Brendan O’Niell comments on the sheer unmitigated arrogance and contempt for democracy exhibited by the EU in the wake of Ireland’s “no” vote. I concur with his comments entirely – indeed, I even find myself in agreement with George Galloway on the matter.
One thing that struck me in Brendan’s comments was this:
It was widely claimed that the Irish simply didn’t understand the treaty, and may have been confused by its “technocratic, near incomprehensible language” (well, they are ignorant Paddies, after all).
I am reminded of a discussion many years ago with a colleague when we were presented with new terms and conditions for signallers. There was some confusion over what, exactly, it would mean for us. He used the analogy of taking about a bank loan – “would you,” he asked, “take out a loan without first establishing the interest rate you are bing charged? This is much the same.” So, too, is this treaty. If you don’t understand it because it is incomprehensible, any vote other then “no” would be foolish in the extreme. The Irish did the right thing and the EU demonstrates how contemptible it is in not accepting that verdict. “No” means “no”. It does not mean, “maybe, ask me again in a few months and I might change my mind”.
It is not Europe that they rejected in the referendum in June, but a document produced by a cut-off and aloof European elite, those cosmopolitan poseurs who are in reality distrustful of Europe’s masses, whether it’s the thick Irish, the xenophobic French, or the mysterious Turks. The Irish were being properly European; the EU is being merely elitist.
Quite – and if our lying, dishonest, corrupt and self-righteous politicians had given us the referendum they promised, I would have voted likewise.
Look at their logic – damn, we forgot to give enough sweeteners last time. I know, let’s wait for a recession and offer some goodies and by the way, let’s have a second stab at a yes vote whilst we’re at it.
Have you ever considered a career in politics? 😉
Bureaucratic language – not technocratic, surely. Technocratic would imply they really know what they’re doing.
Mister Joness last blog post..So this is……
Good point. Why not just “incomprehensible”?