tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post8521560952948191277..comments2023-09-28T12:28:57.598+03:00Comments on Grahnlaw: European Union: Nobody but Barroso?Ralf Grahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-89579901072803890902008-12-06T05:19:00.000+02:002008-12-06T05:19:00.000+02:00Michael, As it looks now, we are facing the prospe...Michael, <BR/><BR/>As it looks now, we are facing the prospects of dull and only half meaningful election campaigns, low general turnout and high proportions of protest votes in several member states. <BR/><BR/>Five more years of missed democratic opportunity seems to be in sight, regardless of if the Nice Treaty continues to be in force or if it is replaced by the Lisbon Treaty. <BR/><BR/>As long as the heads of state or government are the real constitutive element of the European Union, it is basically the same as the Holy Alliance.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-42733938543626281522008-12-06T02:42:00.000+02:002008-12-06T02:42:00.000+02:00You are probably right, but I won't give up hope t...You are probably right, but I won't give up hope that it will have positive effects. Its just devestating. Another EP elections goes to waste (in my humble opinion).<BR/><BR/>This economic crisis will most likely have extrem consequences in terms of unemployment. Nationalism will be on the rise and I may put this too dramatic, I fear for the future of the EU. Maybe I have to put things into perspective, but seeing the far right in Austria being almost in reach of claiming the Chancellor for themselves is very frightening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-16399730196327954562008-12-04T14:15:00.000+02:002008-12-04T14:15:00.000+02:00Michael, You may be right about Declan Ganley's re...Michael, <BR/><BR/>You may be right about Declan Ganley's resources to field candidates in a number of EU member states and the campaign budget he has mentioned is stupendously high, although we don't know if there is any realism behind it. <BR/><BR/>Paradoxically, no ideology is as international as nationalism, although each one's nationalism tends to exclude that of the others. <BR/><BR/>Hence, it is difficult to know if a Libertas group in the European Parliament would have more in common than the negative glue to oppose the 'establishment' and the Lisbon Treaty. <BR/><BR/>Without a positive platform opposing the Lisbon Treaty means investing much time and effort in retaining the Nice Treaty, hardly an uplifting goal, in my humble opinion.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-27308575697746556662008-12-04T08:18:00.000+02:002008-12-04T08:18:00.000+02:00Don't misunderstand me, I am not sure what to make...Don't misunderstand me, I am not sure what to make of Ganley and I would tend to agree with your assessment.<BR/><BR/>My view is merely that his actions may spark something in the other political movements that seem to have so little incentive to give people a real choice. I hope the prospect of a President Declan Ganley will do the job.<BR/><BR/>I would prefer if some other movement would be able to actually to do this, but at this point I don't see anyone having the necessary means appart from Ganley and the established parties to run EU wide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-91955912063383767412008-12-04T03:55:00.000+02:002008-12-04T03:55:00.000+02:00Michael, Perception or reality, but the European l...Michael, <BR/><BR/>Perception or reality, but the European level parties through their groups in the European Parliament all too often give the impression that they are more interested in keeping up the facade of the EP than in putting businesslike controls in place with regard to expenses, for instance. <BR/><BR/>If they prefer to play games with the other institutions, they positively beg outsiders to fill the void among EU citizens. <BR/><BR/>Libertas, for one, could profit substantially, although Declan Ganley seems to be building his new European party on negative messages and nationalistic rejectionists of the European idea.<BR/><BR/>In that sense Ganley's occasional calls for a strong and democratic Europe look like rhetorical devices instead of a serious commitment.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-26166116660872637422008-12-04T03:19:00.000+02:002008-12-04T03:19:00.000+02:00Its a pity that the European level political parti...Its a pity that the European level political parties and their leaders fail to see the significance of these elections.<BR/><BR/>Considering all the well founded or misguided criticism by people all around Europe, I believe we are pretty much at a crossroads. One that could very well lead to the failure of this great project.<BR/><BR/>I must say that after the established parties seem to be unable to rise to the task, I beginn to see more and more positive things in Mr. Ganley political ambitions. Maybe by standing as candidate in the elections, he will force the European political parties down the way they don't dare to walk ... intentionally or unintentionally I don't know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-6868063173613654042008-12-03T14:47:00.000+02:002008-12-03T14:47:00.000+02:00Igor, Yes, the Holy Roman Empire was neither Roman...Igor, <BR/><BR/>Yes, the Holy Roman Empire was neither Roman nor Holy, so there are too many similarities with the European Union for comfort. <BR/><BR/>First I reacted mildly to the basic problem of Jon Worth's campaign: that it lacked a positive message. <BR/><BR/>But the longer I have had time to follow the failures of the European political parties, the more I find myself in agreement with the necessity to show their total failure as representatives of citizens' political aspirations. <BR/><BR/>That is why I looked at the main parties myself and wrote the post, to do my bit to keep the campaign alive.<BR/><BR/>The current situation is utterly depressing.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-66425903911683796532008-12-03T11:18:00.000+02:002008-12-03T11:18:00.000+02:00The Holy Roman Emperor, in the 18th century, was e...The Holy Roman Emperor, in the 18th century, was elected by nine Prince Electors. The President of the European Commission, in the 21st century , by 27. The European Parliament could at the very least influence the appointment, but it prefers to bow to the will of its national political masters<BR/><BR/>Eu-level politics is so depressing to defy description. I can't even explain to myself why Eu parties have such a compulsive suicidal wish. Too many people keep ranting about the example of the election of Obama, but if I remember well Democrats supported Obama and Republicans McCain. In Europe, instead, it's likely that both our "Democrats" and "Republicans" are going to support the reelection of Mr Bush. <BR/><BR/>Is someone going to rebel to this situation? Or just the ones charged to stop the engine, like Mr Ganley?<BR/>Worth's campaign may sound like a bitter work of frustration, but I see it like a generous, quixotic deed to fight against a self-fulfilling prophecy. Giving some powers to normal electors, not just The Electors.<BR/>Best regards,<BR/>Igor, ItalyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com