Although Irish voters have been told repeatedly that they should ratify the Lisbon Treaty, they have not always been given clear arguments for doing so. Government and government-funded organisations are failing to communicate the meaning of the treaty effectively, because of their politically entrenched viewpoints.
Nick McGinley, comedian, writer and active citizen, provides a vital, alternative voice, lampooning the government, the YES vote, the NO vote and the EU in equal measure.
This thoroughly researched, candid and irreverent book captures the essence of Lisbon in 100 easy-to-understand sections. It is an ideal guide for thoughtful voters and the perfect gift for stubborn friends and family members.
Nick McGinley is a Dublin-based writer. His comedy sketch show Hoarse Throat Soothers co-written with Shane O'Neill won 'Spirit of the Unfringed Festival' in 2008. He has been a radio essayist for Spectrum and Frequencies on RTE Radio 1 and has written stage & radio plays, TV scripts and screenplays. He is currently working on a collection of short stories.
See Nick on TV3's Midday program...
Customer Reviews and Comments |
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| One country one vote |
| dr - 18 September 2009 |
Democracy for me is about votes. In elections, referendum, committees and associations everywhere, my single vote is worth the same as your single vote. It does not matter if I am a pauper and you are a millionaire, our votes count the same. However if the Lisbon Treaty goes ahead as Irelands vote will no longer be a single vote. the treaty introduces a percxentage weighting to country votes according to country size. This is like saying that a lone pensioners vote is out-weighed by a mother with 8 children. This is NOT democratic. Our single vote should count equal to each member staes single vote. That IS democratic.
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| from german democratic friends |
| unantastbar - 10 September 2009 |
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MAIDScDNy6I/SqRPSA7ENCI/AAAAAAAAESQ/PcQh-CnpajM/s1600/berlindemo.JPG[/img]
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| Ireland,the last bulwark of democracy ! |
| Johannes - 06 September 2009 |
I'm half Irish and half German and live in Germany.
Most Germans wanted a say in giving anymore power to the un-elected commission and Playmobil EU parliament...but were denied. The subject is barely covered in the media here and there were no articles on yesterdays anti-Lisbon treaty in Berlin. So much for democratic debate then.This document is to be imposed on Europeans regardless of their opinions.
Decent,democratic,law-abiding people all over Europe are praying that the brave Irish vote NO again to this MADNESS !
We too want to keep our constitutions and parliamentary democracies ! We too want to keep our health systems,legal systems,school systems,own police and military.
Ireland PLEASE say NO again to the 2nd Lisbon PUTSCH attempt ! For yourselves,for your children and for the millions of us denied a say by a tiny un-elected "elite" in Brussels.
Greetings from still free Germany.
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| Ireland without Intel? |
| Ronald Mc Page - 06 September 2009 |
Ireland without Intel?
Ireland without the help of the European Central Bank?
An Ireland that has lost friends and status everywhere?
NO thanks!
I love Ireland and I therefore I will vote YES!
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| NO MEANS NO |
| DR NO - 06 September 2009 |
Im voting NO again! my granfather was part of the 1916 rising and he fought for our freedom like all the others.
I"ll not be selling out our freedom by voting yes to this treaty.We stand for our national anthem in respect for the men who fought for our freedom,we can stand again on oct 2nd by voting NO..
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| Activism |
| John Rampage - 01 September 2009 |
Hi All,
I think the collection of comments here so far does indicate what I have been saying for a long time. All the activism and intensity is coming from those who are sincerely against the Treaty.
While I am personally, obviously, entirely on the YES side, I am totally flabbergasted by the general limpness of the take on the yes side. Only the Gay & Lesbian community have really come up with hard hitting material promoting the YES side for which I salute them...
John
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| Tony Berry |
| Tony (UK Irish) - 30 August 2009 |
Your referendum has the freedom of all EU citizens at stake,anybody given a choice has said NO.
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| Lisbon? NO! |
| JD - 29 August 2009 |
I will be voting NO again, for one very good reason. Arithmetic does not take the place of truth. JD
NO TO LISBON MEANS NO TO LISBON!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38059363467&ref=mf
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| vote no on lisbon 2 |
| tony - 27 August 2009 |
most people now are going to vote yes as in the back of their tiny minds they think that voting yes on this lisbon 2 lark will save or help the economy. this is rubbish we are already in the eu so what the hell is lisbon going to do in helping our economy. and the supposed guarantees we were given is rubbish that won't stand at all. i think it's time to give a huge no vote again as our no vote was not respected at all. voting no on lisbon and i hope most people will do the same. these dictators forcing us to vote again when we already gave them our no vote. if you want to throw away everything the people of this island worked so hard for then go ahead but you will regret it later down the road.
