It is now an archive for my newspaper and magazine pieces. My blog can now be read at: www.spectator.co.uk/stephenpollard
Politics, economics and culture from the master. Unmissable.
Melanie Phillips home page
Melanie Phillips' peerless blog. Read, and learn.
Daniel Finkelstein's Times Comment Central
A daily must-read.
Tim Worstall
Lots of interesting nibbles - and a ruthless swatter of economic gibberish.
Harry's Place
Must-read left of centre blog from writers who understand the threat to the West.
Clive Davis
Always interesting selection of culture and politics, from an Anglo-American bent.
Samizdata
Libertarian blog, packed every day.
Norm's blog
The thoroughly sensible thoughts of renowned left-wing academic Norman Geras, Professor of Government at Manchester. And cricket, too.
Public Interest
Peter Briffa's inimitable take on The Yazzmonster and other assorted demons.
Reform
The public sector reform group; their website is an invaluable source of data and ideas.
Centre for the New Europe
The leading European public policy think tank.
Developed by:
| January | 20 |
| 2005 |
...and so the swizz begins. Today's FT reveals that the FCO is spending £40,000 of our money hiring a PR firm to push the 'benefits' of a yes vote in the forthcoming EU constitution referendum:
A Foreign Office memo, obtained by the FT, reveals that the government is embarking this month on an “extensive communications campaign” before the referendum on the constitution, expected next year. As part of the offensive, it has hired Geronimo PR a London-based firm which has handled previous government campaigns to increase awareness about the “benefits” of EU membership and the “facts” about the constitutional treaty.Outlining the brief for the agency, which has been given a £40,000 budget, the Foreign Office asserts that it is to inform the public rather than “persuade” people to vote for the constitution. But the memo goes on to reel off a list of the constitution's merits, calling the treaty a “success for Britain” which will “confirm” the UK's “position of strength in Europe” and enable the enlarged Europe to “work more effectively”. Rejecting the constitution, it says, would “jeopardise our position in the EU . . . weaken Britain's influence in Europe . . . . It would marginalise and isolate us”.
That is a perfectly valid point of view, of course. I happen to think it is wrong. But what is not valid is using my money - taxpayers' money - to push that line (at the very least without ensuring that the no campaign is given exactly the same amount of money).
As always, the eurofanatics are using our money to push their own nefarious ends. Duplicity barely begins to describe it.
MessageSpace
There, there. If you Britfolk will just sign yourselves into the Continental Asylum, tender therapeutic protocols will help you overcome your delusions about personal rights, your irrational resentment of public-minded bureaucrats, and your phobia about incorporating Wahabbi Islamic perspectives into your legal system. If you weren't so irrational, this PR campaign wouldn't be necessary. Now, then, you knew it was really your own fault, didn't you?
I can't think of a better position to be in than "isolated" from moribund, dying-on-its-feet, fiddly Europe.
We are a very influential member of the Anglosphere. For the benefit of any euroweenies reading this, the Anglosphere are all those countries that speak English and have military might. Who cares what Holland thinks about anything? But Australia, with roughly the same population, is a world voice and a very important regional military power. What Australia thinks, counts. Tiny Singapore, too, with its population of 5m, is a military power on the level of Israel, and they and the Aussies were first into Sri Lanka. Another country with a superb, strong and dependable military is India. Malaysia, too, has a dependable, well-trained and well-equipped military. And, of course, the elephant in the living room, the most powerful nation in the history of the world, is in the Anglosphere. Hands up all those who detect a pattern here.
Let's stay friends with European countries. Our histories are intertwined, after all, and most of them are very likeable, but let's not hang them round our neck. Let's continue to trade with them. After all, they sell us more than we buy, so they're unlikely to slam their doors closed in a snit when we bid them a fond adieu.
Let them go their own soft, weak, pacifist, socialist/communist way and wish them luck. And we should cleave to our former colonies and now our closest friends and family. We have a mindset and a language in common. Who could ask for anything more?
Perhaps they will be able to explain why, even if the EU needs a constitution, it has to be this one.
