Why I oppose the Lisbon Treaty

national | eu | opinion/analysis

Wednesday June 11, 2008 11:58

by Barra Ó Gríobhtha

In the last few days, Brian Cowen has stated that Ireland's future will be decided by the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. If, therefore, its ratification is so paramount with regard to the future of Ireland, and indeed Europe, then why are we the only nation voting on it? Surely, in any democracy, people are entitled to decide on issues which fundamentally shape their future, right? A half a billion people now live in the E.U., but only a few million are being asked for their opinion in a referendum being billed by Cowen as the most import in a generation. Either European democracy is well or truly a thing of the past, or Cowen, Kenny and Gilmore are exaggerating the importance of this referendum with a view to sparing their blushes on the corridors of power in Brussels.

"The rest of Europe will be mad with us if we vote No."
A few years ago I met a Swede in Limerick and the two of us have been together ever since. I now live in Sweden. So what do Swedes think about the E.U. I hear you ask? Well, Swedes are generally quite proud of the Swedish way of doing things, be it high taxation, the Kronor, personal numbers, an open border with Norway, state owned off-licences that close at 3p.m. on a Saturday, legalised snus, or paid male parental leave of up to a year and a half in duration. So they feel that their lifestyle is under threat by the E.U., right? Well to be honest, I very rarely hear as much as a whisper about the European Union here, and when I do it is usually something negative along the lines of the E.U. wanting to ban snus. And despite the apocalyptic visions being painted by the cowboys in the Dáil back home, I haven't seen anything written about the Lisbon Treaty in Swedish newspapers that wasn't longer that four lines in length. And as for the average person on the street, they don't even know that there is such a thing as the Lisbon Treaty, never mind how they might receive it if they did. Therefore I can reassure you that the people of Sweden will not hate us if we do indeed have the guts to reject this treaty. As far as I'm concerned, a European Union is the idea of mutual respect between all of Europe's peoples. In that context, we should vote as we please, with the expectation that our decision will be respected no matter how we decide to vote.

"The E.U. has scratched our back, now it’s our turn to scratch its"
In my opinion, the E.U. invested in Ireland in the exact same fashion that a bank might invest in you when you take out a mortgage with them. In other words, the E.U. invested in Ireland with the intent of benefiting from this investment. And indeed they have benefited. Ireland is one of the top producers of hardware, software and pharmaceutical products in Europe, as well as being the European hub for a whole range of American multinationals. We are also sitting on top of one of the largest gas and oil fields in Europe. European economies have most certainly benefited from Ireland's expansion, not to mention the jobs that have been created for the hundreds of thousands of Europeans who have migrated to Ireland in recent years. But rather than receiving credit in this regard, Irish people are dealt the guilt-trip card by both Irish and foreign politicians. If you really believe that European governments rallied together in a spirit of charity and goodwill with regard to the poor old Irish, then why is it that these very same countries are engaged in the practice of shipping billions of dollars worth of weapons to the third world?

The pendulum has swung against workers' rights and in favour of big business according to the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, which has advised its members to vote No. This swing is an obvious progression with regard to the centralisation of European political power. As fewer law makers rule over more and more people, it becomes easier for multinationals to pressurise, manipulate, and indeed bribe government. In other words, it is difficult for multinationals to implement policies which are biased in their favour when there are a multitude of different governments which need convincing. Democracy is also reduced, due to centralisation, with respect to the electoral process. In order to get elected today in the U.S., you need unbelievably large amounts of money behind you. And this system also makes it easier for tyrants to take control over very large amounts of people, just as Bush has done, and just as Blair is planning to do with respect to the E.U. "I'll be president of Europe if you give me the power - Blair http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/02/world.politics

"We've never had it so Good"
Ireland is currently on the crest of a very large wave, and the optimism associated with the Celtic Tiger will inspire many to vote yes. With our low taxation and high immigration, most Irish people have prospered financially as a result of Ireland's economic expansion. Sweden, on the other hand, has traditionally implemented a policy of very high taxation, which is used to maintain wealth throughout Swedish society. As a consequence, there are much fewer social problems here than in other E.U. countries, and this includes problems is areas of Sweden with large migrant populations. The city I work in, for example, has taken more Iraqi immigrants in recent years than the US and Canada combined. In Ireland, we are already seeing a dramatic increase in social problems with regard to those Irish left behind by the Celtic Tiger. And we will continue to see these problems increase. Ireland's migrants are coming from countries with lower standards of living and often lower levels of democracy. As a result, these people are happy to work the jobs that are now beneath us. But the problem is that their children will not be so easily pleased and Ireland will have to do better than simply offering them a job in McDonalds. Many E.U. countries have failed miserably in this regard and the chickens are now coming home to roost. As a result, we are seeing a dramatic increasing in social polarisation in countries like Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and France. The reason these problems have occurred is due to the policies implemented by their respective politicians; the very same politicians who have negotiated the Lisbon Treaty. Therefore, it might appear that Ireland is on a positive footing to some, but we should look to those countries that we are model on in order to gain insight into the Ireland of future generations. And as power is moved further and further away from ordinary people, it will become harder and harder for us to reverse the kinds of mistakes I believe are being made in Europe today.

