The Pluck of the Irish

The Irish are many things… stupid, they are not. After shrugging off previous EU attempts to “harmonize” the Celtic Tiger’s lower tax rates and shelters to get more in line with higher rates elsewhere in Europe, Irish voters on Friday, shot down the dense and pain-stakingly negotiated Lisbon Treaty which, in theory, would’ve consolidated EU power and streamlined its bureaucracy. (A unanimous vote of all 27 member nations was needed for passage).

“For all its benefits, many people in Ireland and in Europe feel that the union is remote, undemocratic and ever more inclined to strip its smaller members of the right to make their own laws and decide their own futures.”

And for all the talk of a “unified Europe” and “post-history” world harmony, its always appeared that the EU honchos in Brussels have never fairly squared these concepts with nationalism and national pride. We know... such ugly concepts...

“Europe as an idea does not provoke passionate support among ordinary citizens,” Denis MacShane, a Labor member of the British Parliament and a former British minister for Europe, said in an interview. “They see a bossy Brussels, and when they have the chance of a referendum in France, the Netherlands or Ireland to give their government and Europe a kick, they put the boot in,” he added, referring to earlier defeats of similar agreements in similar referendums.”

Good on ya, Sons of Erin!