A reminder of what we are fighting against

I came across an article in the Kilkenny Advertiser today, and had to share it with you. It's a perfect example containing all of the classics; propaganda, misdirection, bullying, denial, false statistics, bare faced lying, doublespeak and calls for the end of democracy. Yes, it's an article supporting the Lisbon Treaty.

For the political geeks out there, like me, this article is a dissection in detail. Readers with a sensitive disposition towards the truth should look away now.

It begins with:

I detect one tiny slice of silver lining on our dark clouds. A recent Red C opinion poll found that 58 per cent of respondents would vote Yes if there was a second Lisbon Treaty held this year.

Readers of this blog will already know that the poll the author is referring to says no such thing. It actually states that 58% think that the Irish people, as a whole, would vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty in a second vote. One should only interpret that as a resignation to the 'inevitable', rather than renewed support for a completely unchanged treaty. Reality aside, this is a useful tool for Lisbon propagandists; pretend that people have changed their minds and now support it.

While the value of opinion polls is as durable as our recent snow, it does indicate some hope that the public realise the economic importance of our relationship with the European Union.

Did you spot the not-so-subtle propaganda technique - 'belittle your opponents'?  People who voted against the Treaty apparently don't "realise the economic importance of our relationship with the European Union". If you voted No, you must be financially illiterate.

I believe the No result last year damaged Ireland’s vital national interests. Investment sentiment towards Ireland is dependent on our full commitment to the EU. This is reflected in 90,000 multinational industrial jobs.

Now we are into scaremongering; vote No and you could cost 90,000 jobs. 'Investment sentiment' is based on many factors, but in Ireland's case it's due to favourable tax rates, tax breaks that most of the EU do not get, and the combination of the Euro currency and an English speaking work force. It's the ever-encroaching tax harmonisation efforts of the EU that will damage investment prospects for Ireland. 

While multinationals are attracted by our low corporation tax rate and a well educated labour market, they are fundamentally here because of access to the EU consumer market. 

Here's a piece of total misdirection; multinationals can access the EU consumer market from anywhere in the EU - it's completely irrelevant to their choice of Ireland....

Similarly, our preferential AAA credit rating is underwritten by being part of the Euro zone.

...swiftly followed by another bit of misdirection: the claim that saying No to the Constitution/Lisbon Treaty is somehow linked to Ireland being in the eurozone. Is the author really suggesting that saying No to the Lisbon Treaty a second time would push Ireland out of the eurozone? Is that a threat by the EU to keep the Irish in line? 

The No campaign successfully sold the voters a pup. The myth was that if we rejected the Treaty it would not proceed and would be renegotiated. 

Myth? It hasn't proceeded, and the only reason that Ireland is voting again is because the Irish  Government who ran the Yes campaign is making the Irish vote again! If Cowen had any respect for the Irish public he would have stood by the decision and told the EU to start again from scratch.

Events since June have shown this to be untrue. European political leaders have respected our sovereign right to choose, but they will not agree to one per cent of the EU population dictating to the other 26 states.

So they respected it, but rejected it? You can choose, but only if you choose the right way? Doublespeak alert.

Maths isn't my speciality, but given that the French and the Dutch have already said No, and other countries, such as Britain have been denied a vote because they would certainly say No, I am not sure how the author arrives at 'one per cent'. The Irish aren't dictating; they saved the rest of us from the Constitution/Lisbon Treaty nightmare. 

The EU Council has told us bluntly that we can have clarifications to preserve our national policies on neutrality and taxation, but the Treaty text will not be amended.

And this is a good reason to support it? Ireland voted no, but the EU refuses to change the treaty at all... so the Irish should count themselves lucky to have the opportunity to vote correctly this time? On what planet is this an incentive to support it?

...Their subsequent links with the UK Independence Party and other mavericks confirm their true euro sceptic credentials.

What? Bare-faced lying as well! This article has it all. Libertas has no links at all with the UK Independence Party. None. 

Even Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, stated that there was "absolutely no common ground on Europe" between Libertas and UKIP. The parties have completely opposing aims; UKIP wants Britain out of the EU, Libertas wants Britain to take a leading role in a much improved EU. 

Anti-democracy supporters will say anything in their desperation. 

The context of the next vote has to be based on realism. Given that the 26 other states are likely to proceed with ratification the future of Europe is not at issue. Instead it’s the future of Ireland and our relationship with the EU. Whatever the respective merits on the debate about the future of the EU, we have to ask what’s best for Ireland?

"The future of Europe is not at issue"? Chalk this one up to denial. Of course the future of Europe is at issue. The Irish No vote was the third stake through the heart of the Constitution. The EU is out of ideas and has no where to go. Never has the future of the EU been more undecided. Why are all the EU leaders in such a fluster, if not because they can see that their vision of a post-democratic Europe isn't wanted?

...There is a case for not determining such matters by way of a public vote. The referendum commission added to the confusion. Most EU states allow their parliament to scrutinise such turgid legal text and decide.

And there it is - the Irish people can't be trusted to vote on their own future. The anti-democrats always show their true colours in the end.

The author also seems to forget that both Brian Cowen, Ireland's Taoiseach, and Charlie McCreevy, Ireland's EU Commissioner admitted that they hadn't read the treaty. I know that they do things differently in Ireland, but usually 'scrutiny' would involve reading it. 

...The impetus for this Treaty is to modernise EU procedures to cope with enlargement from 15 to almost 30 states. It is probably less significant than the Maastricht or Nice treaties.

Is this a Jedi mind trick? 

"This isn't a treaty that you need to vote on. Move along."

The growth of Europe eastwards is not entirely to our benefit. However, we have to face the reality that this train is leaving the station – with or without us.

More Faintheart than Braveheart isn't it? Don't bother fighting for anything decent Ireland, just cave in and don't cause a fuss. It's a message to inspire all generations. Don't expect a movie any time soon though.

The Yes campaign was inept. McCreevy and Cowen’s comments about not having read the document were ill-advised.

Has it occurred to you that they shouldn't even be talking about, let alone promoting, a treaty that they haven't even read? Admitting that they hadn't read it was the least inept part of their support for the anti-democratic Lisbon Treaty! At least they were being honest.

The article rather weakly finishes with:

...The EU is not a panacea for our ills, but without it we are doomed.

"Doomed. Doomed I tell you!"

Just one last little scare tactic; vote No and Ireland will be kicked out of the EU into the void.

It's definitely worth reading articles like this to remind ourselves what kind of people we are fighting against. The future of Europe is hanging in the balance and we have to do everything we can to rid ourselves of the anti-democratic, lying, corrupt elite and their supporters who are destroying everything that could be good about the European Union.