Thank You, Ireland
Saturday, 14. June 2008, 10:43:20
Denmark, my home country, has been a member of EU (European Union) since 1973.
In the beginning, the EU (or the EEC, which was the name back then) was a trade organization aiming to reduce obstacles of free trade between the European countries.
Later on, during the eighties, the Union more and more became a political union aiming at ultimately becoming a constitutional democracy with a president, not unlike the USA. During this process, the individual European countries had to, more or less, loose parts of their autonomy. No surprise, since autonomy and common laws don't play well together.
Many of the common laws and rules constituted by the EU through time have been reasonable in order to gain more efficient corporation between the member states regarding law-enforcement, military and trade.
Now, politicians are a special specie within the human race. They seem to have a drift of their own - which doesn't come as a surprise to me. It's obvious that a politician who sees his line of work as a profession would like to work with a slender, fast and top-tuned organization in order to be able to implement decisions on legislation fast and with as few obstacles as possible. I can understand that.
But democracy will suffer in the process. As an example, my country have had less and less political decisions put out to referendums as time has passed by.
Just as with the Lisbon Treaty, which has recently been ratified by all member countries in the EU in their respective parliaments - without referendums. Except from Ireland - the only country in the entire EU which actually asked their people about the treaty.
Treaties are normally very complex papers to read and understand. But in the Lisbon Treaty it is stated, that in the future the former right for every member-state, namely the right to veto a decision made by The European Parliament, would be lost. Plus that not every country would be allowed a commissary in the EU as a right. Only the largest countries would have a such.
So, the Lisbon Treaty would reduce the countries' autonomy even more - thereby reducing democracy. For that reason alone, I would have voted no, if I had been given the chance. Democracy in the EU apparently already suffered to the extend that I as a citizen wasn't asked for my opinion here in Denmark.
That's why I feel the urge to express my thanks to Ireland and her population for their "No" to the Lisbon Treaty, which apparently means that the treaty will be rejected as such.
Professional politicians will be very disappointed over this. I am delighted, though.
Democracy must remain very difficult. Parliaments should not become similar to corporate organisations. They should rather be like discussion forums where decisions are very hard to reach. That will be the best of ways to secure the rights of the minorities.
Again, thank you Ireland for making democracy difficult to handle. A lot of talking suits will be pissed at you for months to come - but I tell you that you should feel proud of yourselves. You did the right thing.
In the beginning, the EU (or the EEC, which was the name back then) was a trade organization aiming to reduce obstacles of free trade between the European countries.
Later on, during the eighties, the Union more and more became a political union aiming at ultimately becoming a constitutional democracy with a president, not unlike the USA. During this process, the individual European countries had to, more or less, loose parts of their autonomy. No surprise, since autonomy and common laws don't play well together.
Many of the common laws and rules constituted by the EU through time have been reasonable in order to gain more efficient corporation between the member states regarding law-enforcement, military and trade.
Now, politicians are a special specie within the human race. They seem to have a drift of their own - which doesn't come as a surprise to me. It's obvious that a politician who sees his line of work as a profession would like to work with a slender, fast and top-tuned organization in order to be able to implement decisions on legislation fast and with as few obstacles as possible. I can understand that.
But democracy will suffer in the process. As an example, my country have had less and less political decisions put out to referendums as time has passed by.
Just as with the Lisbon Treaty, which has recently been ratified by all member countries in the EU in their respective parliaments - without referendums. Except from Ireland - the only country in the entire EU which actually asked their people about the treaty.
Treaties are normally very complex papers to read and understand. But in the Lisbon Treaty it is stated, that in the future the former right for every member-state, namely the right to veto a decision made by The European Parliament, would be lost. Plus that not every country would be allowed a commissary in the EU as a right. Only the largest countries would have a such.
So, the Lisbon Treaty would reduce the countries' autonomy even more - thereby reducing democracy. For that reason alone, I would have voted no, if I had been given the chance. Democracy in the EU apparently already suffered to the extend that I as a citizen wasn't asked for my opinion here in Denmark.
That's why I feel the urge to express my thanks to Ireland and her population for their "No" to the Lisbon Treaty, which apparently means that the treaty will be rejected as such.
Professional politicians will be very disappointed over this. I am delighted, though.
Democracy must remain very difficult. Parliaments should not become similar to corporate organisations. They should rather be like discussion forums where decisions are very hard to reach. That will be the best of ways to secure the rights of the minorities.
Again, thank you Ireland for making democracy difficult to handle. A lot of talking suits will be pissed at you for months to come - but I tell you that you should feel proud of yourselves. You did the right thing.