I can understand why a constitution setting out the roles and procedures of the various institutions may be desirable; but what is proposed doesn't do that. For example it is not capable of resolving disputes such as the one over the appointment of a catholic fundamentalist to the Commission at the start of the year. And finding any absolute is pretty much impossible - there is almost no mention of what will happen in a given situation, just what may happen.
There is however loads of guff about issues of the moment like the importance of consumer protection and the space race. Its as if the American Founding Fathers had avoided the issue of the relationship between the states and the federal government and instead concentrated on proclaiming the benefits of slavery.
Motto - If you want to produce a document dealing with matters of effective governance and individual liberty, don't put pompous French crook in charge.
The EU is not a country. The mere notion of imposing a "constitution" on it is sheer impudence and should be nipped in the bud.
Verity - The Mothers Union has got a constitution, as has pretty much every other club. Having a constitution doesnt mean you are a country, just that you are bound by rules. And having an EU bound by rules strikes me, at least, as being a very good thing.
£40K isn't much of a budget and this PR fiem doesn't seem to have achieved much before.exactly what are the advantages of having a bigger say in the affairs of Latvia,Belgium,Luxembourg,Greece et al but having less of a say in our national interests in the world at large?
I suggest that those who think Constitutions are a good thing should read this particular monstrosity.
Ho, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of what? Well, it no secret that we Americans are just a bunch of religious fanatics.... and I plead guilty. One might argue that the EU is none of our damn business but I would remind that we should own 90% of it's real estate based upon blood spent alone. Now here this... The Bible [remember that antiquated 'olde' piece of Lit] clearly states that an ancient enterprise based upon multi-cultural [and multi-lingual] effort, came to naught when God [remember Him] decided that it should not succeed. The way he guaranteed it's demise was to confuse their tongues so the bricklayer would be confused by the request for mortar. HAVE YOU EVER LESTENED TO A FRENCHMAN SPEAK? Good grief what a mouth full of slush! As long as the various village EU states wish to continue ignoring the most perfect language ever devised by man.... and thumbing their noses at those of us who hate communal property.... they will be doomed to brick for mortar government, economy, morals and security defense! I am fast growing into a Christian imperialist posture ["right makes might" and as a result "might makes right"] Anyone who does not see it my way can hit the high-way... and screw all the mealy mouth pacifists who have forgotten that human liberty is founded on individual personal property rights and freedom from tyranny of every sort. Now some of you can just stick your fingers in your ears for this next one.... [ Roman 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."] If a nation gets a Hitler, Stalin or a Mao, it was obviously something they justly deserved because of their understanding of universal truth about self governance. The EU is no different. Their 'Alphabet Soup' union is doomed to long term failure, which history will eventually attest to.... after they implode and we Western bastards have to come over and straighten it all out AGAIN! signed: Get Yanked!
"The Bible [remember that antiquated 'olde' piece of Lit] clearly states that an ancient enterprise based upon multi-cultural [and multi-lingual] effort, came to naught when God [remember Him] decided that it should not succeed."
In fact this scriptural passage prophesied the downfall of the USA. It came to naught in the War Between the States-- when half a million or more men died during an unavailing attempt to save federalism by refounding legally seceded states as the CSA. The "USA" which now masquerades under the same name as the deceased pre-1860 confederation is the archetype of a multiracial, multicultural and now multilingual melange. It has to be held together by scares about "terrorism" in the absence of any genuine cohesiveness; but centripetal tendencies are too pronounced for the eventual breakup to be forestalled.
Meanwhile educational standards have sunk so low that many Americans no longer know the difference between "it's" and "its".
