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EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

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Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#71
post #64
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Austria. There is one nationalist, populist party with a number of neo-nazis in there called FPÖ. It doesn't have too much power yet, but it's there. However, since most people have a deep hate of Nazis and everything that looks like it could this party knows it can't grow, if it remains that far to the right. That's why they currently throw out most of these members. Also, there have been two huge split-of…

Do you have any links about what is going on in Hungary? I am in europe and haven't heard much about it.

These articles may interest you: http://www.dissidentblog.org/en/articles/hungarian-democracy... , http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2011/12/22/fascis...

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#74

Come back Nigel Farage http://www.nigelfaragemep.co.uk/ All is forgiven! Watch some of his videos laying into the commissioner(s) at the EU parliament. Quite amusing but it seems to be just what they need and deserve.

Do you realise that UKIP were about the only party that voted against the EU parliament's call to have the details of the ACTA negotiations made public?

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#75
The problem here is that the voters in the Netherlands and in France have rejected the EU Constitutial Treaty in 2004 that would have given the EU Parliament much more power. The "replacement" Treaty of Lisboa did not go that far.

But anyway, this is just negotiation what the dude is doing (although not very smart negotiation, imho). The ACTA is dead, it was rejected by a number of country governments, and the EU parliament will probably reject it too.

Btw, the commission is elected, but not directly. It is elected by the governments of the member countries, each representing the people of each country. However, it would be nice to be able to vote for those guys directly. But, because of language problems (english anybody? France? Germany?) that is not (yet) practical.

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#76
Someone this determined to do something so wrong cannot be assumed to be neutral. This guy must be corrupt and on someone's pay-list.

It would be in the EU's interest to start an investigation of Karel De Gucht to determine if this person is bribed and if these proceedings is a result of corruption. The EU would be wise to do so for its own business sake and before it's perception as a democratic body is tarnished in favour of a US-led corrupt legislative-body.

If the EU loses its perception as democratic, chances are that the rich and populous democracies which funds it will be forced to stop doing so. If it's one thing the EU cannot afford right now, that is one of them.

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#77
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whenever I hear a politician talk about "clarifications" alarm bells ring in my head. It basically means changing marketing not the facts.

Yeah, we remember how the constitution, which has been rejected by referendums, became the "simplified treaty": exactly the same text but with articles moved, rephrased, obfuscated. The polite way to describe the EU is as a very-indirect democracy.

And when being voted out of office is the only way that the citizenry has to hold officials accountable... would "very-indirect" be good for the people?

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#78
post #59
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly the EU should be a free trade zone and the should unify in a way that makes it easier for goods, services and people to be sold everywhere. The is almost no need for a waterhead burocracy in brussel.

I don't think you meant "people" there. Maybe "labor"?

Yeah, I read the word "people" there and it set off my Sarcasm Detector. Your correction makes sense. ;)

Re: EU Commissioner Will Simply Ignore Any Rejection Of ACTA By EU Parliament

#80
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is just sophistry now. The commissioner is playing the role he's supposed to play in the EU institutions, and I have seen no indication that he's done anything illegal or held the parliament in contempt.

> I have seen no indication that he's done anything illegal or held the parliament in contempt He's said he will ignore the decisons arrived at by the democratically elected representatives of the people. That seems a pretty clear indication to me.

What the parent commenter is saying is that he is technically acting within the legal bounds of his office. That is, impeachment will be impossible unless an actual violation of law is found.
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