Thread: [Merged] The Europe Thread
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Old 22-06-2004, 12:08   #97
SMHarman
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Re: [Merged] The Europe Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by towny
1. You are anti-EU.
2. The Sun is also anti-EU.
3. The Sun's position is clearly ridiculous, and wrong.
4. Therefore you are wrong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Sun Says
IS the European Constitution good or bad for Britain?

Tony Blair says itâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s good.

The Sun †” along with big business, the unions, the Tories and 100 Labour MPs †” says itâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s bad.

So how will the public make up their minds if it comes to a referendum?

Simple. Voters will have to ask themselves who they trust.

In the Commons, Blair accused those who disagree with him of †œpeddling lies and myths.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã‚Â

It is the same old smear tactic we have seen so many times before.

Blair produced a reel of favourable quotes from newspapers across Europe, seemingly backing up his claim that the constitution is harmless and welcome.

He DIDNâ₠¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢T quote from a paper at home, yesterdayââ‚ ¬â„¢s Financial Times, in which German writer Wolfgang Munchau †” who is very much pro-EU †” gave a different view to that of the PM.

He said the constitution recognised the EU as a political and legal entity, not a club owned by national governments.

Tellingly, he wrote: †œIf you oppose political integration, then this constitution is clearly not for you.â₠¬Ã‚

He added: †œThe constitution makes it harder for governments to peddle the lie of the EU as a glorified free trade area or a forum for inter governmental co-operation.ââ ¬Â

So thatâ₠¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s Blair branded a liar in one GermanÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s eyes straight away.

Finally, the writer says the pro-Europeans are losing the debate because they play down the political dimension of the EU, while †œemphasising the increasingly dubious economic benefits of membership.ââ ¡Ã‚¬Ã‚

Meanwhile the former Belgian Prime Minister, who helped draw up the constitution, says there is no doubt its aim is political †” the creation of a giant EU state.

The honesty of these views is a breath of fresh air.

The British public will judge the Prime Minister in a harsh light if they find he has been less than truthful on an issue which is crucial to this countryââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s future.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Here are 8 REAL Euro myths, Mr Blair
By TREVOR KAVANAGH
Political Editor

TONY BLAIR says he is looking forward to a †œbattle between reality and mythâ₠¬Ã‚ over the new EU superstate.

We will hear more of this as he tries to persuade voters to suspend their disbelief over the EU Constitution.

But if anyone is peddling porkies, it is the PM himself. Here are ten for starters.

MYTH: The PM claimed last week The Sun wants the UK to quit the EU.
FACT: We are critical of Brussels but have always argued for continued membership and have repudiated the UK Independence PartyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s call for withdrawal.

MYTH: Tony Blair claims three million British jobs depend on EU membership.
FACT: We buy more goods and services from Europe than vice-versa. The EU would lose most if we quit.

MYTH: Tony Blair claims we have the EU to thank for †œjobs, prosperity and stability.ââ ¬Â
FACT: Our unemployment rate has fallen below five per cent †” half the European average.

MYTH: Unless we join the euro, our economy will suffer.
FACT: Since we were bundled out of single currency preparations in 1992, Britain has enjoyed a record 12 straight years of growth.

MYTH: Europe has healthier economic productivity.
FACT: UK economic output is £16,440 per head of population, against Germanyââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s £15,904 and FranceÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s £15,522 .

MYTH: We must follow Europe by giving unions a place on boards and more power in the workplace.
FACT: The British economy is the worldÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s fourth largest thanks to painful workplace reform †” opposed by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

MYTH: The European Union is responsible for 60 years of peace in Europe.
FACT: US-led Nato is responsible for bringing down the Berlin Wall. US nuclear power †” opposed by Labour †” ended the Cold War.

MYTH: The Sun slanders Brussels as a bureaucratic madhouse which makes up daft rules like †œstraight bananas.ââ‚ ‚¬Ã‚
FACT: The EU issued a directive dictating limits for curvature of bananas. †œThey must be free from abnormal curvature of the fingers,ââ‚ ‚¬Ã‚ (Commission Regulation 2257, Quality Standards for Bananas).
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004282754,00.html
The sun seems to be Pro the EU common market, but anti constitution. A position most of us would agree with, though, the Sun is good at taking the populist position.
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