shemale hentai | shemale hentai cartoon | shemale hentai pic | shemale hentai video | shemale manga | shoujo manga |
fotki julia volkova | porno stephanie macmahon | filmy anna downar | zdjecia agata relota | zdjecia liv tyler | galerie anna nicole smith | galerie fabiani alessia | filmy daniela pestova | porno katarzyna bujakiewicz | zdjecia alexis bledel | rozebrane adriana giotta | erotyczne amanda detmer | galerie magdalena wrobel | erotyczne joey lauren adams | erotyczne gabby richens | fotki jada pinkett | filmy katie price | rozebrane ali larter | fotki kate hudson | porno izabela scorupco | bo derek nago | fotki lacey chabert | zdjecia heather graham | filmy stephanie macmahon | filmy jennifer jason leigh | erotyczne sarah jessica parker | zdjecia katarzyna smutniak | fotki kayah | rozebrane anna przybylska | erotyczne mary steenburgen | rozebrane frederiqe van der wal | zdjecia marta kuzmicka | galerie cate blanchett | rozebrane brittany daniel | porno izabela scorupco |
501. 502. 503. 504. 505. 506. 507. 508. 509. 510. 511. 512. 513. 514. 515. 516. 517. 518. 519. 520. 521. 522. 523. 524. 525. 526. 527. 528. 529. 530. 531. 532. 533. 534. 535. 536. 537. 538. 539. 540. 541. 542. 543. 544. 545. 546. 547. 548. 549. 550. 551. 552. 553. 554. 555. 556. 557. 558. 559. 560. 561. 562. 563. 564. 565. 566. 567. 568. 569. 570. 571. 572. 573. 574. 575. 576. 577. 578. 579. 580. 581. 582. 583. 584. 585. 586. 587. 588. 589. 590. 591. 592. 593. 594. 595. 596. 597. 598. 599. 600. 601. 602. 603. 604. 605. 606. 607. 608. 609. 610. 611. 612. 613. 614. 615. 616. 617. 618. 619. 620. 621. 622. 623. 624. 625. 626. 627. 628. 629. 630. 631. 632. 633. 634. 635. 636. 637. 638. 639. 640. 641. 642. 643. 644. 645. 646. 647. 648. 649. 650. 651. 652. 653. 654. 655. 656. 657. 658. 659. 660. 661. 662. 663. 664. 665. 666. 667. 668. 669. 670. 671. 672. 673. 674. 675. 676. 677. 678. 679. 680. 681. 682. 683. 684. 685. 686. 687. 688. 689. 690. 691. 692. 693. 694. 695. 696. 697. 698. 699. 700. 701. 702. 703. 704. 705. 706. 707. 708. 709. 710. 711. 712. 713. 714. 715. 716. 717. 718. 719. 720. 721. 722. 723. 724. 725. 726. 727. 728. 729. 730. 731. 732. 733. 734. 735. 736. 737. 738. 739. 740. 741. 742. 743. 744. 745. 746. 747. 748. 749. 750. 751. 752. 753. 754. 755. 756. 757. 758. 759. 760. 761. 762. 763. 764. 765. 766. 767. 768. 769. 770. 771. 772. 773. 774. 775. 776. 777. 778. 779. 780. 781. 782. 783. 784. 785. 786. 787. 788. 789. 790. 791. 792. 793. 794. 795. 796. 797. 798. 799. 800. 801. 802. 803. 804. 805. 806. 807. 808. 809. 810. 811. 812. 813. 814. 815. 816. 817. 818. 819. 820. 821. 822. 823. 824. 825. 826. 827. 828. 829. 830. 831. 832. 833. 834. 835. 836. 837. 838. 839. 840. 841. 842. 843. 844. 845. 846. 847. 848. 849. 850. 851. 852. 853. 854. 855. 856. 857. 858. 859. 860. 861. 862. 863. 864. 865. 866. 867. 868. 869. 870. 871. 872. 873. 874. 875. 876. 877. 878. 879. 880. 881. 882. 883. 884. 885. 886. 887. 888. 889. 890. 891. 892. 893. 894. 895. 896. 897. 898. 899. 900. 901. 902. 903. 904. 905. 906. 907. 908. 909. 910. 911. 912. 913. 914. 915. 916. 917. 918. 919. 920. 921. 922. 923. 924. 925. 926. 927. 928. 929. 930. 931. 932. 933. 934. 935. 936. 937. 938. 939. 940. 941. 942. 943. 944. 945. 946. 947. 948. 949. 950. 951. 952. 953. 954. 955. 956. 957. 958. 959. 960. 961. 962. 963. 964. 965. 966. 967. 968. 969. 970. 971. 972. 973. 974. 975. 976. 977. 978. 979. 980. 981. 982. 983. 984. 985. 986. 987. 988. 989. 990. 991. 992. 993. 994. 995. 996. 997. 998. 999. 1000.