We need a referendum on membership of the European Union and on the new Treaty
The metropolitan middle classes, with some justice, think that they own this country. Their cultural behaviours therefore dominate decision making. The tendency to call someone 'mad' or a scheme 'impractical' if it in any ways carries risks or threatens their position is very pronounced.
I understand that the tuscany classes, and those who aspire to such holiday spots, feel the way they do. They 'sacrifice' for school fees in the south of england, or house prices where there are good comprehensives. They pay huge mortgages. Contracted professional or semi-professional office jobs are some of the worst in terms of job security and satisfaction. And commuting for such people is a draining terrible thing. People may wish to feel that 'Europe' in general has things better than Britain and that the EU in particular is some sort of guarantee of an alternative to the westminster madhouse. Or they may actually be sick of the usual boring treaty arguments.
But we need a referendum on the EU now. We do. Everyone in these countries of the UK.
We require a generational commitment to a project to build the european union.Instead, we pretend that the people who voted in a referendum in 1975 for a common market made a commitment for all time to every new iteration of the european union. This sort of approach is not only deeply patronising, it suffocates trust in democracy.
No single issue, in fact, has been more corrosive of trust or democratic legitimacy than that of EU membership. People of all backgrounds have formed the impression that 'europe' is somehow removing their sovereignty, and this is bad. People blame europe for everything because they feel trapped in a marriage they were never given a chance to reaffirm or separate from.
In the minds of the political classes, 'europe' has become an article of faith, a bit like useless nuclear missile systems. At least the latter guarantee American military contracts to resupply the British armed forces and stop even more grotesque subsidies of the likes of BAe. To such people, if you don't do the europe tango, you ain't serious.
But look now at those who want a referendum. Left wing London tube union leaders like Bob Crow. Right wing spirit-of-england types like christopher booker. Those who trust the people enough to want to ask for the first time in 33 years, 'is this ok with you?'. those who dislike the assumptions and presumptions of a political class who all went to the same student unions and whose prejudices dominate the media and political life.
Anyone with any sense must be able to see that not asking the people and having a genuine debate about this country's association with the EU is poisoning politics.
It is also having a monumentally disturbing effect on the law and its operatives. Judges--not all, some--can see the indecision and laziness of politicians. The example of European supremacy has emboldened some to question parliament time and again. It has made the critics of judges, with their agendas, powerful, and has undermined, I would suggest, attempts to replace the denuded common law with human rights legislation.
It is having an empowering effect on non-elected, appointed bureaucrats. Again, the health and safety executive does not come from 'europe'. It was created here in the early seventies with modest goals. But free people have a right to ask why 400 million people living in some multilingual elite-driven network should be governed in their working lives by domestic institutions empowered by foreign ones.
There also seem to be times when every timorous fraud in an administrative position in the country hides behind the excuse of 'europe' to make peoples lives just a bit pettier or a bit sillier. 'Objection? Nothing to do with me mate, I blame the Belgians.'
The good, even great things about the EU are being lost in this debate. And not being substantially checked in Britain has meant that those who are in europe to spend other people's money and come up with ever more grandiose schemes have more freedom of movement. how long before 'ordoliberal' members of the commission force markets on, say, the provision of health care, or education?
Clear the air. Put three questions to the people;
1)do you wish your government to join the euro in the next twenty years?
2)do you wish your government to sign the new treaty?
3)Do you wish the United Kingdom to remain a member of the EU?
Trust the people. I think people would vote to stay in, but not for the other things. And if Britain left? billions back home. Border and trade issues a little more troublesome, but in an era of rising air prices and climate change, that's no bad thing. The City shocked. Perhaps we'd have to start making things eventually. And sovereignty restored. Worthwhile people might see getting elected as in itself worthwhile.
I have the right to several passports. I am highly educated, and Catholic. I am a member of the Labour Party. I therefore tick every european box. And for democratic, european reasons, I want a referendum now.
