BS: La France: Oui ou Non?

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: robomatic
Date: 31 May 05 - 09:55 PM

sorefingers:

I know it's not just you, but a lot of folks are trying to fight democracy. I've paid enough attention to tell that it was a decisive vote, for the reasons I enumerated above. I believe it is not always legal to have vote after vote until the government decides it's got what it wanted. Meanwhile, the 'non' majeure has given the Netherlands opposition a major leg up.

What's your position, and what do you think the ramifications are of a rejection of the European constitution, as presently constituted?

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 03:46 AM

A better set of voting figures than those which just recently returned Tony Blair and his New Age Tories to power. I for one would love to see a 70% turnout at a UK general election.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 04:25 AM

If Tony Blair had been constrained by a European Defence Policy. President Bush would have been even more isolated in his recent military campaigns against the Taliban and Saddam Hussein.

be careful what you wish for Robomatic

best wishes

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 06:59 AM

I believe it is not always legal to have vote after vote until the government decides it's got what it wanted. (robomatic)

That's what they did in Switserland and Liechtenstein every four years or so for decades until they got the right for women to vote. Since then there has never been any vote in both countries about that issue.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 09:21 AM

I believe it is not always legal to have vote after vote until the government decides it's got what it wanted.

The goverment of a country can make anything it like legal or illegal. That's what being a sovereign state means. It is also a cause of opposition to the EU. It is taking decisions that would normally be taken by European countries, and not always deciding the same way they would. If that's not surplanting national sovereignty, what is?


Of course, if a country far enough outside international norms, and doesn't have a currently useful goverment, or nuclear weapons, then the UN/US/anyone else who feels like sticking their nose in might invade, but that's another story...

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 10:48 AM

weelittledrummer: good point. As I mentioned above, there are immediate interests, and long term interests, and as far as I can tell it is in the overall long term interest of the US and the world to have more unity in the world and less chance of major warfare.

Wolfgang: Also good point, I should have said monthly, or 'unspecified'. Every four years is a pretty lengthy and reasonable intermission of time, after all, we get a chance to reconsider our President every four years!

bunna-: typically 'anything' can't be legal under a constitution, which sets a barebones structure on which governments are defined.

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 06:56 PM

And Holland as well. 62% said no, on a 63% turn out.

Robomatic- true, I forgot about constitutions, on a thread about the EU constitution! It's a problem in the UK as the constitution is unwritten. They can always be changed anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 12:50 AM

Geeze, this is the first time I wish I could speak French correctly. If I could, I would say, "Vive, La France."
DougR

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 04:41 AM

Learn to say grenouille too, and you might win a frog!
G ¦¬]

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 05:18 AM

Dont let the euphoria get out of hand Doug!

I am also delighted to see the EU constitution rejected, though I'm sure for very different reasons...Ake

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 05:02 AM

Doug--

Your euphoria is misplaced. It was never very likely that "Europe", as a bloc, would be a counterweight to the US. However, from a standpoint of combatting terrorism, for instance-- (which I would think you would advocate--) it would be much more effective to be able to co-ordinate with one entity, rather than 25.

Subject: RE: BS: La France: Oui ou Non?
From: robomatic
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 08:10 AM

Yeah, I've been dropping in on forums which are opposite polarity to this one and they've been saying "Vive La France!" as well, but I think it's mainly schadenfreude.