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Originally Posted by Slacker
I think there needs to be a proper national debate about the EU as that's never really happened and I think that's one of the reasons why there's so much scepticism in this country. Some people believe that we should just flat out leave the EU, some believe everything the EU is doing is right; neither are correct. We as a country need to decide after which parts of the EU we want to be a part of, as I'm sure even people on these boards can see positive things Europe has done for us and on the other side I can see the negative effects the EU has had.
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Oh I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately there is little middle ground as you stated. I can tell you as I have mentioned elsewhere here that speaking to my Mother in law and others of her age, when the EU came about, they thought sure yes let's have free trade in Europe. How can that be a bad thing? Things have gone much farther then they could have ever imagined back then. Yes the people need to have a say, not just politicians debating it. Which is why I fully support a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. If we can get that, it is something at least. We are not the only people who would like one, we are one of the few trying to demand one. Surveys across Europe have shown that people in many countries would like to have had a referendum.
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The Financial Times/Harris survey showed that 70 pct of respondents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain wanted a vote on the new treaty, with 20 pct saying one was not necessary, with 10 pct unsure.
It comes as EU leaders are set to kick off a two-day summit in Lisbon today, where they hope to reach agreement on a final draft of the treaty, which critics allege is essentially the same as the moribund constitution, which was torpedoed in 2005 by 'no' votes in France and the Netherlands.
According to the poll, 76 pct of Germans, 75 pct of Britons, 72 pct of Italians, 65 pct of Spaniards and 63 pct of French wanted a referendum on the treaty.
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source
Voters in five EU countries want treaty referendum - poll - Forbes.com
There are other studies for the other EU nations involved, I can't find the links just now, but the message is quite clear. Many polls also show many also want an in out referendum. Most feel the EU should be given less power then it has currently. Wish I could find the links, if anyone has any please feel free to post them.
So we are one of the few more vocal countries. And as we are a democracy, how can that be considered a BAD thing?
It is well and good to say, we'll continue on and sort things out as we go, sometime in the future. Maybe we can make the EU a better place for us. But if we can't then what?
P.S. Wish some of the rest of you would get involved in this conversation. I am not the most knowledgeable person here on politics, far from it!
