Europe's dirty little secret
WHATEVER YOU think of European integration, there is something inspiring about 20 million people who, having been told what to do by their most respected politicians and after listening attentively, then do the exact opposite. This week’s referendums in France and the Netherlands are probably the most significant event in European history since the end of the Cold War. As in Germany after its citizens found that they could smash symbolic chunks out of the Berlin Wall with impunity, everyday life in Europe may go on as before, but nothing will ever be quite the same. But don’t expect to hear much serious debate about the significance of this popular revolt against “the idea of Europe” for many months. For years politicians have made Europe a pretext for imposing unpopular policies — cuts in pensions or higher taxes — which they were too cowardly to justify in their own right. But they always promised that giving up sovereignty to Europe would somehow stave off economic reality and make their citizens better off. After falling for such false promises for decades, voters have finally turned against both Europe and their national leaders. From now on, Europe will be judged not by rhetoric, but by results. For this, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the voters of France and the Netherlands.
posted by Unknown @ 1:18 PM
8 Comments:
I only hope our (Dutch) politicians will listen and act upon our wishes.
BBC News on-line, Thursday:
Hospital Bosses may remove bibles from bedsides of patients amid concerns over offending non-Christians and spreading superbug MRSA.
Jude: Do you have a link?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/4603839.stm
I guess they're more afraid of the spreading superbug islam...
For this, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the voters of France and the Netherlands
No Thanx, Fjordman !
I pushed on the button "against" with pleasure.
Thank you Bolleke - Could not get back to you Fjordman with link because I was too busy looking after stroke victim - had to drive 22 ks there. 22 ks back to do shopping, clean house, cook for him. (Ref LGF 'Driving by Women Leads to Evil') Haha I not only can change a tyre but also remove the whole wheel and replace - checking for worn bearings. Did it in France (can't speak French) with two daughters on tour with me (aged 3 and 9 at that time).Took an imperial/metric socket set in a nifty little red case, plus a hammer if some of them sockets didn't fit properly.
The problem with Western Europe and the EU is that it is suffering from a malaise similiar to that which infected The UK and USA in the 70s. Those countries had the good fortune of being rescued by the leadership of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. The open question is will such leadership arise and rescue the EU or is the EU destined for the scrap heap of history like the USSR.
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