plus ca change
Well done France. Not words which trip off the tongue of your average Englishman, but credit where it's due and the French rejection of the European constitution made my week.
A few years ago I was a confirmed Europhile. I thought democracy was dead in the UK and that Europe was the way forward. But over the last few years, a rag bag of failed domestic politicians (yes Kinnock, I mean you, traitor. House of Lords my fukin arse) and the creme of Euro has beens and never weres have descended on the European institutions to create a shambling, bureaucratic monster. It is unaccountable, undemocratic and out of control. The whole sorry edifice needs pulling down and rebuilding. (Visit The Sprout for the low down on Euro corruption)
The constitution is a great example of why Europe needs to re-engage with its people. Some criticised it for being too federalist. Some criticised it for being too Thatcherite. No one it seems offered a balanced perspective. The European Commission itself should have taken responsibility for all campaigning. There should not have been a Yes and a No campaign, but instead a neutral campaign based on the facts and the realities of the constitution. Then people would have voted from a position of informed reason, not passionate opposition.
Europe can now respond in two ways. One way sees the federalists puffing themselves up, saying the French Non doesn't really mean that much and it's business as usual. The other would see Europe's leaders realising that there is a huge problem with the way they are perceived. They would understand that they have failed to engage the people of Europe in their dreams and ambitions. They would insist that much of the Commission's work be scaled back while the public are educated and informed as to their purpose. An open, engaged and informed Europe. Wouldn't that be a wonder?
So how is this going to play out? The fall guy in France is the Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin who has tendered his resignation to President Chirac. His replacement is Dominique de Villepin, a career diplomat who has never once been elected to office. Not a good start.
A few years ago I was a confirmed Europhile. I thought democracy was dead in the UK and that Europe was the way forward. But over the last few years, a rag bag of failed domestic politicians (yes Kinnock, I mean you, traitor. House of Lords my fukin arse) and the creme of Euro has beens and never weres have descended on the European institutions to create a shambling, bureaucratic monster. It is unaccountable, undemocratic and out of control. The whole sorry edifice needs pulling down and rebuilding. (Visit The Sprout for the low down on Euro corruption)
The constitution is a great example of why Europe needs to re-engage with its people. Some criticised it for being too federalist. Some criticised it for being too Thatcherite. No one it seems offered a balanced perspective. The European Commission itself should have taken responsibility for all campaigning. There should not have been a Yes and a No campaign, but instead a neutral campaign based on the facts and the realities of the constitution. Then people would have voted from a position of informed reason, not passionate opposition.
Europe can now respond in two ways. One way sees the federalists puffing themselves up, saying the French Non doesn't really mean that much and it's business as usual. The other would see Europe's leaders realising that there is a huge problem with the way they are perceived. They would understand that they have failed to engage the people of Europe in their dreams and ambitions. They would insist that much of the Commission's work be scaled back while the public are educated and informed as to their purpose. An open, engaged and informed Europe. Wouldn't that be a wonder?
So how is this going to play out? The fall guy in France is the Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin who has tendered his resignation to President Chirac. His replacement is Dominique de Villepin, a career diplomat who has never once been elected to office. Not a good start.
posted by phylos @ 11:59
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