The Irish have Europe's future in their hands

[Skybird]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/11/ireland.eu

This letter could have been written by me.

I was surprised by your leader on Ireland's vote on the Lisbon treaty (June 7), particularly the line: "An Irish yes would be an enlightened act." Enlightenment is thin on the ground here; banal advertising campaigns bombard the electorate with the message "Get the complete picture", while our politicians - who all, except for Sinn Féin, implore us to vote yes - admit they haven't read the treaty. Indeed Ireland's EU commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, proudly declared that no sane person would want to.

A cursory glance at the treaty shows it to be impenetrable and virtually impossible to understand. The proposed amendment to Ireland's constitution is equally meaningless. Ireland's Referendum Commission, which was created to offer an unbiased assessment of referendums, talks of many unknowns with Lisbon. Truly, nobody knows what might happen if it is ratified. The treaty's one nod to participative democracy - as opposed to the failed representative democracy which has brought us to this point - is a citizen's initiative process, whereby a million EU citizens can bring forward a topic for discussion in the European commission. Yet even this potential vote winner is just a fuzzy proposal.

Ireland is in a unique and historic position as the only country required to ratify Lisbon with a democratic vote. Should a population of just 4.5 million really hold back the will of 480 million? Given the unknowns, indeed the unknowables, in Lisbon's serpentine text, Ireland has a duty to vote no on June 12. Then the EU must work to address the democratic deficit which lies at the heart of its problems. And then all the EU citizens must have their say.

Very well said. Just where he takes "the will of the 480 million" as granted to be in favour of Lesbon, allows criticism, but probably is not intended, but comes by not taking enough care with wording. 480 million were not asked, as a matter of fact.



This is not just another of the many daily political minor decisions, this is basic, most essential, substantial, extremely important stuff that potentially affects our lives in the future fundamentally. In other words: it is far too important to leave it to politicians who want to support their career because they have not understood that the time of life-long power and aristocratic governing the people from the top are usually considered to be over. Something so basic and essential should not become valid without a clear and strong majority of the citizens of people in european nations are accepting it. So far we only have seen tricks and cheats of the top estaiblishement to keep them away from voicing there criticism and dissatisfaction and disturbing the harmony of the leaderships.

And if France'S Kouchner already has sent angry threats to kick Ireland out of the Eu if they do not vote like they are demanded to do, then this shows an interesting understanding of what freedom of political choosing, and demcoracy is about. Kouchner obviously thinks that people should only be allowed to make a choice if they will choose what they are commanded to choose.

A No tomorrow will trigger a crisis for the EU, yes. but it is a desperately needed, necessary, healthy crisis, offering the chance to become clear about some very serious distortions and deeformations that have accumulated over the past 15 years and so far just get ignored and covered up.

"Coming to your senses" on my mind.