So You Think Europe Is Not Democratic

[Specky Man]

Everywhere people keep talking on and on about Ireland's sovereignty been taken away by Europe, The European institutions are run by foreign elitists and that the irish constitution is been undermined by the Treaty. Well lets just clear something up.

The Irish constitution was drew up by De Valera for the purpose of removing the British from Ireland. The preamble starts off like a Catholic sermon and articles 1 and 2 stated that the 6 counties are Ours. The constitution written by De Valera was unlike the American constitution a short term document that reflects the times it was written. It did not look into the future but wanted Ireland to remain a small free Catholic nation.

The document just about made sure that Ireland remained free from Dictatorship but the articles in the constitution allowed for the Clergy to run Ireland(i hate to say) as a Theocracy. De Valera gave the Church special powers under the constitution and the articles relating to maintaining the unity of the family lay the ground work for denying women any rights and prevented Ireland from liberalising. The constituion would also look on Gay's and Lesbiens as an attempt to destroy the family unit. Censorship was widespread. It was because of this Constitution that Ireland remained cut off from the world and weak.

Had it not been for the European union women's rights and the opening of Ireland to the world would never have occured. since De Valera time the constitution has been amended more then twenty times. It is the people of Ireland that matter not this so called constitution. we talk of europe changing the constitution as if it is a bad thing. Had it not been for Mary Robinson there would be no rights for gays and lesbians. Under are existing constitution citizens do not have the right to shelter. By comparison the EU treaty is by far much more Democratic then are own constitution. Not only that but the treaty even guarantees that National Parliaments partake in drafting laws.

So the the suggestion that Europe is undemocratic and Ireland is losing her sovereighty is wrong. Ireland as a country was less democrtaic when it joined Europe then it is now. The Irish government was once less independent before Europe then it was now. The Clergy of Ireland had more power in Ireland then the entire government. The pope once said that Ireland had Seven Popes refering to the strangle whole they once had. Now that Ireland is free and part of an entity that promotes freedom for all citizens (be damned with government) Isolationists and parochial Patriots want break away from the Europe that freed us from the Dominance of Clerical Theocracy that was brought about by De Valera constituion

[dealmachtigeier]

But voting yes to Lisbon means that tomorrow morning we cannot wake up and say to our bed partners "today we're gonna try to take over the world!!"

If we've not got that what else is there to live for?

You're forgetting one thing on Theocracy: you can't argue and whinge about God in public. You can do that with the EU institutions and what's more in doing so you cultivate your rebel image. "Vote no, at least you knew where you stood with God!"

[PaintingMedium]

Can we learn how to spell DeValera please, wont bother reading the rest till you fix it! laziness

[Sidewinder]

A load of drivel

The Brits were gone 16 years when Dev wrote his Constitution. His name is spelled De Valera. The 1937 Bunreacht was actually, in comparison to other countries, extremely progressive - women have had universal suffrage here since Independence for example. In many European countries it was the 1970s before all adult women got the vote! The Catholic Church had no "special powers" in the Constitution. It may well have had an unhealthy position of power in society, but that was because 90% of the population were devout Catholics, not because of any legal status.

This entire post was just wrong, wrong wrong. Ill-informed drivel.

[CookieMonster]

I find it hard to trust the word of somebody who can't spell De Valera correctly.

[PaintingMedium]

I find it hard to trust the word of somebody who can't spell De Valera correctly.

I thought there was no gap, thats how I was told how to spell it!

[corkman2007]

Lesbiens

French lesbians? Presumably just the good ones though...

[CookieMonster]

Lesbiens

French lesbians? Presumably just the good ones though...

The good ones are unionised.

[baldur0300]

I find it hard to trust the word of somebody who can't spell De Valera correctly.

I thought there was no gap, thats how I was told how to spell it!

I too find it hard to trust people who can't spell de Valera correctly

[Helium Three]

I find it hard to trust the word of somebody who can't spell De Valera correctly.

I thought there was no gap, thats how I was told how to spell it!

I too find it hard to trust people who can't spell de Valera correctly

He made such an impression in London with his riposte to Churchill that they still remind people to mind the gap to this very day.