[dimtimjim]

Supprised to not find a thread on this already.

So, One Europe with one smug git at the top, is everyone happy with the news? I'm pleased I got my chance to vote on such a critical issue.... *ers.

[Lactating Man Nips]

How do you mean: vote? You gave them a mandate at the last election.

I can't imagine many people being actually equipped to understand the full extent of economic and social issues of a One Europe in order to make a considered vote.

Which particular ammendments aren't you in favour of?

[foot-loose]

Supprised to not find a thread on this already.

You want us to have a thread on a political subject? Wat?

[dimtimjim]

Yeah, sorry Foots, I realise this is a little too serious and really has no place in this forum as it doesn't slag off Scott Mills or second guess the demise of Chris' career.... Shame on me!

Oh, and by Vote - I mean add my tuppence worth on us giving up certain powers to fall into unison as one glorious super power.... Whilst I embrace our multi cultural society and am in no way a racist, I hate beig lumped in with things with the ruddy french!

[foot-loose]

Bloody french. They do make nice bread though. And pastries.

[Johnny 1989]

And crepes.

What is the whole Europe thing about?

They're reforming & having a tour of the UK in 2010.

(Sorry)

[Munki Bhoy]

Run from London, run from Brussels... sorry I don't see the difference for us Scots.

Besides, no one asked us in 1707, so why should it be any different in 2009?

[Johnny 1989]

Run from London, run from Brussels... sorry I don't see the difference for us Scots.

Besides, no one asked us in 1707, so why should it be any different in 2009?

That's it, you Jocks know your place

[Wykey]

How do you mean: vote? You gave them a mandate at the last election.

Exactly, which when given to talk of "this kind of thing" is something most people don't comprehend.

I can't imagine many people being actually equipped to understand the full extent of economic and social issues of a One Europe in order to make a considered vote.

CAN you imagine?

It's bad enough to think that you only have to turn 18 to be able to vote, let alone specifically decide on matters the breadth and width of this.

[Latina]

Run from London, run from Brussels... sorry I don't see the difference for us Scots.

Besides, no one asked us in 1707, so why should it be any different in 2009?

I've always been against the idea of Scottish Independence, but as a so-called "Eurosceptic" I'm feeling a lot more sympathetic towards it these days. Identity is important, and forcing an identity on people who do not feel it will not always work.

[English Bob]

I remember when politicians were seriously considering forming the 'United States of Europe' like the American federal system, one big country made up of little 'states'

[foot-loose]

Excuse me. I'm strawberry blonde.

[Lactating Man Nips]

We've brought them into the modern world and given them the faculties to survive on their own.

Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland collapsed with the biggest debts in the history of British banking, and were rescued by the UK Government.

[foot-loose]

Aye, cos RBS only does banking in Scotland and Bank of Scotland isn't owned by the Halifax.

[Latina]

I say we cut our ties with Scotland. We've brought them into the modern world and given them the faculties to survive on their own. WTF do we need them for?

It was sort of a two-way thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Enlightenment

[dimtimjim]

"with an estimated 75% level of literacy"

Shame they couldn't keep the standards so high.....!!

[Lactating Man Nips]

Aye, cos RBS only does banking in Scotland and Bank of Scotland isn't owned by the Halifax.

An independant Scotland would have been hosting the fifth largest banking force in the world - collecting lovely taxes from them too. Bank of Scotland merged with Halifax and is the major banking subsiduory of HBOS, not owned by them.

Besides these were the literal words of our glorious leader when recently under fire from the SNP.

[Yudster]

I have no problem with people ripping David Cameron to pieces for any reason at all, but realistically I can't see why he should be pilloried for suggesting that its maybe a bit pointless to hold a referendum to see what we all think about something that happened a year ago? Surely he originally said he would hold a referendum on Lisbon when he was thinking that he would be in power before it was all signed and sealed - that would have made sense. If he does get into power it won't now be until well into next year at the earliest - what on earth would be the point in a Lisbon referendum at that point?

[Lactating Man Nips]

If he does get into power it won't now be until well into next year at the earliest - what on earth would be the point in a Lisbon referendum at that point?

To haggle the minute detail of the myriad clauses enabling national veto in some of the less important areas of governance, I guess. Is/was anyone really bothered about an alternative method for sharing power amongst member states - I'm guessing not.

Edit: Yes pointless.

[Wykey]

I have no problem with people ripping David Cameron to pieces for any reason at all, but realistically I can't see why he should be pilloried for suggesting that its maybe a bit pointless to hold a referendum to see what we all think about something that happened a year ago? Surely he originally said he would hold a referendum on Lisbon when he was thinking that he would be in power before it was all signed and sealed - that would have made sense. If he does get into power it won't now be until well into next year at the earliest - what on earth would be the point in a Lisbon referendum at that point?

Personally I think the reason he made the "cast iron guarantee" is because he knew he'd never have to actually go through with it.

Say something that catches the headlines, finds favour with his "core" voters and also catches the eye of people who are 'disaffected' with the government.

If he actually meant what he'd said, he'd have a referendum, and then act upon the result.

The treaty means nothing if we, as a sovereign nation say "tell you what, we're out". But he won't do that, because he never meant it in the first place.

[Munki Bhoy]

People respect politicians more if they think they can connect with them. In this case, asking the people for their opinion is always a winner, especially when it's something as big as a European Constitution.

This is why it continues to baffle me why Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems are ALL against having a Scottish Independence referendum. What, you don't want to ask the people what they think about something as important as who runs them?! Any sensible opposition to it would be all in favour of a referendum. Then go about telling folk to vote no. Bloody hell, there's three parties all singing from that hymnsheet and I'm fairly certain the referendum would end up in favour of "no".

But then, why would they want to do something like cut the SNP's feet from under them on their biggest issue?

Politicians, no matter which party they're with, a bunch of useless * that I wouldn't want running 100m let alone an entire country.

[MK Chris]

Vince Cable - he's not a useless *.

[Yudster]

Neither is Bob Russell, who is MP for Colchester, he's really very very good and I'd vote for him whatever party he represented (of the mainstream ones that is). Unfortunately I don't have that option, being far enough outside of Colchester to have the misfortune to be represented in Westminster by Bernard * Jenkin.

[Munki Bhoy]

Yeah, okay, there are exceptions. But as a collective hole (as in ass...) they suck. And sadly, that's how they govern. As a hole.