"How stupid of France and The Netherlands to bring it to the people for approval"
"Mr Juncker seemed so distressed that he could hardly take in the fact of the second 'No' vote."
The picture of Juncker says it all . . .
Certainly the people's will has never stopped liberals on either side of the Atlantic before when it interfered with their grabs for power.
Why is nobody "satisfied that the people have spoken and their will can now be carried out".
These pols are like children who got their favorite toys taken away.
In Europe, to call something a "liberal" document is to say that it is pro-free market.
Over there, there are three political positons ... left-socialist, liberal and conservative.
In many countries, the "center-right" includes both liberal and conservative sentiments, and is distinct from the far right which is populist and nationalistic.
Over there, politics involves parties of the center tip-toeing between the far right and the far left, accomodating some of the concerns of those at the edges of the mainstream, and keeping those remaining in the extremes small and off-balance.
Politics over here is very different, with only two major parties, each of which is a mixed bag. (Our Republicans combine some liberalism with some conservatism, and our Democrats being increasingly a left-socialist party, which is why they're in the minority, and our fringe parties being very small.)
In the referendum in France, it was revealed that the center is not necessarily a majority. The far right and the far left combined to overwhelm the center. Why? I would say because of a mix of economic and social concerns. But, let us bear in mind that we're talking of France.
In Holland, there was a different coalition. The majority that voted against ratification was very large and included much of the middle.
First of all, Holland is, after Switzerland, the most liberal (i.e., free market) country of the continent. They have a vibrant, open economy.
The people of Holland have little to fear from foreign competition, whether from Poland or America or China (which is not to say that the Dutch are secure in their jobs ... people in capitalist countries are not secure in their jobs, their security is in themselves). Economically, their risk is having to subsidize the ambitions of France and Germany to dominate Europe.
Secnd, turning to the cultural issues, the people of Holland combine a free market orientation ("liberalism") with traditional social values, including pro-religion, pro-family, pro-work and pro-country ("conservatism"). Their center-right is a healthy mix of liberal and conservative values. (In contrast, the center-right of France is heavy on nationalism and light on free-markets.)
What does this say for us?
I think it is increasingly obvious that the Democrats (American left-socialists) cannot return to majority status without some kind of political realignment. They have to figure out how to appeal to more people. But, to whom can they appeal without disaffecting their current members?
Well, Hillary is thinking of combining socialism with populist, anti-immigrant values. Isn't this what Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussilini did? (They re-positioned socialism on the right-wing of the political spectrum, being nationalistic and anti-minority.)
I don't think this attempt at re-positioning will work, because I think there are still some Democrats who are liberals (in the European sense), who will be turned off by populist, anti-immigrant values, and who will see that the Republicans are committed to an acceptable combination of liberal and conservative values.
I think the overwhelming majority of people in this country combine the best of liberalism and conservatism, wanting freedom and wamtomg people to use their freedom for good. This is the emerging concensus of conservative Protestants and Catholics, which explains why the center-right is in the ascendency in Holland and Germany, in New Europe and in the United States.
All EU countries ratifying the constitution have been by Parlimentary Vote - Not Referenda! (Except one - Spain, who has been admonished by their Dhimma masters)
Lesson learned? Letting the people vote on such important matters is a bad (almost sheesh American) idea.
Austria
Austria has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote - lower house on 11 May 2005 – upper house on 25 May 2005
Belgium
Parliamentary ratification - process is underway.
Cyprus
Parliamentary ratification, scheduled for June/July 2005.
Czech Republic
No final decision taken on whether a referendum will be held.
Denmark
Referendum scheduled for 27 September 2005.
Estonia
Parliamentary ratification, date not yet fixed.
Finland
Parliamentary ratification, date not yet fixed.
France
Voters have rejected the Constitution in a referendum held on 29 May 2005 - No 54.9%, Yes 45.1%.
Germany
Germany has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote - ratified in lower house 12 May 2005 – in upper house on 27 May 2005 – formal signature by President still outstanding
Greece
Greece has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 19 April 2005 (268 votes in favour, 17 against and 15 abstentions).
Hungary
Hungary has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 20 December 2004 (323 votes in favour to 8 against with 12 abstentions)
Ireland
A referendum will be held - no date has yet been announced.
Italy
Italy has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 25 January 2005 in the Chamber of Deputies (436 votes in favour, 28 against and 5 abstentions) and on 6 April 2005 by the Senate (217 votes in favour to 16 against).
Latvia
Latvia ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 2 June 2005.
Lithuania
Lithuania ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 11 November 2004.
Luxembourg
Referendum scheduled for 10 July 2005.
Malta
Parliamentary ratification, likely in July 2005.
Netherlands
Voters have rejected the Constitution in a referendum held on 1 June 2005 - Against 61.6%, for 38.4%
Poland
Referendum will be held, no date has yet been confirmed.
Portugal
Referendum will be held, no date has yet been confirmed.
Slovakia
Slovakia has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 11 May 2005
Slovenia
Slovenia has ratified the Constitution by parliamentary vote on 1 February 2005 (79 votes in favour to 4 against with 7 absentions).
Spain
Voters in Spain approved the Treaty in a referendum on 20 February 2005 (76.7% in favour to 17.3% against with 6.03% blank ballots). This result has been formally ratified by both houses of the Spanish Parliament.
Sweden
Referendum, no date yet set.
United Kingdom
Referendum, no date yet set.
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