EXACTLY! There seems to be an almost cultish devotion to the benevolent institution that it can do no wrong, neither now nor henceforth.
I understand WHY people have this belief. The EU is under constant attack at the moment from many sides, and people feel they need to defend it at all costs, even it they are wrong.
As you mention that "they are wrong" in reference to saying that the regulators aren't to be trusted, could you explain how the Dutch regulator behaved badly?
I'm Dutch and have followed what they've been doing over at least 10+ years. I don't think I'm wrong in my assertion, but feel free to point out the details. Also, I'd like to know how often you've followed what the Dutch regulator has been doing. I get the feeling you're not aware of their name.
You have to trust someone. Either the vast expanse of companies clearly mishandling your data, or the "benevolent" body which so far at least has a fairly good track record. It's not perfect. It's dangerous to give them too much power because you don't know how they will change in the future. But at the end of the day, I'd rather trust a governmental body which is at least supposed to look out for my interests, rather than a company whose main motivation is to exploit me for every penny I have.
No, it didn't.
It is in the process of doing so, but it hasn't left yet.
But if Brussel's bureaucracy behaved more reasonably, UK would not run away from European Union.
Anti-EU sentiment is generally driven by national politicians who somehow always seem to cast blame on the EU when things go bad and take credit themselves when things go well. Even going so far as taking credit for implementing laws they were actually forced to implement by the union.