Bertie the mangy fecker trotted off and left us with a “big decision” on our laps; the Lisbon Treaty. Driving around the roads at the moment there are signs everywhere telling us to vote in favour. You wouldn’t hear as many yeses in a low budget porno; and all the hype we hear about independent commissions and impartial advisors trying to help us vote. Feck sake, there’s hardly a “no” plastered on the back of a telegraph pole out there that might look like there was balance to the advice.

I thinks that the shinners and the anti-abortion folk are against it from what I hear, never thought that I’d lump those two together with a common goal but sure there ya go - nationalists and radicals unite! This morning I found myself in the unfortunate situation of reading through some literature, that I know I didn’t send away for but still know that I am paying for, that came through my letterbox on the subject of the Lisbon Treaty. It was full of impartial advice and put in a sterling effort to explain the future governance of Europe in about 8 pages of big print. Nice one lads, something for me dog to wipe its arse with! Anyway cutting to the chase it told me that lots of things would change if we vote yes but at the same time it told me that lots of these changes had not been fully decided yet as to what they actually mean. What the fuck? I’m being told to vote for something that hasn’t even been defined yet? On yar bike lads, ger-out of it!

Feck sake like, I have it hard enough when election time comes around and all the shiney nosed politicians start knocking on me door asking me how I’m keeping - the usual response being “so what are you going to promise and not do this time?”. Always the same. Anyways, I digress, as the posh lads say. But there you have it at election time and all the lads are out and about and persauding you to go left or right or independent or green, which basically follows whosever’s arse the sun is coming from, and you’d be scratching your head saying, “which one?”. Now here we have all the parties telling us to vote yes but at the same time the most crucial changes to be brought about by the treaty have yet to be defined, not until after the vote perhaps.

Then there’s this other breakdown on the make-up of the European government and that not all of the EU members will always be part of this committee. So, basically Ireland could be shafted for 5 years until we next get into the Euro-government. Doesn’t sound right at all - we’re voting to give away democracy by granting changes that might mean that somebody else decides our EU involvement. Pardon me, but I think not. Like, has anyone else out there actually read the treaty or are they just telling us to vote and get it over with for fear that our Euro neighbours will think that we don’t want to play with them? Jesus lads, get a grip, really, please do.

Maybe before the vote, somebody will get off their arse and explain this to the public, in terms of what it actually means but until then I think I’ll be voting no. Not because I’m against it but simply because I don’t know what I’d be voting for because seemingly most of the changes haven’t even been decided yet and when they are Ireland might not even be on the council that enforce them.

Yours Sincerely,

Lad