As you may know, the French people voted overwhelmingly against the proposed constitution for the European Union. It was a large turnout, and 55% voted "NON." (Didn't George Bush get about 55% of the vote, but was that described as overwhelming? I must remember the percentage wrong).
The media is characterizing this as a fit of distemper on the part of the French people, that this was a vote against the elites such as Jacques Chirac, French President and leader behind pushing the EU constitution in France. This smells kind of funny to me. Why doesn't anyone in the media suggest that the French voter calmly apprised themselves of the contents of the EU constitution, deliberately consulted their self-interest, and voted against the EU constitution for excellent reasons? I don't know what the EU constitution contains, but I can well imagine it dilutes French autonomy and sovereignty further than the existing EU arrangements already does. I can imagine it lowers some barriers to competition from lower cost labor forces abroad -- such as in Eastern European countries.
Why does the media characterize this as if the French voters were stupid and just throwing a hissy fit or a tantrum? I'm interested to hear your speculations or insights.
The only thing I can think of is that our American intellectual elites and media elites (close to the same concept here) feel comradship with the French elites, perhaps particularly because the French elite led by Chirac oppose Bush's strong foreign policy initiatives (which do not depend upon sending "mother may I" messages to the UN or to France). If you subscribe to the idea that our American intellectual elites and media elites hate the US, maybe they support the French elites and the EU constitution intitiative because this is thought to offer hope of a strong economic unity which can effectively compete against and hence diminish the power of the US economic unity.
Why does the media characterize this as if the French voters were stupid and just throwing a hissy fit or a tantrum? I'm interested to hear your speculations or insights.
The media doesn't like sovereignty, and the EU constitution was one step closer to a global form of goobermint.
Why does the media characterize this as if the French voters were stupid and just throwing a hissy fit or a tantrum? I'm interested to hear your speculations or insights.
The media doesn't like sovereignty, and the EU constitution was one step closer to a global form of goobermint.
You forgot to add that the media also chronically underestimates the intelligence of their audience . Well , they do here anyway ...
__________________
Kevin Haendiges
NAHC Life Member
NRA Member
Wildlife Forever Member
GOA Member
Buckmasters Member
http://hunting-indiana.com
The media doesn't like sovereignty, and the EU constitution was one step closer to a global form of goobermint.
Actually, that's quite the misstatement. There are few professions that value sovereignty and independence more than persons who are in the business of reporting news.
That said, I agree with Alsatian. . . the mainstream media's reporting of the French vote has been incredibly skewed towards those in favor of the EU constitution. That shouldn't be too puzzling; the liberal stance would be to adopt the constitution and, as usual, the MSM embraces the liberal stance.
__________________
We must be the change we wish to see in the world -- Ghandi
http://www.rightminded.net
Hmmm..the French.... they helped us 200 yrs ago, we returned the favor twice, they tell us to F.O. when asked for support in Middle East....a well known terrorist stomping ground? I say encourage/supply the Germans to re-invade 'em...again.
Screw France
French NON vote
