Nice referendum: we told ye so.....

by Billow Sat Nov 16, 2002 01:37

So 62% of the Irish people are nobs? You're not racist are you? I voted Yes because I knew it was the best thing for the new applicant countries, plus they all wanted us to vote Yes.

by k moran - SWSS Sat Nov 16, 2002 13:26

I thought everyone knew that enlargement could continue without nice, Romano Prodi said it. So you voted for a process that would happen anyway except that nice's ratification in ireland means that enlargement will happen on a basis least favourable to the applicant states, ( less votes, more privatisation, more resource wars all under nice).
Ireland could not have changed the EU's stance with a no vote but at least it would heve been a clear message about the type of europe we want.

by Michelle Sat Nov 16, 2002 14:13

'they all wanted us to vote yes' ??! Jesus and are you not capable of thinking for yourself. Best reason yet I've heard for voting yes, not!

by Dave D Sat Nov 16, 2002 16:14

Still grumbling at getting your asses kicked in the Nice referendum. Every little paranoid link between unrelated domestic politics and Nice makes you look more pathetic. If you have a problem with Fianna Fail give out about them, but please stop this silly idea that Nice is in some way connected to all your political concerns. The only remotely 'socialist' position articulated was about article 133, and this was utterly misrepresented. The rest was the same isolationist nationalism articulated by Barrett et al. You nobs read 'capitalist conspiracy' into every issue you cross.
If it was up to the anti-Nice brigade, from both the extreme left and right, Ireland would be an isolated marginalised conservative island floating west towards the US. It's not perfect now, but it's a hell of a lot better than what it would be otherwise. I suppose some of you gimps think it would be a communist republic if it weren't for the EU! Know you enemy, and it certainly isn't the EU.

And finally, this notion that a no vote would have sent a clear message about the type of Europe we want. This is a complete load of bollox. Having canvassed for a month and a half for a yes vote (damn me to hell!) I can honestly say that I met few who actually shared the concerns of socialist no campaigners. I was amazed at the number of racists I met, and those who thought only about their own small-minded vested interests. The overwhelming motive for voting no was isolationist nationalism. Like it or not this is the truth and this is the message that would have gone out to Europe in the event of a No vote. 100s of headlines accross the world saying "Ireland votes no to Enlargement", "Ireland disappoints applicant countries" ect. ect. I think it is pretty obvious the interpertation most would have taken from the vote - and they would have been right, that Ireland is selfish state that got what it could from the EU and then trid to pull up the ladder behind them.

And one final point, this silly notion that enlargement would have gone ahead anyway, I'm quite prepared to admit that this is the case. But how? Nobody really know, but one thing is certain, it wouldn't have gone ahead in a manner which suited the interests of Ireland, and probably not in the interests of the applicant countries. The alternative to the admitedly flawed Nice Treaty is not necessarily the "socialist" alternative.

Anyway enough of this Nice nonsence, time to move on methinks.

by Terry Sat Nov 16, 2002 16:47

It appears that many voted for NICE based on the assumption that
we got so much from Europe for nothing and it would be morally
wrong to deny others the same chance.

In fact since we joined the EU back in 73, our fisheries has been
worth over 100 billion pounds to all those nations that have plundered
our seas and brought them to the current brink of collapse. In return,
over the same period, Ireland has only received about 30 or so billion
in return.

It just goes to show, that you don't get anything for nothing. And until
I came across the above fact not so long ago, it always did bother me as
to why the EU apparently gave us so much for apparently nothing. Now I know.

by Intransigent Sun Nov 17, 2002 01:03

What are ya on about? They all wanted us to vote for it cause it was a better deal. You're not racist if ya voted no, now who's the idiot. Anyway original post, please explain to me why? It's old news and we know it. Don't start the stupid Nice debate again. It's time to move on. There are more important issues at hand.

by dyslexic reader Sun Nov 17, 2002 13:11

The origional post pointed out the 'co incidence' of the funding promised by prominant politicans for 3 schools being cancelled within 2 days of the Nice referendum.

by Dave D Sun Nov 17, 2002 15:22

Paranoia is the hallmark of many on the far left. The thougth that Germans gave money to Ireland (not Spainish) as a sly way of robbing us of our fish stocks and make billions in profit is utter crap. The stupidity of the remark doesn't even warrant a reasoned rebutal. Some of you will believe any anti-EU propaganda you hear. What actually happens in the EU is that wealth is distributed to the poorer regions through structural funds etc etc. The system is far from perfect, but essentially it's wealth redistribution, and deserves the support of the left.

by par annoyed - red swallows battalion of proletarian revolutionary defence committee of the international vanguard Mon Nov 18, 2002 18:47

just cos your paranoid don't mean THEY"R not after you
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