Now That Ireland Has Caved

American Spectator ^ | 10/5/2009 | Doug Bandow

[IbJensen]

n a contest watched closely in Europe but largely ignored in America, the Irish voted on Friday to approve the Lisbon Treaty. The European establishment is celebrating what is supposed to become a stronger European Union.

But the fat (Czech) lady has yet to sing.

Five years ago members of the EU advanced a continental constitution to create a consolidated government in Brussels, with a president and foreign minister, increased "competencies," or responsibilities, for the EU, and fewer national vetoes over other issues. But in 2005 the Dutch and French peoples voted no.

After that democratic debacle, the Eurocratic elite wheeled out a slightly revised contitution in the form of a treaty requiring only parliamentary approval. Although polls indicated that majorities in every EU member desired to vote on the treaty, only Ireland (by its constitution) required a popular ballot. In June 2008 the Irish shocked the European establishment by rejecting the accord.

The EU elite reacted predictably by closing ranks and scheming to overturn the popular will. The point is not that it is necessarily wrong to create something closer to a European nation state. (Personally, I believe Europeans are risking their liberties for little practical benefit, but it is their decision to make.) However, as Larry Siedentop, author of Democracy in Europe, notes: "the EU seems blind to a central insight of liberal democratic thought -- that the means of reaching public decisions are just as important as the ends."

Last month European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso claimed "We respect the vote of the Irish people," but if so he was the only person in Brussels to do so. Some Eurocrats proposed to toss Dublin out of the EU or at least consign it to second-class status. Most demanded that the Irish vote again --

[IbJensen]

Some Eurocrats proposed to toss Dublin out of the EU or at least consign it to second-class status.

The EU is ruled, as is the Estados Unidos, by socialist, globalist thugs.

[wolfcreek]

As it is written... “And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” Revelation 13:1 http://www.mazzaroth.com/ChapterSeven/TenRegionsWTO.htm

[KeyLargo]

The abortionist womens lib won. Now I know whey an aquaintence here in the U.S., ( a big feminist) was e-mailing me from Ireland.

Irish abortion, military could decide EU vote
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/01/ireland.vote/