Circumspect E.U. Turns To Dutch on Constitution (The French are acting like conservative Americans!)

The Washington Post ^ | May 31, 2005 | Craig Whitlock

[Dont Mention the War]

Circumspect E.U. Turns To Dutch on Constitution

Referendum Defeat Could Deal Plan a Fatal Setback

By Craig Whitlock
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, May 31, 2005; A01

[...]

The French rejection took on the air of a rebellion. For hours after the polls closed, opponents rejoiced and danced in Bastille Square, the site where the French Revolution began in 1789. Many voters said they were eager to snub members of the country's political, business and media elites, which were largely in favor of the measure.

"They made Europe happen too fast," said Sebastien Dreuillet, a 22-year-old college student in Paris who said he had voted no. "I found the constitution unreadable. The text was too long. Most of the elites didn't read it and just followed along."

Even supporters of the constitution blamed Chirac for not doing a better job of articulating how France would stand to benefit from a stronger E.U. In particular, they grimaced at the memory of Chirac's appearance on television with a group of young voters during the campaign, when he admitted he didn't understand their anxieties about how France would fare economically and politically under a stronger European confederation

[...]

Some voters accused E.U. leaders of crafting the constitutional process to make it appear democratic, when in fact only a few people outside France have been afforded the opportunity to have a direct say. Of the nine nations that have ratified the constitution, only Spain held a referendum on the question. Elsewhere the decision was left to lawmakers.

[Dont Mention the War]

(Emphases mine.)

[Dont Mention the War]

ping

[konaice]

Members of the Socialist Party react at their headquarters in Paris on Sunday after French voters rejected the proposed European Union constitution.

That picture alone was worth voting NO!!!

[ambrose]

These lefties sure are drama queens.

[Cap Huff]

"Fatal Setback"

What is a fatal setback? It is either fatal or it is a setback. It can't be both (unless you happen to be Franco, Tito, Idi Amin, Arafat, King Fahd, etc.). They actually pay editors at the Washington Post? Unbelievable.

[Avenger]

Actually, the EU constitution was rejected largely because it was seen as a threat to the welfare state in France. The Left in France was stronlgy against the EU constitution.

[konaice]

The Left in France was stronlgy against the EU constitution.

That's not the way the news is reading, so perhaps you have different sources.

I think its clear that the French citizens are finally waking up to the fact that it is an undemocratic totalitarianism which they are being asked to impose on themselves. The only place it was popular was in Paris and Brest.

[Ken H]

Actually this is true. [that the Left in France was strongly against the EU constitution.]

Are you sure? They look pretty upset in post #3.

[konaice]

The French voted no to preserve their leftist paradise

Well the following article tends to re-inforce your view, so I stand corrected...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1413572/posts

Never the less, the constitution is an unwork-able abomination, seeking to impose current dictates on how people work, think, and even feel, upon future generations. If enacted, it will have to be scrapped. Better to stay with what is working till its done right.

We created an unworkable government the first time around as well with something called the Articles of Confederation , and we had to scrap it.

Then we came up with something designed to tie 13 individual and very different countries together into a workable union.

Perhaps if the French get out of the way, that model can be dusted off and revisited.

[Ulysse]

Journalists of Washington Post obviously do'nt understand the situation in France.
After the outcome of french Referendum only left wing oponents to European Constitution were shouting in Bastille place.It was only those who seem to believe that majority is mesured by the level of noise they make.
What are the sources of this article in Washington Post?
"Le Monde"? "Liberation"?It's better to know!

[tjwmason]

Why is it that most people here on FR is so against the treaty?

Probably because the entire enterprise of the E.U. is fundamentally opposed to conservatism due its supranational purpose.

The Constitution (it is important to call it a constitution, that is what it is, and British politicians have been obfuscating its nature by not using the term) would set in stone the bureaucratic model on which the E.U. functions; it would forever end the attempt to build a non-political free-trade zone (arguably that point was passed long ago); it would make departure from the E.U. far more difficult; it would dramatically erode national sovereignty; it would move the E.U. more strongly into foreign policy (despite its only venture there thus far being the dramatic failure of the former Yugoslavia) - it is worth noting that this foreign policy would almost certainly be hostile to the trans-Atlantic alliance.

I'm just amazed that anybody on F.R. thinks that good will come of it.

Also it includes a better of coordination of European military resources. Which is good. Even for the USA.

No no no and no again. It would be disasterous. At best it would make no difference, at worst it would trap the British military and prevent them from operating alongside the Americans without approval from France and Germany. There is a splendidly workable system in place - NATO - which is being systematically undermined in favour of the insular 'fortress Europe' mentality of the E.U. As I said above, the foreign (and therefore security) policy of the E.U. would be far less receptive to American ideas than her current allies (such as the U.K. and Poland).

[Tarkin]

"That's not the way the news is reading, so perhaps you have different sources. I think its clear that the French citizens are finally waking up to the fact that it is an undemocratic totalitarianism which they are being asked to impose on themselves. The only place it was popular was in Paris and Brest."

The treaty was supported by both major political parties - UMP (Union for the Popular Movement) and PS (Socialistic Party). The opposition consisted of both extreme leftist (PCF - French Communist Party, CGT - communist trade union, and the left wing of the PS) and so-called far right (that is Le Pen's National Front and de Villers' Rally for France).

To summarize, the French people did the right thing, but for all the wrong reasons.

[Tarkin]

Actually they have more than one leftist party. The communist party were against."

The fact that the PCF still exists (and has a representation in the National Assembly) is something that never ceases to amaze me. How, after all these years, can they still elect them?

[Caipirabob]

The French are acting like conservative Americans!

Actually, my understanding is that the Socialists, Communists and other anti-Capitalists were the ones who organize the strongest resistance to the EU constitution.

They believed the EU constitution was polluted with "Anglo-values" and didn't support the heavy entitlement oriented society that the French embrace. They believe it supported an EU that favored corporations and business rather than a welfare state mentality.

They were correct. The EU is allegedly being established as a counter-balance to the US. There's no way Europe can compete until they've made doing business across current borders easier and less expensive.

But the French just can't let go of their entitlements, even as the burden on their society begins to sink their economy into a bottomless abyss.

This week just keeps getting better and better...

[gr8eman]

The French are acting like conservative Americans!

Do not confuse rebellion with the desire for "liberte". Especially if someone's idea of liberty is 6 weeks vacation and cradle to grave nanny state benefits. I think most Americans want the government out of their way. These protesters want the government their way.