Is the European Union worse than the Mob?

Empty grocery shelves? Medicine shortages? Tens of thousands of people out of work? Chaos in the streets and the army struggling to maintain control? This is not Venezuela but a crash-Brexit England, and its lurking spectre should hold chilling lessons for all nation states.
The Nation correctly stated that many developed countries have adopted the “Toyota” system of waste reduction whereby surpluses are scrapped in favour of a “just in time, right on the dime” pay-as-you-go system that’s dependent on open borders. Alas, while this may be best practice for power sunroofs, cup-holders and passenger bun-warmers, it very clearly is the worst possible system for vital medications, HIV/Aids care, food, all basic human needs and even a few culturally-sensitive delicacies.
Brexit also should teach us that good fences make good neighbours, while financial dependence inevitably makes something of a Mafia even out of erstwhile respectable friends: Vote for an independent Britain and they’ll hold hostage the very necessities of life. Forbid illegal aliens to cross your Hungarian soil and they’ll sanction you or take away your voting rights. Try to hold a peaceful vote on the Catalonian future – they’ll take cudgels to the skulls of old men, elderly widows, or the disabled in their wheelchairs.
In the end, yesterday’s article offers two lessons and a question: First, nations must be self-sufficient. Second, nations are not Toyotas and should adopt a “wise Pharaoh” approach so healthy surpluses are stored for times of scarcity. And finally, perhaps we should question if one should do business with certain EU member states who are acting like the Mafia.
For, after all, has the EU received any requests made by Britons, Catalans or Hungarians so unreasonable that they could not be granted with a respectful kiss of the Godfather’s ring on this, “the day of his daughter’s wedding?”
Jason A Jellison