We might as well just get rid of the European Parliament...
We might as well just get rid of the European Parliament...
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gareth_r

Original Poster:

6,785 posts

268 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
We might as well just get rid of the European Parliament and save the money. True or false?


Yes, I know it's UKIP...

BRISTOL EVENING POST Tuesday 21 February 2012

Trevor Colman: Tuesday Thought

THE European Union (EU) has removed the leaders of Greece and Italy, replacing them with technocratic governments (puppet regimes) to do its bidding. Chancellor Merkel, on behalf of the EU, has stipulated that no candidate holding a view that differs from the EU austerity package may stand in the forthcoming Greek general elections.

Then this happened.

All EU laws that govern us have first to be ratified by the European Parliament. This is done by MEPs voting twice a month (at Strasbourg and Brussels). Voting sessions usually take about one hour during which time (unbelievably) anything up to 200 pieces of legislation are voted on. Many of the votes are cast and recorded electronically and are known as Roll Call Votes (RCV).

We (that's you and me) have a new President in the European Parliament. His name is Martin Schultz. He's German and when speaking glares through his spectacles, punching the air with tight fists. Schultz is an ardent federalist. For him there is only one solution to all problems: "more Europe".

On the 2nd of February this year Schultz was presiding over a voting session in Brussels. Suddenly he pointed out that the next dozen or so amendments to a piece of legislation, each of which were to be voted on individually as RCVs, could be lumped together and voted on as a block with just one vote. This would save time.

Uproar in the chamber.

Outraged members pointed out their intention to vote in a variety of ways on the up-coming amendments and one vote could not properly represent their views. Schultz was unshakeable, one vote would do. Amongst the furore one member stood up, waving his voting paper, and shouted, "If that's the case, why not have just one vote for the whole bloody lot of this". Schultz remained unmoved. Imperiously ignoring the mayhem before him, he demanded the vote be taken in the manner he described. It was. The members did as they were told.

Schultz won the day and in so doing revealed the lunacy of the whole voting process. None of it matters. Everything goes through on the nod. The MEPs have virtually no power and no real influence. That resides with the Commission. The European Parliament is a sham, a pantomime put on to give the illusion of democracy where none exists. Schultz patently isn't going to waste time pretending that it does. He has given the lie to those who, self-importantly, preen and strut in this house of hypocrisy. The MEPs, all of us, are just nodding dogs, pressing our meaningless voting buttons on cue.

In the same way that the EU is flexing its muscles in Greece and Italy, Schultz has signalled an end to any further pretence in Brussels. From now on, this is how it will be.

Trevor Colman
UKIP MEP for the South West

tank slapper

7,949 posts

314 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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Well we can't have the pesky electorate making decisions. They might vote for what they want.

sunbeam alpine

7,250 posts

219 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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OP. If you were investing a big chunk of your savings into something, wouldn't you want to have some control over where it went?

davepoth

29,395 posts

230 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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hesnotthemessiah

2,121 posts

235 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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I'm afraid that's one 'Gravy Train' that ain't stopping. (Sadly)

The Black Flash

13,735 posts

229 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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Widely predicted a couple of years back when the president took powers to overrule any and all procedings in the chamber. Only surprised it took so long to be honest.

Nuke from orbit required.


CBR JGWRR

6,586 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
The Black Flash said:
Widely predicted a couple of years back when the president took powers to overrule any and all procedings in the chamber. Only surprised it took so long to be honest.

Nuke from orbit required.
This.

Jasandjules

72,681 posts

260 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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It's time to put these scum up against the wall. Democracy is too important to let these people ruin it (though it has already been seriously diluted to date).

Wombat3

15,111 posts

237 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
The Black Flash said:
Widely predicted a couple of years back when the president took powers to overrule any and all procedings in the chamber. Only surprised it took so long to be honest.

