[Rudey]

Perhaps you should read the economic factors which were much greater than you make them to be. The Dutch had quite the problem with subsidizing the EU at the rate they were going at and the French had quite the problem accepting free-markets given the fact that they run a socialist state and are afraid of losing jobs.

-Rudey

Originally posted by RACooper
Sorry Rudey but your last post's author seems to be trying to make a sad attempt at linking EU issues to American Liberals... even though it was both the right and the left that pushed for the no vote - the author or your article seems to have seized on one aspect, that supports his political outlook.

For the most part it looks not to be a question of economics or social programs - but rather representation, status, and nationalism within the EU. The arguements being made are strikingly similiar to ones being made about the formation of the United States - the debate over what falls into the purview of the state, and what is the purview of the federal body.

Now in the case of the Netherlads, surveys showed that the Dutch felt some of their liberal institurions where under threat in the face of a more conservative EU:
<quoting from the Deutche Welle link listed below:>
Surveys also show that the Dutch fear a rapidly expanding EU could swallow up their nation and that focusing power in Brussels could eventually force the Dutch to revise liberal laws on cannabis, same-sex marriages and euthanasia. While at the same time right-wing parties also had a strong showing, pushing arguements that the EU would be too liberal, and would destroy the traditional/national character of the Netherlands by opening the flood gates of immigration, challenging the role of the Monarchy, or allowing the Netherlands to be bullied by the larger European states.

So for the article to make comparisons or allusions to liberal or conservative policies in the US is a little simplistic and more than a little problematic, particularly when presented in a partisan light - both left and right, conservative and liberal had problems with the EU constitution, all citing a miriad of reasons other than economics - in fact the Netherland's economy was/is growing at a faster rate because of the Euro.

Some articles on the EU votes:
Varied reasons behind Dutch 'No'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4601731.stm

The EU, a unique organization of nations
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/eu/
(Good background and FAQ site)

Dutch Reject EU Constitution
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...603076,00.html