May 29, 2005

Today: France Votes on EU Constitution

First of all, why do all of those European countries seem to vote on Sundays? Oh right, because they don't care about religion anymore.

Snarkiness aside, this is the day that could make or break the EU constitution France votes today and as all member states must ratify it, a no vote in France could well stop the process in its tracks. However, some experts are saying that's not necessarily so, as it could pass in another referendum. The constitution must be ratified by all by September of 2006; plenty of time for more hashing out..

According to the Telegraph UK, the French "no" means something much different than a British "no":

The French want more social protection and stronger workers rights enshrined in the constitution [figures - ed.]. The majority of those in Britain who oppose the constitution think the EU is taking too much power away from Westminster.

Europe is at a crossroads. Socialism and bureaucracy run amok has emasculated many of the countries, and citizens who once bowed to kings now bow to paper pushers in Brussels. Each country once had its own identity. Now, those identities are being pushed aside in order to create a super-state that, it is hoped, will be able to put the U.S. in its place (those darn Colonials).

Yet even if the EU constitution is accepted without a hitch, Europe faces many obstacles that are really self-imposed. Socialism is really a new form of the old feudal system, with the government doling out restrictions in the guise of benefits, and many have lost their will to do any more work that is necessary. The immigration and deliberate non-assimilation of Muslims is a bomb waiting to go off, as many of these people feel no allegiance to the countries in which they live, work, and raise their children.

The more nations that vote "No", the stronger the Eurosceptic case becomes. However, even without widespread support for the constitution, politicians will salvage parts of it by implementing them in other treaties. No doubt the EU's political pace would slow to a crawl for some time while the damage was repaired.

That's the crux of the situation. No matter if the people vote "no," the politicians will make sure they get their way in the end. Isn't that what bureaucracy is all about?

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