Nuke from orbit required.
And to think some people thought Tony Bliar would have been a good candidate ! rolleyes

AshVX220

5,965 posts

221 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
There's only one way we can rid ourselves of the EU, unfortunately all the tactical voters don't have the balls to make it happen. Vote for what you believe in, not just to keep the red lot out.

I've been a Tory my entire voting life, but never again.

CBR JGWRR

6,586 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
AshVX220 said:
There's only one way we can rid ourselves of the EU, unfortunately all the tactical voters don't have the balls to make it happen. Vote for what you believe in, not just to keep the red lot out.

I've been a Tory my entire voting life, but never again.
UKIP FTW?

Asterix

24,438 posts

259 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
There was an interview with a political analyst from Harvard on the radio earlier and he basically said the way it is going it is inevitable there will be a Federal Europe and it will certainly be run wholly by Germany.

I got the feeling he was a breath away from calling it The Fourth Reich.

CBR JGWRR

6,586 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
Asterix said:
There was an interview with a political analyst from Harvard on the radio earlier and he basically said the way it is going it is inevitable there will be a Federal Europe and it will certainly be run wholly by Germany.

I got the feeling he was a breath away from calling it The Fourth Reich.
Well, they can't win with the sword...

Asterix

24,438 posts

259 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
Many have been shouted down for extreme tin hat foilery when mentioning the above - it was very interesting to here a leading academic establishment even get close to mentioning such a thing.

As I said above - it wasn't specifically said and purely my impression given the tone and content of his report.

CBR JGWRR

6,586 posts

180 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
Asterix said:
Many have been shouted down for extreme tin hat foilery when mentioning the above - it was very interesting to here a leading academic establishment even get close to mentioning such a thing.

As I said above - it wasn't specifically said and purely my impression given the tone and content of his report.
But what if the tin hat foilery have a point?

Asterix

24,438 posts

259 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
CBR JGWRR said:
Asterix said:
Many have been shouted down for extreme tin hat foilery when mentioning the above - it was very interesting to here a leading academic establishment even get close to mentioning such a thing.

As I said above - it wasn't specifically said and purely my impression given the tone and content of his report.
But what if the tin hat foilery have a point?
Fully agree - I'm with the foil brigade to be straight about it.

Crafty_

14,220 posts

231 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
I've read a little about goings on, everything I read points to Schultz being a very dangerous figure that shouldn't be put in charge of a newspaper round, let alone be president of the EU

Otispunkmeyer

13,829 posts

186 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
quotequote all
Asterix said:
There was an interview with a political analyst from Harvard on the radio earlier and he basically said the way it is going it is inevitable there will be a Federal Europe and it will certainly be run wholly by Germany.

I got the feeling he was a breath away from calling it The Fourth Reich.
LOL just reminded me of Jeremy Clarkson's meet the neighbours program. When he went to germany and was interviewing a guy they got onto wars and politics and the EU.

I'm sure his response was "You're going to do it again aren't you?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdrsrjSpXnE (7minutes) ( i know its only one guys view)



Tallbut Buxomly

12,254 posts

247 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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I didnt know much about this cretin however just looked at his wiki page and found yet another reason i really liked Berlusconi....

Berlusconi incident

On July 2, 2003, one day after taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy was heavily criticised by MEP Martin Schulz because of Berlusconi's domestic policy. Berlusconi replied:
"Signor Schulz, so che in Italia c'è un produttore che sta montando un film sui campi di concentramento nazisti: la suggerirò per il ruolo di kapò. Lei è perfetto!“
In English: "Mister Schulz, I know of a movie-producer in Italy who is making a film about Nazi concentration-camps. I will recommend you for the part of a Kapo (concentration-camp inmate appointed as supervisor). You are perfect!"
Berlusconi later claimed he was referring to the comedy-series Hogan's Heroes, where a slow-witted character named Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz, played by John Banner, starred.
Even though Berlusconi insisted that he was just ironic,[3] his comparisons with the Nazis caused a brief diplomatic rift between Italy and Germany.