June 14, 2004
I hate you because....
This is the kind of talk you will be hearing over the next few days:
We must learn from this. We must listen to what the electorate has told us. On the big and important issues in Europe, we will be steadfast in our defence of Britain’s national interests.But it is not just the big things is it? It’s also the little things. In fact, I would argue that the little things are a significant cause of the disaffection people feel over Europe because it is those little things that they come into contact with on a regular basis.
Think of it in terms of the reforms on the House of Lords. Now that’s a big and important national issue. So big and important in fact that, for most people, it will have absolutely no measurable impact on their lives whatsoever. Day-to-day, things will be exactly the same for them in spite of what happens to the second chamber. The result? People are not interested in the issue; certainly not so much that it will affect they way they vote.
However, prevent people from buying a certain type of dog food or force them to put up signs warning that snow is slippery and suddenly the EU is right in their faces. The EU constitution may be a big thing to you and me but the average person in the street knows nothing about it. What they do know, however, is that it was drafted by the same guys that are preventing them from buying that bone for their dog and that pisses them off.
So when you hear the kind of talk that we are bound to be exposed to over the next few days and weeks just remember the voter and the things that actually affect them in their day to day lives. When the powerful say that they are listening and that they will learn just sit back and marvel as they fail to do either.
No bone, no EUrope.