For these reasons, I believe the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is our best interest, as well as that of all Europeans, and I will be a very proud Irishman if we vote No come Friday.

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Comments (13 of 13)

I enjoyed reading that.

by JB

Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:42

It was well written and had going points.

good one

by paul o toole

Wed Jun 11, 2008 13:55

If this thing is so damn good, whats all the fuss about? Why hide the good stuff from us buried under a pile of unreadable garboled messages. Our own constitution is a pretty easy read, clear in plain enough english.
I suppose were all a little more complicated now than in 1934. and this calls for a complicated constitution which could be re-interpreted as needed. Diddnt they say it was 'self amending'..
If this thing passes Im leaving Europe.
I left the States when bush got in. Im running out of places to go on this planet.

Why you oppose the Lisbon Treaty............

by MIck - Brussels -NGO

Wed Jun 11, 2008 13:57

mikey.donohoe.v at gmail dot com

1) Because the Swedes aren't paying it that much attention?! Very good, and this is representative of the rest of Europe how? Trust me Europe cares! I'm in Brussels, Europe cares about this.

2) Scratch our back.......foggy arguments......??Do you understand the treaty? Do you understand the co-decision process? This is not centralising power, this is an attempt to make the power that already exists more effective. If you believe in democracy, you can believe in QMV, surely? Do you think vetoes makes the law-making process more effective? Do you not want to see more pan-European law-making, where best practices can be established, where human rights be protected? Maybe a trip to the 10 New Member States would open your eyes (unfortunately something like the Swedish health system is not enjoyed by all of your European brethren).

3) We've never had it so good, Celic Tiger optimism??! Did you write this in the late 90s? There has been a continued downturn in our economy, with ever increasing unemployment figures and the bottom is likely to fall out of the property market. You talk of polarisation, lets look at potential economic polarisation if we think that we are better than EU reforms that have been negociated and debated for some years in Brussels (with elected Irish representatives!)

And yes I agree that some countries have failed miserably with regards to social inclusion and integration (but your link as to how this relates to the Treaty is tenuous bordering on ridiculous). Are you familiar with the returns directive or the receptions directive currently doing the rounds in Brussels?? Directives to create best practice in the area of migration in the EU. Something that made lead to acceptable standards, given proper lobbying, and create common immigration policy in the EU.

You make some good points,but your arguments lack relevance to what this treaty actually contains. And I'm sorry, but this has been a characteristic of the whole 'No' campaign.

It's just unfortunate that the propganda is working. Ironic really - 'socialist propaganda'

All the best.

remarkable

by Swede

Thu Jun 12, 2008 09:01

Remarkable points...

I am a Swede living in Dublin so looking at the article from a another end. I think the plain reason for it not being discussed in Sweden is that we can not change it - and would we have liked to no voices would have been raised... I also think one of the reasons for this is despite what people in Sweden say - we do trust our politicians when it really counts... so the establishment all saying yes means this is good for us so we'll trust it. Here I get the feeling that established parties saying yes is a reason to say no "it has to be something hidden - why are they all saying yes and not discussing it?" Might it be they are in favour and believe it is for the good of Ireland and EU? Yes you can turn it around with arguments that scare people but please bring some facts to the no campaign and stop scaring people... the yes side is the only one I have seen show facts without trying to threat the next second... their threats are more of begging - for people to listen to the facts...

wow

by Sean

Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:36

Even a Swede can see it.

localism=democracy

by localist

Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:25

>>we do trust our politicians when it really counts...

I hope Irish people are never that stupid...

for me, this whole referendum is not about left versus right, but about centralisation versus localism. Here is a fact. This treaty is attempt to make the centralised rule of this continent more efficient and I dont want that since it will ultimately isolate the average person from the political system. This referendum is not about some treaty, its about stopping Europe from being turned into another USA.

”Nej till privatisering – nej till Lissabon”

by ”Nej till privatisering – nej till Lissabon”

Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:29

http://offensiv.socialisterna.org/sv/803/internationell...l=118

Privatisation is a fact, Vote No

by euinfo

Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:43

Full Question:

If this Lisbon Treaty/constitution is accepted will it pave the way for the privatisation of Government services such as postal services and local authority services, such as the provision of water to households? Will we be able to refuse to privatise them post Lisbon? We have already seen the privatisation of household refuse collection and we are in the middle of a major privatisation of health services with the Co-location of hospitals and most likely with more health privatisation to come.
I asked a similar question about water services already and I got no reply yet.

Answer:

Postal services are also a "service" according to the Lisbon Treaty and it is regulated by harmonized EU laws allowing private companies to compete for the acquisition of public postal services. The problem is that no private company wishes to deliver post in poor rural areas. They all prefer to deliver plenty of post in the big cities.

