Quoting DJ Doena:

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The EU parliament is a toothless paper tiger. They can't decide squat. The real power lies within the EU Commission and we can't vote on them.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who knows where the real power lies in Brussels.

But as I was saying earlier, they will now try to find a way to bring it in through the back door, the French PM has already hinted as much during his Press Speach when he meet with Prsident Bush today.

Steve

Quoting Daddy DVD:

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I'm not against Ireland but I am oppossed to referenda. Vital issues should be the responsibility of the government not of the people. They aren't well informed and only make decisions based on gut feelings.

That is a very scary statement there! 

this is what the Irish said NO to: Treaty of Lisbon:

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Its main objectives are to make the EU more democratic, meeting the European citizens’ expectations for high standards of accountability, openness, transparency and participation; and to make the EU more efficient and able to tackle today's global challenges such as climate change, security and sustainable development.

in short
in detail

Quoting whispering:

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BUT some of us smaller countries could also lose power.

If that were the only reason, then why would I - being a german citizen - be against it?

Quoting Unicus69:

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Which, if I read the stories correctly, is one of the reasons Ireland rejected the treaty.

The opposition claimed that Irland would lose all power, and a totalitarian EU would force all laws it sees fit on Ireland. Without the Irish having any say, which really isnt the case.

But all in all, i'm hoping that the Irish No vote will force them to rewrite the thing to something that is actually possible to read and understand by the average joey. This should never happen in votings, what it did (in my eyes) is that the majority voted by heart not by logic.

Also i dont believe the Lisbon Treaty is the best thing ever, i only see it as a step forward, that we as a united europe must take at some point. I also have much respect for the people that do oppose the treaty. E.g. without people like that, that stand up and challenge the treaty it would never work. Parliamentarism doesnt work without the opposition. But lies should never be a tool used, unfortunately in politics thats asking the impossible

Quoting snarbo:

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We here in the UK are in the same boat. The labour party promised the people a referendum on the Europe issue as part of their elction pledge, now they are in power they are refusing to hold to the promise as they know it will result in "NO".

If they promised a referendum, they should give a referendum. We had a similar case in a compleatly diffrent issue. I believe politicians should be held accountable for election promises.

From the outside looking in, it seems like Europe is trying to form "a more perfect Union."  A 'United States of Europe' if you will.  It is an admirable goal, but it will be difficult to do if each country doesn't have an equal say in how thing are done.

From what little I have read, it does sound like the bigger countries will have more say.  It may not be to the degree that the opposition in Ireland claimed, but any amount of disparagement is going to cause problems.

sad thread makes me sad
read the paper!
eu ftw!

Quoting Skywatcher:

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This is taking advantage of the average Joe's ignorance on the text of the treaty (and laziness to try and know better) to make up all kinds of lies using primary fears just to get votes.

The message of the poster os of course a lie, but just because some people have their own weird agenda doesn't mean that none of the NO voters had a valid reason to do so.

And speaking of Joe Sixpack: Why should he read something that even most politicians declaredly haven't read either or only the CliffsNotes editon?