This sums up everything that is wrong with the EU. In short - you are not giving us the correct answer when you vote, so keep voting till you get it right. Europe doesn't trust the people to do the right thing, so it simply ignores them, and the speed with which they pounced on Ireland once the recession hit to scaremonger them into the 'right' decision was pathetic.
Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty v1 for specific reasons to do with tax and abortion laws, so it was taken away, revised and fresh assurances put into it addressing those specific parts. So what Ireland has voted on now is the Lisbon Treaty v1.5 and it has now accepted it.
To me this is democracy in proper motion. I agree that there was some degree of 'scaremongering' in the Yes vote about the economic situation, but if the specific problems people had with the original treaty have been addressed, is it not then viable that the question be put to the people again? Especially if a "No," vote this time around would have completely sunk the treaty for all time and they'd have had to start again from scratch?
Ireland rejected the Treaty because the government here was too inept to explain to the people what the Treaty was and wasn't about. Ireland is very excitable when it comes to certain issues, specifically abortion, taxes and military independence. Despite the fact that the Lisbon Treaty in no way affects Ireland on any of those issues, there is a portion of the population here that is very Euroskeptic. Last year, those skeptics ran a much better campaign before the original Lisbon vote and Ireland ended up voting "No".
I agree with you in that it isn't undemocratic for a treaty to be voted against in one form and then be voted on again in an amended form. Although, I understand how ridiculous it can seem at face value. The truth of it is, Ireland is lucky it got a second chance to vote on this, because regardless of any "scaremongering" by the Yes campaign (which is nothing compared to the scaremongering ie. lying by the "No" campaign), Ireland needs the EU way more than the EU needed Ireland to pass the Lisbon Treaty.
Formerly DannyBoy31
This message last edited by Inigo Montoya on 04/10/2009 at 02:23:52 AM
Ireland accepts Lisbon Treaty
- 03/10/2009 02:09:29 PM
1332 Views
A sad sad day for europe
- 03/10/2009 02:13:53 PM
778 Views
Please tell me you didn't vote UKIP at least. 
- 03/10/2009 02:21:38 PM
790 Views
- 03/10/2009 02:21:38 PM
790 Views
United States of Europe! Here we come.
- 03/10/2009 02:25:16 PM
825 Views
- 03/10/2009 02:25:16 PM
825 Views
We don't get a vote, because we would not say the right thing. So fuck democracy.
- 03/10/2009 02:29:25 PM
716 Views
Why does Tim think No is the right choice?
- 03/10/2009 11:02:53 PM
731 Views
I'm not sure this is an entirely fair analysis.
- 03/10/2009 09:18:31 PM
711 Views
Sort of.
- 04/10/2009 02:19:56 AM
816 Views
What would you say is the most important effect and/or overall significance of the treaty? *NM*
- 03/10/2009 02:30:29 PM
318 Views
Mostly making the EU less unwieldy.
- 03/10/2009 02:37:06 PM
734 Views
Why on earth would you want to let Turkey in?
- 03/10/2009 04:05:24 PM
795 Views
Several reasons.
- 03/10/2009 04:41:59 PM
868 Views
*NM*
I am pleased by this. Here is hoping for an effective elected leader.
- 05/10/2009 03:20:36 PM
748 Views
Yeah, that's true...
- 05/10/2009 03:42:29 PM
734 Views
So the European parliament will not elect the leader?
- 05/10/2009 05:08:25 PM
752 Views
Er, that's news to me... but let's look it up.
- 05/10/2009 05:14:09 PM
716 Views
I would have rejected any treaty that would not let me elect a representative or
- 05/10/2009 06:14:46 PM
739 Views