The Lisbon Treaty. (59)

"I also read your posts Jovian and Marie, and what is being said here by you people, is no different to what the people around me are saying.

It is extraordinary that the views of the people here on this site represent the feelings of the Irish people so much more that our representatives in Power. Wonder should I send them an invitation?"


Please don't misunderstand me - I am just trying to reason why so many voted no - it does not mean I agree with them - I dont. I think that this is possibly the worst decision Ireland could have made under the present economic crisis. Ireland is heading for some very difficult times economically and for sure this no vote will not have helped at all.

The reasons for voting no here are diverse.
The Militarisation of the EU was probably one of the most important points discussed by people here. As one of the few European countries that has never had a history of colonisation as well its policy of neutrality, it is feared by many people here that with a military force in Europe would eventually lead to War.

The focus now here is not on our Government but very much on the EU Commission, They told us this Treaty could not go ahead without our ratification, now they say it will with 26 countries. This appears to be completely contrary to section 48. And why the urgency to get this through? This is one of the most successful bloc's in the world since the signing of the Treaty of Rome, It has not fallen apart without a constitution.

I think we are all heading for difficult times economically regardless, and even if we in Ireland are heading for worse than the rest of Europe, well we survived them before and we will again.

Personally I have not been very impressed by the recent boom in the Irish economy. It has allowed too many greedy people to have power.

We were told here by our Government before the Referendum that the only people who would support the No vote were extreme left wing groups. Now today we are being told by the EU that the only people in The EU who support our No vote is extreme left wing groups!

It is getting hard to take either very seriously!

A wonderful thought my good friend Conrad73. But quite an impossibility.

Reply to patrickt's last comment. This is an article I recieved yesterday.
( I have been shown now how to make a new paragraph)

ARTICLE
An Overview of Conditions Around the World.
Irish Republic rejects EU treaty.
The British government failed to keep it's promise to it's citizens to have a referendum to either approve or dis approve the Lisbon Treaty--which in reality is just a papering over of the already rejected European Constitution,since the actual contents are about 98% the same. But to give the Irish citizens their due ,the Republic of Ireland conducted a public referendum on the Lisbon Treaty as required by it's constitution-- and they rejected it. All 27 member states have to ratify the treaty. Only the Irish Republic has dmocratically held a referendum or it's citizens. This Irish rejection is in spite or strong verbal pressure brought by Brussels and Irish politicions on the electorate. One commentator had stated that " the prospect of a no vote in the Irish referendum next month on the E Union's Lisbon Treaty is something too dreadful to contemplate in Brussels and most other capitals of the U member states"(FinancialTimes May 30 2008).Yet leading up to the vote,Irish newspapers were full of protests by a few courageous politicians and jouranalists pointing out the flaws of the treaty. The Irish citizenry took the matter much more seriously than most europeans. In fact , most european citizens know little about the terms of the Lisbon Treaty and what it portends for the future. An article by Jamie Smyth, European correspondant for the Irish Times,bore this title: "Citizens of Europe United in Ignorance of the treaty"(june6,2008). As he noted later in the text,"The gap between Europe's citizens and what the know about the Lisbon Treaty is a big one". This ignorance enables the EU to slowly take national sovereignty by stealth. Yet citizens in the Irish Republic have stood in the gap. One observer stated,"The people of Ireland have shown enormous courage and wisdom in analyzing the facts presented to them and making the decision they have"(BBCNews). Some opposed the treatybecause it could threaten Ireland's traditional millitary neutrality. "This treaty will increase militarization and neoconservatism of Europe", said Treasa O'Brien ,who voted in Cork. "I'm pro-european, but the EU started as an economic system. The treaty will turn the EU into a super-state, and that was not it's origional intention"(The Los Angeles Times June13 2008).
Europe is destined to become exactly that-the heart of a new economic and military superstate. What happens next remains to be seen, since the treaty requires approval by all 27 EU nations to take effect.Presumably the treaty will be slightly reworked and put to another vote. Indeed the treaty is already a largely cosmetic revision of the EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. Some are calling for a "two-speed Europe",wherein ratifying countries can start implementing the treaty. Of course , that violates the requirement of unanimity. In any case, be sure that Europe's leaders will find a way to continue the process of political union.(Sources:FinancalTimes,The Irish Times, BBC News).