Comments on: Lisbon roundabouts

By: gaye

gaye — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:51:44 +0000

But K8 m’dear, can a country who joined in with EU still maintain its independence???? I think the ones that can do that are the big-guns of Europe, that started the EU, the ones who sit down and pen the vague Lisbon Treaty. The ones who assimilate the cultural traits of every single EU country, trying to mould them into one and only, that THEY decide is the best. England, France, Germany… Why doesn’t England switch to Euros? Every other fekkin country in EU had to?
Ireland enjoys funding received from EU in a lot of different projects, but is anxious about influx of people from new EU countries with the “freedom of movement within EU”… Can’t have one without the other…
I sincerely hope that a majority NO vote comes out of Ireland, to show that her body might belong to EU but her soul is free as a bird. I really do.
Gx

By: Kirk M

Kirk M — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:27:51 +0000

But isn’t that just politics though; both government and corporate?

Speeches and explanations full of Tricky Words and Catchy Phrases, politicians bringing a couple hundred gallons of pre-made frosting-inna-can to squirt on the public at large hoping to sweeten them up some. Reel ‘em in with rhetoric and “corp-speak” and leave it up to the media and those citizens who actually bother with doing the research (which they hope they won’t) to explain it to the rest. It’s a centuries old way of doing business. It’s the people’s responsibility to constantly remain wise the the ways of their government so to keep a tight reign on them. Complacency is our greatest enemy here.

Power of the citizen? If the larger majority voted NO (in a landslide type of difference between yea’s and nae’s, nae’s taking the fore) on the Lisbon treaty for example and the government ignored the outcome of that vote and actually signed the treaty anyway regardless of the people’s decision–that is a true lack of power of the citizen. I won’t pretend to know a lot about the history of the Irish government over the past couple of decades or so but I would hope that it doesn’t involve a lot of back stabbing as far as ignoring the people’s votes on past issues.

The citizens of the U.S. have suffered from the same lack of power in regards to our Presidential elections and always have but that’s about where it stops and the “voice of the people” actually has a tremendous amount of influence if the people manage to get off their collective butts and start exercising their right to be heard (no, I don’t mean protests) which includes keeping their governments under control. It’s a two way street of course and I have a hard time believing that the people of Ireland don’t have the same type of rights and abilities.

Sheesh, now listen to me will ya? You’d think I was some kind of rebel or something. Must be my Scottish blood heating up. :D

By: warrior

warrior — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:43:03 +0000

It is a very decent proclamation from 1916 that was ahead of it’s time. The problem is exactly the muppets and the muppets who vote them in.
Most Irish people who leave don’t ever go back. I have my eyes opened to how small some of those self important muppets are. basically we are screwed. If I was home I would vote no too.

By: K8

K8 — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:42:21 +0000

Kirk M; The lack of power us citizens have is quite alarming! There are a few radio shows explaining the whole thing in layman’s terms extremely well… why do they have to do the gub’ment’s job?

Jefferson; Yes I agree. Thinking makes my head smell funny.

Thriftcriminal; Why that sounds lovely… I’d like for Oirland to be under that umbrella, but without the bullshit smallprint or the invisible ink!

By: Thriftcriminal

Thriftcriminal — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:29:19 +0000

Center-left = looking after people but not going as far as communism. In other words, state health care (no not like here, one that works properly), well funded education, proper welfare, a healthy degree of state ownership in essential industries (energy/food) etc.

By: Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:43:44 +0000

Crikey, I forgot you were on dial up. Sorry! :) It is a bit mental but they do have facts to back up what they are saying in the video. I try not to think about it too much. Cerebration can be quite arsenic to the funny bone! ;)

By: Kirk M

Kirk M — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:11:45 +0000

Seems like our respective Constitutions (declarations of independence/sovereignty?) are all just becoming pretty words these days. The US went through holy hell when the various “territories” were formed into “States” just a couple centuries ago give or take and so far it’s still working. It was hardly what you would call easy though. It came with a high price that was paid by all.

Uniting the “old world” though, as it used to be called, where the countries involved are steeped in traditions and histories that span through several millennium instead of a mere 2 and some odd centuries has got to be a tremendous undertaking with extraordinary consequences both good and bad as the process goes on. I don’t envy you and yours and the choices that have to be made, especially if your government is full of Muppets as you say it is. Remember, the only way a (sort of, nothing is pure) democracy will work is if the people remember that they own the government, not the other way around.

Make your choices wisely then. There were times in our country’s history where we weren’t so wise in our choices or we failed to make any choices at all and we paid the piper for it.

Wishing you folks fair weather and a following wind.

By: K8

K8 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:01:09 +0000

Jefferson; I could only download the first 5 min of that video or I’d be here for hours but seriously… what’s goin’ on?! Is this another cleverly edited bit of conspiracy or is it really happening? It all looks a bit mental to me!! Must watch it in me aul’ lad’s house.

By: K8

K8 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:48:47 +0000

BrianF; This is my dilemma, see. I’d love for Ireland to keep her independance, but I’d also love to change the powers that rule her. There are horror stories all the time about collapsing pre-fab schools and closed hospital wards – yeh know yerself… funds keep dissapearing into black holes, it’s amazing what our leaders are getting away with.
THEY need the big-brother treatment for a change.

Quickroute; I like the whole thing (except the posters) – it’s giving us something more interesting to talk about than the weather.

Thriftcriminal; I’m having a Jade Goody moment. Could you explain centre-left policies? I’m having a tough time figuring out if these dudes are up to scratch or not. Some of the NOers are making them out to be right Nazis.

5h4mr0(k; Sound. I’m not so good at polytics but I gave it a twisted stab anyway. Hopelessly addicted to SimCity, though it’s not as good as the PC version :(

Grannymar; I hate politics. Mind you maybe all politicians should hate politics too… they’d be far more efficient.

Jefferson; Not so well informed… well aware of it alright, but still kindof confused.

Xbox4NappyRash; I’m wondering if the confused ppl just won’t bother voting at all. That would screw things up nicely.

By: Xbox4NappyRash

Xbox4NappyRash — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:08:38 +0000

I’m away in a land that no longer has the right to vote on it, because they voted no for its predecessor, go figure that one out, but basically, if I don’t know what it is, and far too many people don’t, how the hell could I vote for it?