Hi,
caution: Rant ahead.
That's the most frustrating point for me. You are right, the EU doesn't seem to have a direct influence on the everyday life of its citizens, so most people ignore it for the most part. But they are so wrong...for example, about 60% of the laws passed here in Germany originally were decided and passed by the EU and had to be passed by our national parliament, and yet our national administration gets to be blamed or praised for them. It's amazing: During the 25 years of existence of the EU parliament, its power compared to the national governments has been strengthened year by year, and yet voter turnout here in Germany dropped from over 63% in the beginning to IIRC 49% during the last EU election. The EU parliament has more power about us than ever, and yet the CDU, our big conservative party which is in the opposition in Germany at the moment, has a huge campign running that we should use the EU election to protest against our current national administration - not saying one word about EU politics, but only about national. WTF?
Of course, when you look at how the national administrations behave in EU politics, how they mainly fight for their national interests and not for the EU as a whole, you can't blame the voter for thinking in national terms only as well. Best example of this is the fight over a constitution for the EU at the moment, which may still fail altogether because of national egoism. And don't even get me started on the topic of agricultural subsidies...
I think the main problem with the lack of interest of our citizents in EU politics is media coverage - there is next to none. New laws are discussed and passed in EU parliament and get barely mentioned in the news. Then, when they arrive at the national level and our governments have to pass them, suddenly they get discussed in the news - only that it's too late to change anything then.
The other problem of course is the negative and pessimistic attitude the voters have about the concept of a European state. While I imagine the beginnings of the US to be a time of enthusiasm, where the people had the feeling of a new beginning and mostly understood it as a chance for themselves (okay, maybe that picture is a bit too romantic...), here the citizens mainly feel threatened and endangered by such a concept. When the EU grew from 15 nations to 25 nations on May, 1st this year, everybody only talked about the potential negative consequences the larger union would have: Harder to govern, dragging down the economy, cheap laborers from Poland stealing "our" jobs etc. Nobody talked about the chances all this would offer. I know all this is a result of European history, but I find this really frustrating.
I really hope we will get a EU constitution in the near future. I wish we will be able to speak with one "EU" voice towards the rest of the world one day. I hope one day, EU laws will be passed without the numerous exceptions for different countries to serve their national egos as it is now. Heck, I wish that the next EU election will at least be held with a unified standard in all our countries, for example that the minimum percentage of votes a political party has to receive to actually be allowed to send their delegates to the EU parliament will be the same in all countries.
So please, to every European who reads this and still has a chance to vote during the next days: Use your rights! Participate in the election! Vote! Contrary to popular belief, you can change something. And if you think none of the choices is a good one, then at least vote for the least of the evils - that's better than not voting at all.
-Kylearan
P.S.: Hi to those who don't know me yet from Realms Beyond. I'm a long-time lurker here in the LL and even have posted here before, but I doubt anybody will remember me - I think my average post count was two per LL incarnation. :P
caution: Rant ahead.
Quote:If the supranational European union becomes an important fact of daily life (e.g. starts to issue drivers licenses, birth certificates, generates a direct tax, and all the other things governments do), I suspect more people will become involved.
That's the most frustrating point for me. You are right, the EU doesn't seem to have a direct influence on the everyday life of its citizens, so most people ignore it for the most part. But they are so wrong...for example, about 60% of the laws passed here in Germany originally were decided and passed by the EU and had to be passed by our national parliament, and yet our national administration gets to be blamed or praised for them. It's amazing: During the 25 years of existence of the EU parliament, its power compared to the national governments has been strengthened year by year, and yet voter turnout here in Germany dropped from over 63% in the beginning to IIRC 49% during the last EU election. The EU parliament has more power about us than ever, and yet the CDU, our big conservative party which is in the opposition in Germany at the moment, has a huge campign running that we should use the EU election to protest against our current national administration - not saying one word about EU politics, but only about national. WTF?
Of course, when you look at how the national administrations behave in EU politics, how they mainly fight for their national interests and not for the EU as a whole, you can't blame the voter for thinking in national terms only as well. Best example of this is the fight over a constitution for the EU at the moment, which may still fail altogether because of national egoism. And don't even get me started on the topic of agricultural subsidies...
I think the main problem with the lack of interest of our citizents in EU politics is media coverage - there is next to none. New laws are discussed and passed in EU parliament and get barely mentioned in the news. Then, when they arrive at the national level and our governments have to pass them, suddenly they get discussed in the news - only that it's too late to change anything then.
The other problem of course is the negative and pessimistic attitude the voters have about the concept of a European state. While I imagine the beginnings of the US to be a time of enthusiasm, where the people had the feeling of a new beginning and mostly understood it as a chance for themselves (okay, maybe that picture is a bit too romantic...), here the citizens mainly feel threatened and endangered by such a concept. When the EU grew from 15 nations to 25 nations on May, 1st this year, everybody only talked about the potential negative consequences the larger union would have: Harder to govern, dragging down the economy, cheap laborers from Poland stealing "our" jobs etc. Nobody talked about the chances all this would offer. I know all this is a result of European history, but I find this really frustrating.
I really hope we will get a EU constitution in the near future. I wish we will be able to speak with one "EU" voice towards the rest of the world one day. I hope one day, EU laws will be passed without the numerous exceptions for different countries to serve their national egos as it is now. Heck, I wish that the next EU election will at least be held with a unified standard in all our countries, for example that the minimum percentage of votes a political party has to receive to actually be allowed to send their delegates to the EU parliament will be the same in all countries.
So please, to every European who reads this and still has a chance to vote during the next days: Use your rights! Participate in the election! Vote! Contrary to popular belief, you can change something. And if you think none of the choices is a good one, then at least vote for the least of the evils - that's better than not voting at all.
-Kylearan
P.S.: Hi to those who don't know me yet from Realms Beyond. I'm a long-time lurker here in the LL and even have posted here before, but I doubt anybody will remember me - I think my average post count was two per LL incarnation. :P
There are two kinds of fools. One says, "This is old, and therefore good." And one says, "This is new, and therefore better." - John Brunner, The Shockwave Rider