Quote from sKaLpZ:
So what are you saying, that Europe suddenly has 50 cracks? And the euro is toast?
Well, I don't know what I am saying, that is I can't say what german voters would have said... At least I think it is not a problem with France but, perhaps, a problem with the EU.
Or, with "this" EU...
People perceive EU as a body of beaurocrats far from people's daily needs. This is at least partially true, especially for those countries whose living standards are alreay high. On the other hands, countries like Spain, Porutgal and Italy have a lot to thank to the EU.
So, how can you expect to mix those different situations and hope to have a constitution approved?
I heard something interesting on TV yesterday. Some Italian politician saying, EU beaurocracy is based on agriculture and heavy industries. Agriculture alone accounts for half (or more) of the EU budget. This has little to do with today's economies. Let's make EU a challenge for the future, like using finds to enhance scientific research, to fund defence, and people might be more willing to accept it.
. No attempt whatsoever to bring minimal standards of decency into this situation. Supreme Court Justice Scalia's saying: 'In the US we have a jury system because the people don't trust their judges' would be heresy in Europe. You probably might still get burned at the stake for uttering such words. 