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| VOTE NO to keep the Power with the People |
| Caren Hallahan - 26 August 2009 |
Hi Des,
Just came across your comments about spending on 'defense'. Had a look at some of the 'Articles' in the Treaties (TEU and TFEU etc)which are basically amendments, cancelations, and proposals to amendments, cancelations, and proposals that were rejected as the EU Constitution, and also amendments, proposals and cancelations to. . . . other treaties. Well done on figuring out that there is nothing in 'Lisbon' to say we will have to cough up more in taxes etc to spend on defense. You might be the only one who has figured that out !
What I did figure out though, and just to let you know is that Lisbon erodes our democratic right to govern ourselves. This is a 'treaty' to legally control economic, energy, defense, and food resources. We would have 0.8% VOTING POWER,(Germany would increase to 17%,UK France, Italy increases to 12% each) UNDER NEW (POPULATION %)VOTING SYSTEM. Between these Big 4, they have enough % to block new policy (> 35%)+ almost have enough to have QMV (SEE BELOW). EU Law will have supremacy over Irish Constitution. The 'assurances' are not EU Law (Treaty was not amended), and 'Harmonisation' is a core theme in Lisbon 11 e.g. economic laws, defence, social harmonisation and integration.We can 'suggest' but not 'propose' our commissioner. In 2014, we will not have a permanent commissioner.Most decision-making is by QMV (QUORUM Majority Vote), those areas that require unanimity, may also change to QMV by 'passerelles' ! Most of the governing done by this EU Federal State would require funding to oversee its 'legal committments' to its people, thereby raising TAXES etc etc. Read euabc web site . Please 'scuse eroding sense of humour ! With Respect, Caren
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| Vote Yes to keep Defence Speding in Irish hands |
| Des Boyer - 25 August 2009 |
Hey Harry, I agree with you that Ireland should decide how much it spends on Defence as well as how when and where our Defence Forces are deployed overseas. That is why I am voting YES.
There is nothing in Lisbon that requires us to spend a single extra cent on Defence. The fact is that the Govt will probably spend less on Defence in 2010 and 2011 than it spent on Defence in 2007 - both as % of GNP and as a actual figure.
The legally binding guarantees specifically state that there is nothing to require Ireland to spend more on Defence.
The Lisbon Treaty rightly commits the EU to increasing its capability to provide resources to support UN peace support operations. Ireland already commits up to 10% of its standing army ie up to approx 850 troops at any given time - on UN mandated peace missions.
This is at the upper end of EU countries (along with like minded countries like Sweden & Finland) and others should be required to match this Irish capability.
Its why I'm voting Yes and it sounds like it is why you should ber voting Yes too Harry.!!
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| Best of Luck |
| Davey - 25 August 2009 |
Best of luck with the book, Nick. I'm on the other side of the debate myself, but I think we can all agree that there should always be a debate.
You might find "Reasons to Vote No to the Lisbon Treaty" by Kieran Allen a good contrast to this. It's free to download form this location: http://www.voteno.ie/resources/reasons-to-vote-no-to-the-lisbon-treaty.pdf
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| Harry |
| John Rampage - 25 August 2009 |
Hi Harry,
Thanks for your comment. I hope you may buy the book and see what it has to say.
Sincerely,
John Rampage
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| EDA |
| Harry Blaney - 23 August 2009 |
The EDA will force us to improve or military capabilities.. It is they who will decide how much of our GDP we spend and we will be given that order. I believe we should control our own spending on our OWN ARMY, Spendig our money on schools and hospitals not guns and helicopters.
Lisbon is about giving up our control over what we (IRELAND) do.
This time round it is also about the kind of Europe we are in , The elite dont listen to our democratic voice of NO do you really think they will give a damn what we think when we give them more power to control how we run our own affairs. The argument that our goverment is at a table fighting for our corner is a joke. WE voted NO and our goverment , who is supposed to represent the voice of the people, goes over and appologises for our actions. It is pathetic
Harry Blaney HOWTH
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