According to the Lisbon Treaty water is a commodity as other commodities and the sale of water is a service according to the rules of free movement of services. It means that the non-elected Commission is the only body to propose laws and they will de decided by a majority vote in the Council where Ireland will have its influence more than halved.

Irish water companies could be sold to foreign companies, later raising the price for water for Irish consumers.

Treaty Amends Treaty to Refer to Later Treaty

by Derek P. Moore - Clanna-Rory, Clan Cionga, O'More

Thu Jun 12, 2008 19:37

derek.p.moore at gmail dot com

All you guys need to point out is that this is a treaty which amends a previous treaty to make it refer to a more recent treaty. This is total bullshit and it is characteristic of the pathetic constitution that Ireland already has, so you guys are apparently totally comfortable with such stupid trickery (your country's 1st & 5th amendments are just retarded). So if your constitution already has silly amendments which merely delete, alter, and renumber articles, then your fellow citizens will likely be duped into approving another amendment/treaty which merely alters the Treaty on European Union to make it your federal constitution.

The thing is, all of this is being perpetrated by European royal dynasts (too bad all the legitimate bloodlines are in the USA)! These inbred bastards talk about a "United States of Europe", but they forget that the United States of America was founded by violent revolution and not the peaceful passing of treaties to amend treaties to make them refer to treaties which came after, and I quote:

"1) The preamble shall be amended as follows:
"(b) In the seventh, which shall become the eighth, recital, the words ‘of this Treaty’ shall be
replaced by ‘of this Treaty and of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,’;
"(c) In the eleventh, which shall become the twelfth, recital, the words ‘of this Treaty’ shall be
replaced by ‘of this Treaty and of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,’.

"2) Article 1 shall be amended as follows:
"(b) the third paragraph shall be replaced by the following:
"‘The Union shall be founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as “the Treaties”). Those two Treaties shall
have the same legal value. The Union shall replace and succeed the European
Community.’."

But if this Treaty of Lisbon crap keeps up, maybe you guys will get your United States of Europe through violent revolution after all (just come up with a decent constitution for once!).

Personally, I think we should go in alphabetical order. We are USA, so next is USB: United States of Babylon. We merely need to grant statehood and the benefits of constitutional freedoms and powers to Iraq and Afghanistan (this would strategically surround Iran with States of the Union). From USB we could move on to USC: we would finally get around to freeing those sad British subjects to our north. USD is anyone's guess. Then comes you guys with USE. See how easy that is? Vote ME for president is 2016!

But, hey, don't take it from me, I'm just another Irish/Swedish dynastic royal (but at least I'm dispossessed and have not inheritance, even if I am related to all these Heremonian, Eberian, and Irian assholes that are hoisting tyranny upon your sorry asses).

Max Andersson (mp) congratulates the Irish 'no' side!

by Swedish Greens

Fri Jun 13, 2008 08:18

Sweden's Green party supports a no vote -

Max Andersson, MP for the Green Party wishes the Irish 'no' side the best of luck for today's referendum on EU Lisbon referendum.

http://mp.se/templates/Mct_77.aspx?avdnr=5&number=62727...12329

Why I voted "NO".

by Tom Ryan - None

Sat Jun 14, 2008 19:58

ryantom at myway dot com

0035312302125

I voted no to the Lisbon Treaty and I am proud of my decision. I was voting for the disenfranchised peoples of Europe who were not trusted and therefore not allowed by their Governments to exercise their democratic right. We were the only people with the right to vote. If we voted “Yes” we would have forfeited this right for the future. Our constitution would have been compromised. Our democratic right to vote on constitutional matters in relation to Europe would have been gone for good. We would have handed this sovereignty to unaccountable Eurocrats.
Brussels said that “if one country said “NO” then the Lisbon treaty falls.” They are now saying otherwise. What part of “NO” do they not understand? This kind of arrogance and total disregard for democracy as well as their own laws sums up why it was so right to vote “NO”.
Having the right to vote in this referendum was a great democratic privilege that only the Irish People had and which they will never cede to faceless unelected and unaccountable overpaid Eurocrats. My vote was not just on my own behalf but proportionally on behalf of the 500,000000 people of Europe who were disenfranchised in total disregard to their democratic right to vote by their cowardly Governments. My vote - under these circumstances - was the equivalent of voting 1,250000 times on both my behalf and on behalf of all the people of Europe who were not allowed to vote. This was one of the most powerful moments of my life. Is Ireland the last bastion of people power and democracy in Europe?
Tom Ryan

WELL SAID TOM RYAN

by Ionikios

Fri Jun 27, 2008 07:07

It's to bad when people of any nation trust their government more than themselves.

Keep liberty alive. Keep control local.

The Führer's response

by Cyril

Fri Jun 27, 2008 21:23

See and hear Führer Cowen's reaction to Lisbon results at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADbTCSuNSms

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Why I oppose the Lisbon Treaty

Comments (13 of 13)