Saturday, 14 June 2008
The Euro Ratchet
So, the Irish voted No to the latest version of an EU constitution, just as the French and Dutch did with the earlier version. This might suggest, to the simple minds of non-Eurocrats, that there's something about this constitution business that people don't like and don't want. Not a bit of it - the Irish have simply got it wrong. The thing about 'Europe' is that it's a machine so calibrated that it can only move in one direction - 'forward'. This is what that resonant phrase 'an ever closer union' means. Much of what was in the latest constitutional reject has already been incorporated into Euro law anyway, and the rest will follow, though perhaps more gradually than would have been the case without the tiresome distraction of the Irish No (tr. Oui, Jawohl). This is ratchet motion, and is integral to all EU institutions and procedures - which is precisely why we were fools to be suckered into it in the first place, with lies about it being no more than a loose trading alliance. It's also why - until the whole thing eventually, inevitably collapses - there is no way out. Or, as the Eurocrats would have it, back.
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Watching Newsnight last night I was struck by the Eurocrats attitude (I couldn't tell you their names, the whole scheming bunch have for me by now, morphed into one big blathering blob.) Their only function in life seems to be to protect their jobs, nothing else matters. The blonde Swedish sounding one was cretinous beyond belief, totally out of this world, the old Irish one was simply in shock, uttering gibberish. He was blaming a conspiracy of fascist millionaires and commie trade unionists, the head pooh bah was emitting multigrade at a staggering rate.
ReplyDeleteA plague on their houses, I've just come in from the garden, it's 12 degrees, how's your day been so far Nige ?
A deal warmer than yours, Malty - quite sunny down here, off and on. I'm off shortly to attend the local 'carnival', a grubby affair, a sad shadow of former glories, but some decent stalls selling jam, plants, books etc...
ReplyDeleteHello, Nige. This, from Auden, which I quoted recently on my blog, seems pertinent: "...the picture of the State as a strata of ruled and ruling classes is ceasing to be altogether adequate; it is becoming more and more, the united professional politicians and bureaucrats versus the disunited rest." That was written, by the way, in 1939.
ReplyDeleteFrom this side of the Atlantic, it looks like you're doing something right. Your pounds and euros are so strong that visiting G.B. or the Continent for a week costs as much as buying a small car here.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I'm sad about Tim Russert's sudden death. He was hell on bureaucrats on "Meet the Press," and I wonder who will replace him. Do you all know of him in Blighty? First-rate TV journo.
Susan, Meet the Press wasn't a programme that as far as I know was aired over here, what we get is that very odd, sometimes entertaining Fox news. Re exchange rate, what can I say, last time Malty junior visited his friends in Greensboro he had a shopping list as long as arm, empty suitcase out, full suitcase back, viva Timberland, Nikon et al, nearly half price.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Frank. Wise and prescient words from Auden there.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Euro's the really strong one, Susan - gone are the days of the 10-Franc/ 2,000 Lire pound. Now the wretched pseudo-currency seems to be heading for parity with the £...