The EU causes me major cognitive dissonance.<p>On the one hand, it is extremely bureaucratic, issues bizarre rulings for things that shouldn't matter, and in introducing monetary union without fiscal union has caused colossal, possibly catastrophic damage to the European economy.<p>On the other hand, it has long been <i>far</i> more respectful of the rights of the common man than its member governments, with rulings such as this (not to mention the ECHR, etc).<p>I'm not sure if this is simply a function of there being so many different organisations and committees, or something deeper.