Roberto, the worrying issues are really about enfranchisement, not economics (not that those aren't worrying also).   As Guest Amos said, "A democracy isn't a democracy if your vote is removed from you". The only reason Ireland even has such power is its constitutional right of referendum. The fact that the only country with the right to vote on this treaty has rejected it tells you something - as does the fact that the other countries who have ratified it have done so without their populaces being consulted.

As I've said at some length in the other Lisbon thread (wish the clones would combine them), if you leave it to the career politicans to do your voting for you, what real power do you have? And whose agenda is going to come first? Not necessarily yours. That's what's on a lot of people's minds.

Whichever side of the debate one is on, your pint idea sounds good. So here's one to you c[]