Author Topic: French government cracks down against democracy? (Read 666 times)

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:11:58 PM »

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Originally posted by lazs2
the euro barbarians are about due to start another world war I would think.

lazs

They should certainly behave a bit more civilized, like the USA. There should be a law......hmmmm.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:20:21 PM »

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Originally posted by straffo
The governement can't but the parlement can as it's the citizen representation*

* sarcam intended

yes but in france would the parlement go against the public reforendum?

straffo · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:31:00 PM »

Traditionnally no,but there is no rule to prevent this.

It would be very bad taste IMO./

Gunslinger · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:55:40 PM »

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Originally posted by straffo
Traditionnally no,but there is no rule to prevent this.

It would be very bad taste IMO./

I assume they would also face re-election problems (they are elected officials no?)

straffo · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2005, 02:02:57 PM »

Exact in theory but as my compatriot didn't really voted against EU but more against our current governement I'm not sure it's impossible plus as said de Gaulle in the past : "les français sont des veaux"

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2005, 06:30:14 PM »

Articles mention that the no vote was motivated by great fear and uncertaintty about the EU and France's economic & employment future. I found this surpising.

I say that because lately I have noticed lots of boasting from Europe about America's impending economic doom and lots of pride in the euro and the EU economy - so in light of the news above was this usa bashing just a distraction to soothe our euro posters latent domestic fears?

Pei · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2005, 07:03:22 PM »

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Originally posted by Maverick

It almost looks like the making of a new nation encompassing all the older nations based on a copy of the United States.

I'm not sure how the formation of a nation from a number of colonies all founded with the same language, culture and history can be seen as a model for the formation of a nation from a number of nation states with completely different langauges, cultures and histories.

For those Europeans who want a single European state (misguided though they are at this point in history IMHO) one of the main points is to form a state that is completely different from the USA and will act as a counter to US influence (political, economic and cultural). If you think they want to be another USA then you are seriously mistaken.

bj229r · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2005, 08:10:15 PM »

I had assumed the whole point of the EU was to mass all them lil bitty countries together (under Chirac's leadership, I presumed) to create a counter to the US--only problem is many of those countries have frightful economies (judging by inflation, unemployment rate, GNP, etc), because they have socialist leanings--and multiplying, say, Germany's economy by 10....they would STILL suck

Maverick · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2005, 08:25:10 PM »

Hey pei, go take a chill pill, it was an analogy.

Yeager · « **Reply #24 on:** May 30, 2005, 08:26:25 PM »

somewhere in Iraq a good buddy of Chirac waits......

ASTAC · « **Reply #25 on:** May 30, 2005, 08:56:47 PM »

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Originally posted by Pei
I'm not sure how the formation of a nation from a number of colonies all founded with the same language, culture and history can be seen as a model for the formation of a nation from a number of nation states with completely different langauges, cultures and histories.

For those Europeans who want a single European state (misguided though they are at this point in history IMHO) one of the main points is to form a state that is completely different from the USA and will act as a counter to US influence (political, economic and cultural). If you think they want to be another USA then you are seriously mistaken.

Well lets see...if they made a single "nation" out of europe..hmmm...One UNITED nation of member STATES...under a common government but still individually sovereign...sounds familiar..but can't quite put my finger on where I've heard this one before.

Pei · « **Reply #26 on:** May 30, 2005, 10:14:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC
Well lets see...if they made a single "nation" out of europe..hmmm...One UNITED nation of member STATES...under a common government but still individually sovereign...sounds familiar..but can't quite put my finger on where I've heard this one before.

Formation of the English state from the various Anglo-Saxon princedoms?

Formation of Germany form various independent states?

Likewise Italy, Russia in the 10th century etc......

Steve · « **Reply #27 on:** May 30, 2005, 10:21:57 PM »

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will act as a counter to US influence

so they are forming this EU to oppose us? Not to better their own lives?

Hangtime · « **Reply #28 on:** May 30, 2005, 10:48:26 PM »

I get the sense it could be interpeted two ways..

1. an economic consortium designed to compete on a closer to 'level' playing field with the US Dollar (kinda goofy considering the international flavor of american corporations)

2. A military/political/economic foil for the US to fill the power gap left by the collapse of the Soviet Union. I suspect the french see themselves as the politicaly dominant european force with the the Germans as the dominant economic/military arm of the union.

I don't see much of a positive nature in a Unified European Nation/State WRT America, albiet an economic union or a political one. Seems to be bad news, short term or long for us.

Vulcan · « **Reply #29 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:06:15 AM »

<--- wondering if the EU will invade France.