h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

now I feel the eyes of the world is on Netherlands, because refendum about European constitution, which more revision all the treaties of past 55 yrs

goes voting soon

....before you ask...I have more than 10 yrs a European flag in my window...I think that says enough

....refendum that is not realy a refendum in the sense it is not final say, because we do not offical refendum yet, but Dutch parlement will listen to the Dutch citizens if big turn of with at least 50% voter.

another Dutch news
* there more mobile phones (16.4 million), than Dutch citizens (16 million)
* about 40 km from me an explosion in chemical tank on chemical plant exploded. sadly 2 died.
* Royal family has extension with one baby.

I was having a 3 day break of my pc, because my angro-meter of things going wrong could have resulted in smashing my pc somewhere. preferably at my neighbours who have nerve to make fire while it is 26 C and wind blows the smoke in my house.

got new gorillaz cd...spounds very good

I did not go fishing
while I was missing



oh! Ihad some thing, but I forgot...

Interesting times you have... The referendum will say 'no', I guess.

do not know...to be honest we Dutch have saying

some one who is silent agrees with it
...so if 55 goes to vote. if majority of that vote says no. It is not realy majority, because the yes and not voters together are bigger portion!

I think a lot will say no, because when we got Euro it seems that Dutch Guilder was made cheaper against German mark. another reason is that the goverment tried to hard to get yes vote while information was too dry. anther thing is that the information did not compare the constitution with orginal treaties. more peoplewould seen that is actually a treaty for many separate treaties with new aditions.

Balkenende the dutch PM said he would look ridiculous if the Dutch will vote in majority no to the EU-constitution. He already does so no need to vote no. Nevertheless, like the French it would give a nice finger to current PM. The French pm was replaced, I wonder what Balkenende will do if the Dutch say NO. Probably on telly, wipe his tears away and get on with it as if nothing happened.
I think it's irrelevant for the EU what the dutch will vote, the French said no. That's it. The EU has to come up with a new consitution.

Balkenende will be happy, because gets time read about his look a like...

I vote Harry Potter for PM. Never read those books myself.

only saw a movie.....

Mind you, I didn't read the EU-constitution as well. Perhaps if someone made a movie about it ....

the movie according "Balkje" *

* no relation to P.M. or a Donkey. no animals were used.

Well, that is it. The Socialist Party and the Party of the Animals being dead against the new EU-constitution. I have to base my vote on some arguments.

I think you just made some sort of oxymoron

"Socialist Party and the Party of the Animals being dead against"

always though both parties pacivistic!

... and democratic.

I hope the dutch do vote "No" for what good it will do as they said on our radio this morning that, unlike the French, the Dutch vote is not binding so even if the Dutch people reject the treaty their feelings can just be ignored by the politicians. I had to laugh when it was implied that the French may vote again until they "get it right".

I agreed with the Common Market when it was first conceived but do not agree with the way in which the EU is stumbling towards a Federal superstate. With enlargement it will become a lumbering monolith with ordinary citizens feeling less and less in touch with the democratic process as their individual voices are reduced to a barely discernable whisper amongst the babbling crowd. More people will feel alienated to laws, regulations and added burdens of taxation being imposed upon them which they do not like, want or need.

Yes, true. It remains a matter of national government and parliament to decide whether or not the Dutch will accept the EU-constitution.

"the EU is stumbling towards a Federal superstate."

did I sleep for the last 55 yrs*? (* I am only 39 yrd)

the word federal is not in this constitution.

Europe should be as powerfull as USA, because we can let everything be handled by big brother USA. Europa should never be USA state!

the choice of the word constitution is 100% wrong. it should have been called "index of Europan treaties", such as more clear rights for indivual country's parlements. additional to comsumer rights.

something that is very important most of the current treaty's are bunch of loose papers with no clearity and some are easily open to fraud. the "index of Europan treaties" will give more clearity. I agree that is not perfect, but is good review every thing once in while.

a referedum gives the people a chance to vote directly instead of individual country elections. only few EU countries have done that in past.

Hi Pheloxi,

The word "federal" may not be in this constitution, but the implications of its meaning certainly are and by not actually mentioning the word "federal" does not reassure me or those of like mind that such a goal will not be drip fed and achieved by stealth.

"Europe should be as powerfull as USA, because we can let everything be handled by big brother USA. Europa should never be USA state!"

Agreed. But you already talk as if Europe is a country, a single entity. It is not. Europe is a geographical region on the map like Asia.

Europe is a gravy train for politicians, elected, unelected and failed.

I do not agree
...Europe has a lot in comman and as separate countries we will never be as strong...I agree that more people should be involved on non political way. EU is now 55 yrs and we live in modern time and chances will go faster in 21st century. be part in it!

every person who did not vote and still shouts about badness of European Union is hypocryt. I am saying you are one, because I do not know if you voted.. we need to go forward.

I know some countries need time, but we need on our guards for a lot of things and more people who get involved ib cultural and educational way will have more to say!

Europe has a lot of conmen and many are politicians. As a bloated amalgam of countries with distinct history, languages and culture stretching back hundreds of years we will never be as strong as the USA which developed in comparatively recently as a single entity. You only have to look at the USSR and Yugoslavia to see the consequences of enforced union.

You can retract that about me being a hypocrite as I certainly do vote whenever I am given the opportunity. Our Government is dithering about whether or not to give us a referendum on the constitution.

Politicians and power make uneasy bedfellows. Once they have tasted it Politicians want more power so the idea of an enlarged Europe gives more scope for becoming more powerful and eventually more dictatorial.

you look too much to politicians...

...you think you are forced into European Union that pardon my bad language total bullsh*t. you have still a lot more freedom, than some opressed countries. you can post on here. say your opinion without being trown in jail.

I want give link to the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt foundation http://www.feri.org/
the one of the most important speeches he made is about four freedoms.
http://www.feri.org/common/news/details.cfm?QID=2089&clientid=11005
every year a four freedom award is given
http://www.feri.org/common/news/info_detail.cfm?QID=1983&ClientID=11005

this the quote from "F. D. Roosevelt's "four freedoms" speech did on January 6, 1941:

The first is freedom of speech and expression - everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way - everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want - which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peace time life for its inhabitants -everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear - which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor - anywhere in the world.

I still get goosebums if read this!

enjoy other cultures, but never live in gage!

another segestion is to read my meme webguide A573040