I am against referendums, because many people simply don't care, and a
considerable amount of people don't know enough to give a good opinion.
Many people are going to vote against, because they are against the euro.
A while ago De Nederlandsche Bank told that the Dutch sold their guilder too
cheap, and that caused more anti-European feelings (as can be seen from
the table). Other people are going to vote against, because they don't want
Turkey to join the EU. Again other people are going to vote against because
they are against the government (Balkenende). There are even people who
are going to vote against because we didn't make it to the final of the Euro-
vision Song Festival! Oh my ******* God! These things don't have anything
to do with the Constitution!
But most people voting against the Constitution vote against because they
are afraid Holland ges swallowed by a European superstate, where the big
countries rule, and the smaller ones don't have anything to say at all, and
where our national legislation will be replaced by European legislation. That
is so not true! At the moment, about 12% of our legislation is European,
which means that 88% of our legislation is still national legislation! Sure,
European legislation will increase, I estimate up to 25%, but that means
we still determine 75% of our legislation. Besides, it is quite logical that the
bigger countries get more, simply because they have more people, and in
a democracy most votes count. And don't forget that when we give up
some national laws, the other EU countries also do!
I am against referendums, because most people are not wise enough to
know what is good for them, and because they let their opinions get
formed by populistic politicians who are spreading fear for everything
European! Initially I didn't want to vote, but since it appears the no-voters
are going to win I am forced to put this principle aside, and vote pro. I
hope this will be the last referendum ever, and I also hope most Dutch are
wise enough to vote in facour of the Constitution.
Besides, Italy is going to mint a special €2 this year, commemorating the Constitution exists one
year. If the Constitution is rejected, this coin has no meaning at all!
Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are 'It might have been.' - Kurt Vonnegut