Pour moi c'est non

I like the one at the bottom that says that another Europe is possible. I think it sums up the left wing side of the no vote. The yes side is desperate. It’s saying that if France votes no, the whole thing may crumble especially if the Netherlands also says no. At the very least there will be a long wait for the next stage. The no side says that the constitution has to be renegotiated. From what I can tell the right wing part of the no vote does not want Europe and doesn’t want an affiliation with Turkey. The left wing no says that there is too much neo-liberalism embedded in this treaty. Chirac has taken a huge risk by having a referendum because it could easily have passed in parliament.

Now that we live in a one-superpower world with consequent US hegemony rampant, blood-spilling, and overtly disrespectful of the UN and world opinion, I personally have serious concerns that the last best chance for a blanced world rests in European Union; ligitimate reasons for “non” notwithstanding.

And to bring it all home to PEI; as arch conservatives and billionaires rumble that Jebediah Bush should be the next President of the US (no doubt to ensure that all necessary killing will be done to protect access to oil — or steal it outright), our premier has begun cozying up to Jeb. Sigh! When closeness to power and the illusion of comfort replace ethical behaviour and decision making… well, just ‘sigh!’.

Not that I have a ‘right’ to an opinion, but: Pour moi c’est oui.

The French are worried about losing their social programs. I think some are also saying to themselves that it’s no good competing with the US if it means becoming indistinguishable from them. So essentially the point is that it’s not only important to get the EU sorted out, it’s also important to get it done right. As a Canadian living elsewhere in Europe, I am ambivalent. I think they’re making a strong point, but I wonder if some of the other member countries will lose heart It may also be an occasion where the French are having problems seeing the forest for the trees. Anyway, the consensus post referendum is that the process will continue. That is, other member countries will have their votes. Though I don’t understand what status those votes will have because in order to pass, the constitution has to have the ratification of all the member countries. Also, one apparent down side seems to be the rise of xenophobic politics in France, at least that seems to be the message that has been received by party leaders. One Irish Times article: http://www.ireland.com/newspap…
claims that Sarkozi (one of the heirs apparent) is planning to run his next Presidential campaign on fighting outsourcing (a typical left wing position) and bringing immigration under control (a right wing nationalist position). Personally I think there’s no way the EU will work if each country attempts to fight over the free movement of labour. The free movement of labour is what will make the wages rise in poorer countries, without that, you’ll end up with a region which is like Mexico, that is, an area which is a permanently low wage and is comprised of all the former eastern block nations.

…and it would appear the Dutch are about to add their “niet”. The “U” in EU is having a hard time; and more to come.

I think the Dutch word is actually nee. I know. I’m a pedant and a literalist. I could also be wrong. I know almost no Dutch. I just read that one word in the paper.

The Dutch word is actually “nr” but I chose the English “not”, as in “not me” (translates to “niet”) instead of “no” (translates to “nr”) since there’s no vowel in nr and I thought it would look like a typo in print.