Giscard regrets constitution sent to French people

EU Observer ^ | 6/15/05 | Lisbeth Kirk

[HamiltonJay]

Agreed, but it was not voted on by mass referendum.. it was not a 1 man 1 vote ratification process.... if it had been, it likely would not have been ratified.

I am not defending the EU Constitution, I am just pointing out realities of 'true democracy'... its not a good system of government, and never has been.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Lessee now, a 488 page document written in legalese that even its authors cannot understand vs a 5,000 word document written so plainly that even a third grader can understand it.

Which, if they had a true choice, do you think the French would have taken?

[Still Thinking]

It was a crucial mistake to send out the entire constitution to every French voter, the architect of the EU's first constitution Valéry Giscard d'Estaing has said in an interview.

Yeah, we wouldn't want the sheeple to know what they're voting on, they might get the idea they have a right to make up their own mind.

[Still Thinking]

"It is not possible for anyone to understand the full text".

Then it's obvious that it SHOULDN'T be ratified, yes?

[expatpat]

"It is not possible for anyone to understand the full text".

Not even I, Giscard, nor the brave Jacques, understand this piece of merde!

[Iron Matron]

Our own open borders elites won't make this mistake when they create the North American Union.

George W. Bush: "Ouch!"

[DManA]

Hope you've also got a good lawyer. You could be going to jail for all you know.

I often sign 488 page legal documents that not only I don't understand, but it is impossible for anyone to understand.

[newgeezer]

It seems like the 'general welfare' clause would have benefitted from some clarification. As it is, it means anything anyone wants it to mean.

Some of what you call "complexity" is good. There's often a valid reason for legalese in legal documents (other than to give lawyers a reason to exist).

[night reader]

I am often faced with State Constitutional issues I don't understand and candidates with whom I am not familiar. Here are my rules for dealing with such variables.
1. If I don't understand it, vote no.
2. If it's a partisan election, I vote against communists, socialists, and demonrats (I know, I repeat myself.)
3. If it's a non-partisan election, vote against the incumbent.
4. If there is no incumbent, vote against any "non-American sounding" names, especially against non-northern European sounding names.
5. If the newspaper shows pictures, vote for the candidate who looks the most like me.

[RS]

"It seems like the 'general welfare' clause would have benefitted from some clarification. As it is, it means anything anyone wants it to mean."

Might have been better if it had just been left out altogether - it just added to the complexity.

[cdrw]

Fact is stranger than fiction. You just couldn't make this stuff up.

[Lukasz]

Unbelievable perfidy and arrogance. But I’m glad that he said that, I hope that his statement will spread around the Europe...