Is Europe awakening to how severely it is threatened? "Dutch Voters Seen Losing Interest in EU," from the Washington Post, with thanks to JS:
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Are the Dutch tired of Europe? That will be the real question on June 1, when the Netherlands holds its referendum on the European constitution, just three days after a crucial vote on the charter in France.Polls show voters who reject the constitution have the edge over those likely to vote "yes," and the gap is growing. But they also show a majority either won't vote or are confused by the paperback-sized document and haven't made up their minds.
"Holland is in a very inward mood. It's hiding behind the dikes," said historian Han van der Horst.
The constitution, a compilation of rules and procedures to make the 25-nation European Union easier to run after last year's historic expansion, has a wide range of detractors.
Liberals worry a stronger federal structure could infringe on their tolerant attitudes toward euthanasia, soft drugs and gay marriage. Christians complain the constitution makes no mention of God. Animal rights groups object that it exempts religious rites and cultural traditions from protecting animals.
Whatever the particular reason, the underlying motive seems to be discontent with Europe itself.
"Dutch people are not interested in Europe," said Daniel de Jongh, a volunteer for a committee campaigning against the referendum. "People felt they never really had a chance to speak out. But with this referendum, now I can say, 'Stop. No. I don't want it.'"
The government is spending $4.4 million on last-minute campaigning, saying it is confident it can still swing the vote. Government ministers have hit the streets to pass out leaflets and talk up the constitution. Mailboxes are stuffed with pro-Europe brochures, printed at taxpayer expense.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende even plugged the constitution during the May 8 World War II memorial attended by President Bush _ remarks many criticized as inappropriate at a graveyard ceremony eulogizing American dead.
Opponents have been equally energetic. Leading the most colorful "no" campaign is Geert Wilders, a maverick lawmaker who has received death threats because of his anti-Islamic views. Escorted by dozens of guards, Wilders is on a two-week bus tour warning that further European integration could cost the Netherlands control over its tough immigration policy.
Wilders has tapped into fears that last year's admission of 10 mostly eastern European countries will undermine the Dutch standard of living. He has also capitalized on concern about Muslim Turkey's bid to become a member and on widespread disapproval of the current government. He represents the far right, but opposition here spans the political spectrum.
Why does he represent the "far right"? Because he says what he says, and that's how the media classifies people who say such things. But what he is saying is just as much in the interests of the Left to support, if the Left wishes to survive.
The Netherlands are the country that pays (per person) the highest contribution to the EU; a five billion in total. That is 2,5 times more than the average German and six times more than the average Frenchman. But after the new EU-constitution, the Netherlands will lose more veto’s and their position in the EU-parliament will decrease from 3.8% tot 3.3%. And now the EU wants to raise the Dutch contribution with one billion. If it’s to me, we will flush this EU-constitution through the toilet. And don't forget besides Wilders the socialist party (SP) and the Christian union (CU) in the Netherlands are against the EU. And they are also against a Turkish membership. It's mainly the mainstream politics that want to sell the Netherlands to the highest bidder, and the small opposition that wants to keep the Netherlands a sovereign nation.
A NO vote is good for the Dutch.
The European political elite, after opening the gates of Europe to a flood of muslim immigrants, and helping Islam establish a beachhead inside the nations, are now moving to consolidate their power. Their vehicle is the EU Constitution.
The EU Constitution is probably the biggest scam in history. It is an attempt by an oligarchy to steal a continent. This is what they have done:
1. Obfuscation
They wrote the constitution in a jumble of bureaucratese running 400-800 pages long, depending on the language. A massive work of obfuscation, it is written to defeat any attempt to understand it. So that, as Jean-Luc Dehaene, Former Belgian Prime Minister and Vice-President of the EU Convention, said, " 9 out of 10 people will not have read the Constitution and will vote on the basis of what politicians and journalists say."
(See 'Independence/Democracy Group in the EU Parliament')
2. Soviet Union of Europe not United States of Europe
The EU government consist of an EU Parliament who are elected from the member nations. The Parliament cannot make laws, they can only pass them. Laws are made by the EU Commission, the oligarchy, who are all powerful, non elected and cannot be fired by anyone. The EU Parliament sessions are right out of a Monty Python movie. Parliamentarians are given about 90 seconds for debates.
(See 'A Journey into the Rotten Heart of Europe', a report by a British MEP).
And they cast 200 votes or more in an hour, each vote given about 20 seconds. There is little time given for consideration or an understanding of what laws they are churning out that affects the fundamental freedoms of millions of people. The EU Parliament is a smokescreen, giving the impression of a democracy at work.
3. Police State
A police state is also buried inside the mess of words in the constitution. Officers and members of Europol, the police organisation, are immune from prosecution for any crimes they may commit in the course of their work. How such an article could be written in, at this point in history, after the experiences with the Gestapo and the KGB, is beyond me. It is more unbelievable that nobody makes a fuss about this. No protests. No outrage in the streets. Nobody protesting the installation of a police force who are above the law? In the constitution of a megastate? In 2005? Unbelievable!
( See Burgess Group Report on the EU Constitution)
4. Crooks in Suits
How can the politicians who wrote this blatantly undemocratic document, to steal the nation states from the people, be still walking free and wielding power, and getting away with it? Europe, after all, is a First World advanced civilization with an educated populace. No?
For more on the EU Constitution
There is talk among my blogger friends that if the referendum goes against the constitution, the Dutch government might decide to ignore the will of the people. That would set up a parliamentary crisis and could bring about the fall of the government.
Since all 25 Euro countries must ratify the constitution for it to become law, I'd say it's a foregone conclusion that it will fail. But it's important that it be rejected by as many countries as possible.
The whole thing will have to go back to the drawing board.
I don't think most Europeans want a document that was written largely by Giscard D'Estaing as his pet project.
If it does pass, then Eurabia is one step closer to becoming a reality.
In the UK Blair had his arm twisted into promising a referendum. He knows it would be a no vote, so he's hoping secretly that the French vote no, so he can scrap the referendum because the constitution would fail at that point.
For all sorts of reasons I loathe and detest the EU. I'm in favour of the Anglosphere, to which I would add some of the countries of New Europe (ie ex communist bloc) who have experienced the tyranny of communism and are less likely to fall for Islam.
Ironically many of the French no-voters are communist who think the constitution is too Anglo Saxon because it is in favour of free trade.
Don't worry boys even if French dont we Brits r sure gonna shoot that constitution.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
Corrections:
Don't worry boys even if French dont we Brits r sure gonna shoot that constitution in foot.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
I lamented the loss of the nifty 50 guilder Dutch banknote, with its lovely golden sunflower, which was replaced by the bureaucratically bland 'euro', and knew it was a mistake to try to steamroll over the unique characters of the different European peoples with this faux 'unity' juggernaut.
Things need to join naturally and slowly, not be crudely yoked together like slaves at the oars of a Roman galley -just to promote the smarmy careers of indifferent functionaries and a growing money-swindling clerk-ocracy.
Let the EU experiment fail. Let a thousand sunflowers re-bloom. And let the infil-traitor Muslims migrate to Saudi Arabia to pester the Wahhabis for free housing, health care, food and lifelong stipends.
May the Dutch say "NE!"
And the rest of Europe join them in remaining individually free.
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Van ik van duystchen Bloet-
Der Conningck van Espagnie...
Nordthiad, Vikrant, BigSleep, Interested, I hope it's as you say,