The introduction of the € is a blessing for all Europeans

[johnny]

I'm curious what people think about this.

[armageddon272]

I always thought it was a good idea, except now my coin collection isn't gonna grow as fast. The onyl other problem I've had with it here in America is that my friend keeps telling me the Bible predicted this and that Satan's coming.

[Jorath Calar]

I'm so hoping Iceland takes it up... the current currency is weak, except against the dollar, at least these day.

[Xen]

I think not, becuase you have to calculate every price in Euro from your own currency. I'm pretty skeptical about it.

[Timber Loftis]

Not being a Euro, I won't comment on the Euro.

However, I did just want to mention what a SHOCK it is to crawl out of the cryogenic freezer after four months to find that Xen is a fellow Symbol of Maradin.
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[Link]

The benefit of the euro is that it can make Europe a stronger economic power. The problem with it is that if you want to make it truly successful, then you should take things much further than just introducing the same currency in different countries. That's why the referendum is so important.

On top of that, Europe should direct its focus on the leaders in the future, not the leaders of the past. We're way too slow when it comes to shifting our attention.

[dplax]

With the euro all the problems of changing currency within Europe are gone (give a few years for the new countries, of whom it seems Hungary shall be the last possibly to get the Euro by 2010...). This makes life easier for the average traveler, but you need to sacrifice some of your national characteristics to do so.

The euro does make Europe a stronger economic power and gives an easier means to compare it to the US or Japan on an economic level as comparing the individual strengths of European currencies with the $ was a bit tedious.

Yet, especially in France you see people who are having trouble getting over to the new system of the € and still think a lot in Francs. But on the long term as the new generation grows up with the euro these problems should disappear.

So I voted yes, because IMO the longterm benefits of the € outweigh the possible short term problems. I might be wrong, as I'm not a EU or economics specialist, and this is just my point of view.

[Stratos]

No opinion really. It's probably here to stay anyway.

[johnny]

I myself keep calculating back into the figures of our old currency. Can't help it, i've been thinking in, working with, and living with the Guilder for more than 35 years, you can't change that over a few years.

And besides, i always like to compare things, check for how much they screw us over with when buying something. I can't come to any other conclusion than that we were screwed BIG TIME, the price increases are insane, and personally i've never met a person who didn't have anything to complain about the €.

[dplax]

When the euro got introduced I saw a documentary in which they compared the prices before and after. For example a type of sweet in Germany had cost one Deutsch Mark before the Euro and after the Euro it became 1 €. However 1€ is about 2 DM. A lot of other examples could also be made...however I have a question to people getting salaries in the EU: did the salaries also get higher or no?