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[Politics] Thumbs up for the Irish
It feels odd to say it now, but there was a time when I first got interested in politics (in the early 1990's) when I was firmly pro-Europe, in the 'ever-closer-union' sense. I would go along to student political meetings and get into arguments, and it'd be me arguing in favour of closer integration.
How times change, eh?
Back then, the EU was like a puppy. It was friendly and enthusiastic and aside from occasionally widdling on the carpet it plainly had tremendous potential for good; to grow up into a loyal sheepdog which would care for those under its charge. Sadly, I don't think that anyone who isn't given to drooling over their bib can claim that this is what has subsequently happened. Instead it appears to have grown into a an organisation whose purpose is to encourage endemic corruption, to finance French farmers to shout Non! and burn sheep, and to starve African farmers and textile manufacturers into submission.
I think the point I turned against the European experiment was when I discovered that nobody has been prepared to sign off the accounts for more than a decade now. If I were to act like that with David International, I'd be in prison being raped in the showers by now. For some reason, though, there haven't been any prosecutions in Brussels as yet. You'd think that MEP's were reluctant to look into corruption for fear of exposing their own trough-engulfed snouts, or something.
Oh.
This is why I'm very pleased about the Irish giving the latest iteration of the EU treaty the democratic mauling that it soundly deserved. Of course, I'm less pleased that, despite the treaty legally requiring all members to ratify it for it to become law and this now not being possible, The EU commission is insisting that members should go ahead anyway. So much for Democracy, eh?
It's like that cute puppy I mentioned earlier didn't grow up into a sheepdog but instead became a randy Spaniel determined to shag your leg and, no matter how often the people of Ireland, France and Holland kick it away, it's still eyeing your trousers with a lusty desire to fill your turnups with spunk.
Still, more cracks are starting to appear in the EU edifice; The Italians have been epelling Romanians, and, amid allegations of economic misreprentation by the Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, the Germans have started to refuse to accept Euros printed in those countries despite their being of nominally the same value. The Irish vote didn't come as any surprise to many and so it's unlikely that the people of Europe will get any more if they can be avoided.
Shame, really.
How times change, eh?
Back then, the EU was like a puppy. It was friendly and enthusiastic and aside from occasionally widdling on the carpet it plainly had tremendous potential for good; to grow up into a loyal sheepdog which would care for those under its charge. Sadly, I don't think that anyone who isn't given to drooling over their bib can claim that this is what has subsequently happened. Instead it appears to have grown into a an organisation whose purpose is to encourage endemic corruption, to finance French farmers to shout Non! and burn sheep, and to starve African farmers and textile manufacturers into submission.
I think the point I turned against the European experiment was when I discovered that nobody has been prepared to sign off the accounts for more than a decade now. If I were to act like that with David International, I'd be in prison being raped in the showers by now. For some reason, though, there haven't been any prosecutions in Brussels as yet. You'd think that MEP's were reluctant to look into corruption for fear of exposing their own trough-engulfed snouts, or something.
Oh.
This is why I'm very pleased about the Irish giving the latest iteration of the EU treaty the democratic mauling that it soundly deserved. Of course, I'm less pleased that, despite the treaty legally requiring all members to ratify it for it to become law and this now not being possible, The EU commission is insisting that members should go ahead anyway. So much for Democracy, eh?
It's like that cute puppy I mentioned earlier didn't grow up into a sheepdog but instead became a randy Spaniel determined to shag your leg and, no matter how often the people of Ireland, France and Holland kick it away, it's still eyeing your trousers with a lusty desire to fill your turnups with spunk.
Still, more cracks are starting to appear in the EU edifice; The Italians have been epelling Romanians, and, amid allegations of economic misreprentation by the Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, the Germans have started to refuse to accept Euros printed in those countries despite their being of nominally the same value. The Irish vote didn't come as any surprise to many and so it's unlikely that the people of Europe will get any more if they can be avoided.
Shame, really.
Re: Most people would want to see a randy spaniel fixed though.
Re: Most people would want to see a randy spaniel fixed though.
(Anonymous) 2008-06-16 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)I was thinking earlier on Fredericksburg, the US civil war battle where Confederate Irish slaughtered Unionist Irish, (On account of having a rather sturdy wall to hide behind) after the Confederates decided to legally withdraw from the United States. If I was Irish, once the celebrations are over, I'd take careful note of that 'withdrawal' clause, and remember what history teaches us it really means.
Re: Most people would want to see a randy spaniel fixed though.
(Anonymous) 2008-06-17 11:49 am (UTC)(link)I rather think there is no withdrawl clause in any E.U. Treaty. Something that has always bothered me...
D
Re: Most people would want to see a randy spaniel fixed though.
(Anonymous) 2008-06-17 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Most people would want to see a randy spaniel fixed though.
(Anonymous) 2008-06-18 01:02 am (UTC)(link)