Idea: European Union

This may seem like a stretch, but during my last two meetings with Paul the European Union has come up. Not in a political nature, but when thinking about isolation, it's important for me to think about things other than social isolation. Paul mentioned looking into the countries rejected from the EU, and study the unity between the members.

Quotes:
"If you cannot join them, beat them!"

— Danish Foreign Minster Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, in a short statement to television before the European Championship 1992 Final, won by Denmark, shortly after the Danes voted against the Maastricht Treaty

"We are a very special construction unique in the history of mankind ... Sometimes I like to compare the EU as a creation to the organisation of empire. We have the dimension of empire .. What we have is the first non-imperial empire .. We have 27 countries that fully decided to work together and to pool their sovereignty. I believe it is a great construction and we should be proud of it"

— Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, 2007

Annotated Bib:

The European Dream by Jeremy Rifkin

Rifkin claims that the American Dream is in decline, and the European way of life will be its replacement. He addresses how Americans 'live to work' and Europeans 'work to live' which makes for a healthier society. He writes about the history of Europe and America, and how Europe is slowly becoming better suited to adapt to "the challenges of the 21st-century". 

From the 1957 signing of the Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community.