The metropolitan middle classes, with some justice, think that they own this country. Their cultural behaviours therefore dominate decision making. The tendency to call someone 'mad' or a scheme 'impractical' if it in any ways carries risks or threatens their position is very pronounced.
I understand that the tuscany classes, and those who aspire to such holiday spots, feel the way they do. They 'sacrifice' for school fees in the south of england, or house prices where there are good comprehensives. They pay huge mortgages. Contracted professional or semi-professional office jobs are some of the worst in terms of job security and satisfaction. And commuting for such people is a draining terrible thing. People may wish to feel that 'Europe' in general has things better than Britain and that the EU in particular is some sort of guarantee of an alternative to the westminster madhouse. Or they may actually be sick of the usual boring treaty arguments.
But we need a referendum on the EU now. We do. Everyone in these countries of the UK.
We require a generational commitment to a project to build the european union.Instead, we pretend that the people who voted in a referendum in 1975 for a common market made a commitment for all time to every new iteration of the european union. This sort of approach is not only deeply patronising, it suffocates trust in democracy.
No single issue, in fact, has been more corrosive of trust or democratic legitimacy than that of EU membership. People of all backgrounds have formed the impression that 'europe' is somehow removing their sovereignty, and this is bad. People blame europe for everything because they feel trapped in a marriage they were never given a chance to reaffirm or separate from.
In the minds of the political classes, 'europe' has become an article of faith, a bit like useless nuclear missile systems. At least the latter guarantee American military contracts to resupply the British armed forces and stop even more grotesque subsidies of the likes of BAe. To such people, if you don't do the europe tango, you ain't serious.
But look now at those who want a referendum. Left wing London tube union leaders like Bob Crow. Right wing spirit-of-england types like christopher booker. Those who trust the people enough to want to ask for the first time in 33 years, 'is this ok with you?'. those who dislike the assumptions and presumptions of a political class who all went to the same student unions and whose prejudices dominate the media and political life.
Anyone with any sense must be able to see that not asking the people and having a genuine debate about this country's association with the EU is poisoning politics.
It is also having a monumentally disturbing effect on the law and its operatives. Judges--not all, some--can see the indecision and laziness of politicians. The example of European supremacy has emboldened some to question parliament time and again. It has made the critics of judges, with their agendas, powerful, and has undermined, I would suggest, attempts to replace the denuded common law with human rights legislation.
It is having an empowering effect on non-elected, appointed bureaucrats. Again, the health and safety executive does not come from 'europe'. It was created here in the early seventies with modest goals. But free people have a right to ask why 400 million people living in some multilingual elite-driven network should be governed in their working lives by domestic institutions empowered by foreign ones.
There also seem to be times when every timorous fraud in an administrative position in the country hides behind the excuse of 'europe' to make peoples lives just a bit pettier or a bit sillier. 'Objection? Nothing to do with me mate, I blame the Belgians.'
The good, even great things about the EU are being lost in this debate. And not being substantially checked in Britain has meant that those who are in europe to spend other people's money and come up with ever more grandiose schemes have more freedom of movement. how long before 'ordoliberal' members of the commission force markets on, say, the provision of health care, or education?
Clear the air. Put three questions to the people;
1)do you wish your government to join the euro in the next twenty years?
2)do you wish your government to sign the new treaty?
3)Do you wish the United Kingdom to remain a member of the EU?
Trust the people. I think people would vote to stay in, but not for the other things. And if Britain left? billions back home. Border and trade issues a little more troublesome, but in an era of rising air prices and climate change, that's no bad thing. The City shocked. Perhaps we'd have to start making things eventually. And sovereignty restored. Worthwhile people might see getting elected as in itself worthwhile.
I have the right to several passports. I am highly educated, and Catholic. I am a member of the Labour Party. I therefore tick every european box. And for democratic, european reasons, I want a referendum now.
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