Posted on 06/14/2008 6:58:11 AM PDT by RogerFGay
The entire business and political elite of Ireland ganged up to tell their countrymen that they should vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty. Failure to comply would risk outraging the EU elite and integrationist maniacs who want to impose their undemocratic project on an entire continent. The implication was profoundly insulting: that if voters were to cause any trouble, Ireland would suffer somehow. By implication it is incapable of prospering as a nation which values its independence.
Irish voters, thank goodness, appear to have had other ideas and in raising two fingers to the latest stage of the federalist programme have cheered those who want a different kind of Europe - an accountable Europe of free nations.
Amusingly, this is extremely embarrassing for the leaders who tried to railroad the Lisbon treaty past Europe's voters.
Their EU project is propelled by the myth that this process is inevitable and unstoppable. The opposite is the case because rapid economic and technological change means that, while we should trade and cooperate, individual nation states will need maximum maneuverability to compete.
Will EU leaders listen? Yes, for about 30 seconds before activating plan B in which they implement 90% of the provisions of the Treaty anyway. But at least the opposing forces have been given a rallying point and an electorate has spoken.
UPDATE: The rumour is that Gordon Brown has phoned Sarko to say he'll press ahead with UK ratification regardless. Is there something in the water at Westminster? This David Davis kamikaze style of politics is catching and perhaps Brown wants to be the next to try it.
Ireland, ironically, is the last bastion of backbone in the former British Empire.
Nah. They just want to remain Irish, and always have.
Here's one that sort of sums them all up:
Thank you IrelandAntiFed 13 Jun 2008 14:09
For saving us from a dark anti-democratic unaccountable tyranny. This day you have done a great service for a half of a billion people all across Europe.
God Bless Ireland
It doesn't matter who wants to stick it to the formerly great, formerly brave British people, they seem to be able to only say, "Please, sir, can I have some more?"
So now we all know where to move if the Socialists win here this fall.
Seems to me that proceeding with the Euro-”dream” after this debacle is EXACTLY the kind of undemocratic process leading to loss of freedom that David Davies is complaining about. Good on’im say I
The British have lost their way.
I’m toasting this with a Guinness and a hale and hearty — F’ the EU and its socialist mandarins
Long live Operation O'Chaos!
Leni
We should learn from them.
True, and I don't know why. I've been spending a lot of time with Brits lately, and most say they are "Euroskeptic", but then sort of shrug and say "Oh well, guess I can't do much to change it".
Sort of running out the clock until the game ends, then they just disappear.
What are those statist poofters going to do, come over and pelt the Irish to death with French rolls?
This is interesting Soros?
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"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
They won’t admit that they face the same situation that existed in the American colonies; a situation in which a federation with limited federal powers and guaranteed basic individual rights to protect against government oppression is the right answer.
Isn’t this actually the second time Ireland has voted against the EU. Seems 3 or 4 years ago there was another vote that didn’t go the right way.
This is the second time the proposal has been defeated. I don’t remember Ireland voting against it the first time. They might have cancelled their referendum when it was clear that it had already been sufficiently rejected by other states.
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