So this is how democracy dies....

[dorbie 0]

....not with a cheer but with a President ignoring a referendum on National Sovereignty.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1629946,00.html

Chirac says renegotiation of teh constitution is out even if his countrymen vote no on his grand plan. Everyone else must proceed with it.......... this is getting fun, time to break out the popcorn.

The great solution being proposed? After the people vote no all political parties should offer Hobson's choice in their manifestos going into the next election so they have a pretext to ratify it anyway.

You just can't make this stuff up. If only the rest or Europe advocated slavery, then he could raise an army and go marching over there cracking skulls in the name of civil rights until he had a true European Republic.

[Frenchy68 0]

...and how is that going to kill democracy? Are you telling me that there's never been any cases of the minority prevailing over the majority?
It's going to cost Chirac his government though. There should be en masse resignations comes Monday morning.
As much as I am not a fan of Chirac, the arguments put forward by the "No" camp, for most parts, do bother me.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[dorbie 0]

This is a referendum about sovereignty.

If you're going to have one then don't like the outcome should you proceed anyway?

[Frenchy68 0]

THis is a referendum about the new European Union's contitution. Sovereignty is part of it indeed, but not the sole point. In a nutshell, what the majority of French seem to be rejecting is a feeling that the new constitution favors capitalism at the cost of some of the "typically French" social issues (such as some government subsidies, etc...).
I agree that there is an issue with having a referendum and ignoring the outcome. However, I doubt it will put a dent in demogracy in Europe and/or France.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[dorbie 0]

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However, I doubt it will put a dent in demogracy in Europe and/or France.

[antifnsocial 0]

is all you got?

Please feel free to reply to my posts and pm's, but only if you're smart enough to understand what they really mean.

[Zenister 0]

uhh your talking about the French... it's been centuries since they've been able to field and effective army...

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[dorbie 0]

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is all you got?

Don't let me stop you dude.

Maybe I should have said Touché or something suitably French.

The original post was meant to evoke some of the Star Wars - USA analogy silliness in the first place.

[antifnsocial 0]

Dude?

Please feel free to reply to my posts and pm's, but only if you're smart enough to understand what they really mean.