Use democracy for democracy's sake - vote No!

national | eu | press release

Tuesday September 29, 2009 15:01

by Barry McColgan - Ógra Shinn Féin

osfnational at yahoo dot ie

07885569940

Barry McColgan
National Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin

Your vote is void, please vote again.

This effectively is the message being sent out by the incumbent Dublin Government as citizens across the 26 Counties are being asked to go to the polls again on Friday 2nd October to be good ‘wee’ Europeans and deliver the ‘right’ vote this time around on the Lisbon Treaty.

False promises of change, of guarantees, are little more than hearsay and lip service paid to the previous resounding No! vote.

In reality the Lisbon Treaty remains exactly the same treaty put to the 26 County electorate before. Not one iota of change.

The Lisbon Treaty remains the same anti workers rights, anti public services, anti neutrality, anti sovereign treaty that was presented the last time.

Some will claim the guarantee of worker’s rights, and obviously a sure sign of this is when working class hero and trade union champion Michael O’Leary is supporting a yes vote.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea, the man who has continuously overseen and authorised illegal US Military rendition flights through Shannon Airport usurping Irish neutrality in the process tells us Irish neutrality will not be affected. It must be true then.

But, best of all, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, the man who brought us 500,000 jobless is now telling us to ‘trust’ him with Lisbon 2 and vote yes.

Would you buy a second hand car from this man? Never mind voting on his word on as important an issue as Lisbon.

The only job a yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty will save is his.

Ógra Shinn Féin believes and are strong advocates of a social Europe, a green Europe, a Europe of workers rights, democracy, public services and neutrality. As James Connolly, put it, ‘A free federation of free peoples.’

If you are happy with the current Dublin Government, the half million jobless, savage budget cuts on public services, re-introduction of student fees, drastic loss of Irish sovereignty and neutrality, by all means vote yes.

However if like me, you desire a social Ireland, playing a progressive role in a social Europe, then stand up for the over 500 million EU citizens denied a vote, stand up for our children, for the future of Ireland, and for Europe and vote No!

Now that’s democracy!