It's Official: The French Diss and Dismiss the EU

If it were not such a far-reaching and historic moment for France, it would be funny. For years now, the French govenrment has been pushing for a Pan-European government for the European Union. They saw themselves at the head of a virtual Franch Empire which would span from the Atlantic Ocean down to Turkey and over to the borders of the Former Soviet Union. It was such a well-publicized notion that the End-Times-obsessed types that particularly rankle Ward pointed to it as the reformed Roman Empire that presaged the end of all things. But now, the tiny nation that sees Charlemagne as the once and future kind, has rejected the EU Constitution that French leaders essentially wrote. And with a 70% turnout at the polls, it is hard to argue that the vote is due to a highly motivated by unrepresentaive minority. The French people rejected this wholeheartedly.

Of course, French politicians have rarely been ones to be bothered by reality. Jacques Chirac will find some way to spin this to his advantage, and use it as proof that the Union is inevitable. I wonder how long until the Constitution is changed so that it does NOT have to be ratified by all member nations? If they put it at 60%, it could become law against the wishes of the French people... and who knows who else?