D E Margrett has finally convinced me that we have more to fear from remaining part of an American Empire than from becoming part of a European Superpower.

Car workers in Birmingham and Detroit would probably not be out of work if they lived in France or Germany - countries where elections still influence the way Governments behave after the election.

Let's stop deluding ourselves that we are a great power anymore and realise that being Uncle Sam's puppet is destroying us. A trip to mainland Europe soon establishes which countries are really good to live in and our quality of life is the lowest in Europe in a host of ways.

So much for being the fourth richest nation on earth! Let's remember that when Britain was the richest nation on earth, most Britons lived in abject poverty and squalor - and that's that free market economics could easily return if New Labour and the Tories remain in power.

Why don't we encourage mighty Russia to join the EU and become part of a European Superpower to rival America and Asia - but this time give it a humane social democratic face and leave exploitative Dickensian Economics to Uncle Sam and China?

JIM EVANS,

Bath Road, Worcester.