SobekPundit

Still Pissed Off About the Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

European Union Final Exam

I'm not supposed to discuss my European Union test, but I'm pretty sure my professor doesn't read this blog, so what the heck. It was a surprisingly easy test, given the amount of material we covered in the class. So easy, in fact, that I bet my readers here could do reasonably well on it, even without taking the class. Try for yourselves:

Section 1: Fill in the blank
1. The French are a bunch of pantywaisted ________________.
2. European "unity" is analogous to ______________.
3. The theory the Europe can improve its economic situation by forcing Member States to get rid of crippling regulations, but replacing those regulations with even more crippling regulations, is just plain old freaking _______________.
4. The European Court of Justice's shameless power grabs are analogous to those of the Supreme Court of the United States of _______________.
5. "They can be _______________________ (two words) for all I care; I'd still have to bum rides off of people."

Section 2: Multiple Choice
1. The Council is based in Brussels because:
a) waffles contribute to good decision-making
b) otherwise Belgium was going to use its military might to conquer the rest of Europe
c) clerical error; it was supposed to say "Brad's house."
d) otherwise Belgium would be even more useless than it is now.

2. Cartels are bad because:
a) they hurt everyone's feelings
b) they're always trying to steal me Looky Charms
c) European muckety-mucks say they're bad
d) only wise European economists should be restricting trade, not private businessmen

3. The European Court of Justice can fine a company for charging prices that are too high under:
a) Art. 43 EC
b) Art. 81 EC
c) Art. 82 EC
d) Are you serious? What a bunch of communist douchebags!

4. The Equal Protection portions of the Treaty are designed to:
a) ensure equality between the sexes
b) help amend past injustices against women
c) both of the above
d) make sure England can't fire public school teachers who have sex change operations because somehow a sex change operation has the same meaning as the word "gender"

5. Under the consumer protection directive:
a) consumers are protected from forum selection clauses
b) courts are authorized to challenge contract fairness sua sponte
c) untransposed directives should still be enforced by interpreting local law in light of the directive
d) GREEDY CAPITALISTIC CORPORATIONS ARE OF THE DEVIL!!! PEOPLE CAN'T BE FORCED TO PAY FOR STUFF JUST BECAUSE THEY 'BOUGHT' IT!!! HITLERBURTON!!!

Section 3: Essay
1. Explain how, under Friedrich Engel's theory of historical dialectic and Marx' Communist Manifesto, the emergence of the European Union was inevitable and will ultimatley lead to the downfall of capitalism in violent revolution, and the institution of communist utopia.

2. An Italian business decides to manufacture cars, but incorporates in Germany in order to take advantage of favorable laws. After three years, in spite of constant interference from the Commission and the ECJ, the business starts to turn a profit. What penalties should apply for their failure to comply with the Treaty requirements that no business revenue should exceed expenditures?

3. Generally rail on capitalism, business and America. Because of the screed-like nature of this question, no extra points will be given for proper punctuation and grammar. But extra points will be awarded if you somehow manage to mention Israel unfavorably.

You have two hours. Good luck.