does not look like a stable region that I would put trust in

[skummetmaelk]

The EU is a funny place at the moment. Most politicians who seek prestige don't bother with the EU, they do national politics. Most national media does not cover EU material, but focuses on national issues. This leads people more focused on the bigger picture to seek out working at the higher level. On the other hand low performers are also sent to Brussels because "In Brussels no one can hear you scream".

Anti-EU sentiment is generally driven by national politicians who somehow always seem to cast blame on the EU when things go bad and take credit themselves when things go well. Even going so far as taking credit for implementing laws they were actually forced to implement by the union.

[acdha]

As a fellow American, that sounds like you need to reconsider your news sources. Brexit was driven by propaganda, not some principled opposition to intractable problems. The “EUrocrats gone wild” stories are popular in certain circles but there’s an entire cottage industry debunking them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromyth

[dennisgorelik]

Both "stay" and "exit" sides were covered pretty well.

But if Brussel's bureaucracy behaved more reasonably, UK would not run away from European Union.

[acdha]

Again, that's taking a talking point as a given. Some people cited that or hypothetical cost savings as a justification but the claims tended to be based on urban legends or outright wishful thinking rather than actual analysis.

[salvar]

Which one has successfully left?

[dennisgorelik]

UK left European Union.

[salvar]

The UK is a full member of the EU. Planning to leave is not quite the same as having successfully left.

[dragonwriter]

> UK left European Union.

No, it didn't.

It is in the process of doing so, but it hasn't left yet.