[leovonl]

It's amusing to read all these calls for a more democratic EU, specially when comparisons with the USA are made.

EU membership is voluntary, you can leave if you want. What would happen if an USA state decided to leave? Check the history books.

Truly democratic nations respect self-determination principles. In this sense, USA is closer to the authoritarianism of Spain than to democracies like Canada or the UK itself.

[Joeri]

To be fair, some of the EU leaders have made it clear that they intend to make the brexit so costly on britain that no one else dare leave. So, it remains to be seen how voluntary EU membership is.

[UnoriginalGuy]

But nobody will die. You're contrasting bad trade terms with literal wars, really apples and oranges comparison.