Blogcritics: Comments on European Constitution Defeated

Comment by RJ

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:20:57 EDT

The Dutch rejected the EU Constitution by something like a 13-7 margin...

Comment by Dave Nalle

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 13:30:50 EDT

Today is the Dutch referendum, BTW. Polls are still running very negative and I imagine the French referendum will motivate turnout on both sides. Results ought to be coming in within a few hours. Dave

Comment by Dave Nalle

Mon, 30 May 2005 22:23:36 EDT

Isn't persistence the way everyone gets unpopular legislation passed? Not sure if it's a good or a bad thing. On some issues where public sentiment is ambiguous like ANWR I think it's a toss-up. On local issues like what's gone on here in Austin I think it's more offensive because the preferences of the public are so clear and indisputable. Dave

Comment by JR

Mon, 30 May 2005 15:17:09 EDT

Just like how the Democrats succeeded in Washington state in 2004, and the Democrats failed in Florida in 2000, the Eurocrats will keep fighting and fighting until they get a poll that goes their way. And then they will declare victory and go on their way... Isn't that how the Republicans got their drilling in ANWR? It certainly wasn't favored by the majority of Americans when Bush got into office. "It's not over until we win." - Ted Stevens

Comment by Dave Nalle

Mon, 30 May 2005 11:20:49 EDT

>>Anyone have any ideas what the effect will be on the strength of the US dollar?<< The current decline of the dollar relative to the Euro is a fake crisis manufactured by the current administration as part of its economic recovery policy. Since things are improving economically the dollar will probably be allowed to go up gradually anyway. If the EU falls apart that will also help the dollar a bit, but only at the expense of a seriously failing Euro, which will hit the poorer countries in Europe pretty hard, especially Spain and Italy. Dave

Comment by Dave Nalle

Mon, 30 May 2005 11:18:38 EDT

>>One of the concerns was that the document was too pro-French, but it was the French who voted it down?<< It's a compromise kind of document. The French think it's too pro-British - which means pro-business. The British think it's too pro-French - which means pro government. Dave

Comment by Dave Nalle

Mon, 30 May 2005 11:17:48 EDT

>>one would think that a united Europe would be a good thing ..what are they really afraid of Dave..nice presentation..<< The French appear to have been afraid for reasons which were mostly irrational. The fear of some sort of British domination really didn't make much sense. Their concern over jobs moving to Eastern Europe is more realistic. There are real concerns in England and the Netherlands, where people are not at all happy with the administrators in the EU who are highly autonomous and not really answerable to anyone. If there's a real concern that impacts everyone in Europe that and the issue of national sovereignty and preserving cultural identity are it. I read one very good argument recently on a British newspaper editorial page, to the effect that there's nothing the EU does that Britain doesn't do better, so what's the logic of being in the EU and paying about $8 billion a year for the privelege. The Brits are basically underwriting a good portion of the EU, along with the other strong economies, and getting zero for it. Dave

Comment by francisco68

Mon, 30 May 2005 10:57:11 EDT

Anyone have any ideas what the effect will be on the strength of the US dollar?

Comment by Steve S

Mon, 30 May 2005 10:48:47 EDT

One of the concerns was that the document was too pro-French, but it was the French who voted it down?

Comment by Georgio

Mon, 30 May 2005 10:04:46 EDT

one would think that a united Europe would be a good thing ..what are they really afraid of Dave..nice presentation..

Comment by Dave Nalle

Mon, 30 May 2005 02:51:34 EDT

That's the way it works in the Socialist Republic of Austin too - we defeated light rail over and over and over again, and then they managed to get it on a ballot in an election no one turned out for and a few thousand bike-riding econazis passed the crazy boondogle. Dave

Comment by RJ

Mon, 30 May 2005 02:46:11 EDT