| |
 |
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 |
IHT: "The Netherlands on Tuesday ratified the Lisbon Treaty that aims to streamline decision making at the European Union."
So much for the democratic spirit of our government. Three years ago the Dutch population overwhelmingly voted against this form of supranational control. Now they expect Ireland to have another referendum. Duh! A Yes is final, but a No can be challenged any time. What kind of democracy is this? The distance between politicians and the people is growing.
The Treaty is meant to push a neo-liberal agenda, at a moment when the neo-liberal ideology is in its death throes. The only road left in the face of failure is the road of violence and oppression, or Thatcherism (and remember she was an admirer and friend of mass murderer Pinochet).
Arend Lammertink has lodged a complaint with the Dutch queen, our Parliament, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court about the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, on the basis of art. 94 of the Penal Code, which says that it is a crime to destroy or change the constitutional form of government by illegal means.
Art. 93 says it is a crime to bring the nation under foreign rule. And that is exactly what will happen when the Treaty is final: sovereign states will have lost their democratic power over what happens in their own state in certain domains.
So Jan Pieter Balkenende, the Dutch PM, will enter history as the man who committed high treason.
Any change in the Constitution follows a particular procedure and requires new elections. And finally Parliament and Senate have to vote for the change with a majority of 2/3rds. The Dutch population said NO in a previous referendum. The Treaty of Lisbon is illegal.
There was an absurd situation when the Dutch government almost decided to extradite Dutch citizens for things said or done in the Netherlands which are completely legal here, but which are considered a crime in other countries, or merely threaten the interests or inhuman activities of those countries. And if foreign countries threaten to boycot Dutch firms, well, that could be reason enough for the Dutch government to extradite any innocent citizen. That is madness. But the Treaty of Lisbon is going even further. Sovereignty no longer means anything. The greatest bully gets his way.
Like Pontius Pilate, Balkenende can later (when Europe commands and issues unjust laws) 'wash his hands', and say , that it's not his fault. Hypocrisy reigns. Europe has become a means to prevent citizens from actively participating in politics.
10:33:43 AM 
|
|
© Copyright 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
