[laumars]

> But you shouldn't oppose EU regulations because you don't trust the US government, that's just silly.

Was anyone arguing that we oppose the EU because we don't trust the US? I don't understand how this statement ties into the comments that precede it.

[anoncake]

It's an explanation why

> but there seems to be a reflexive (negative) response from many posters here regarding any new regulation that the EU produces.

There's no way someone's experience with states does not usually influence their opinions towards states, consciously or not.

[laumars]

That's fine but I don't think it's a trust issue though (like you originally stated). I think it's usually more a case of freedom. Americans see regulation as oppression even when those regulations are in the consumers best interest. It's not that they don't trust their government (though I'm sure many don't), it's far more symbolic than that.

Take gun control for example, fire arms wouldn't get you far if you're taking on the government (which was the original purpose of America's gun laws). However many individuals will use every excuse under the sun to argue that gun control encroaches their basic freedoms despite all the evidence suggesting gun control would benefit society greatly.

It's a bit like how the UK's referendum was decided on a matter of "sovereignty" with many UK citizens believing leaving the EU gave them their sovereignty back. It makes very little since when you actually break down what "sovereignty" actually means, the actual relationship the UK has with the EU and even the terms of which the UK prospered when it was considered a "great nation" (namely the exploitation of developing countries). Yet many "Brits" still believe independence is the way forward because they don't identify themselves as being European.