Calling On All Good Danes (And Other Folks, Too)
It appears that Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is afflicted with a serious case of -isms. To better understand that from which Rasmussen and many Old Europe politicians suffer, clarity is found in New Europe, as demonstrated by President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic.Denmark will hold a referendum on whether to adopt the euro and drop exemptions to closer cooperation with the EU on defense and law enforcement, the prime minister said Thursday.
Danish voters rejected the European common currency in a 2000 referendum. The Scandinavian country has also opted out of other key areas of EU cooperation.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a news conference it was time to reassess those exemptions, which Denmark was granted in the early 1990s.
"A lot has changed since," he said. "It is the right time to take a decision."
No date was set for a vote but it would be held during the next four years, said the prime minister, whose center-right government was re-elected last week.
It was not immediately clear whether there would be a separate vote for each of the exemptions.
Danes stunned fellow EU nations in 1992 by rejecting the Maastricht treaty on closer European cooperation.
A year later, Danish voters approved a revised treaty with clauses letting the Scandinavian country stay outside a single currency and banking system and refrain from joining a European defense structure or conform to EU citizenship laws and common law enforcement.
"We have always said that the Danish exemptions are a hindrance for Denmark," said Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark's prime minister since 2001.
He said the referendum would be held after Denmark had ratified the new EU reform treaty, which includes changes in decision-making rules designed to make the union function more effectively. The treaty replaces the failed EU constitution, which was rejected two years ago.
Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal-Conservative coalition won the Nov. 13 snap election with support from its nationalist ally, the Danish People's Party, and a smaller centrist group.
Denmark, a country of 5.4 million people, has held five referendums on EU-related issues since it joined the bloc in 1973.
In the latest one, on Sept. 28, 2000, Danes voted 53.1 percent to 46.9 percent against replacing the Danish krone with the euro. Recent opinion polls have shown a narrow majority of Danes now favor switching to the euro.
Via the AP
[...]This is from a speech Klaus delivered before the CATO Institute earlier this year and his ranking of the Religion of Environmentalism™ as the third main threat to individual freedom is a great read.Ten-fifteen years ago I spoke many times in this country about this process of transition, about its non-zero costs, about its benefits, tenets and pitfalls. Now, when it’s over, we face a different problem.
As I said, we already succeeded in getting rid of communism. But – along with the predominant view at home and elsewhere – we erroneously hoped that the attempts to suppress freedom and to centrally organize, mastermind, regulate, control the whole society (and economy) were already matters of the past, an almost forgotten historic relic. They are, to our great disappointment, still there. I see more examples of them in Europe and in most of international organizations than in America itself, but they can be found here as well.
The reason is that there are new, very popular and fashionable “isms” which again put various issues, visions, plans and projects ahead of individual freedom and liberty. It is social-democratism (which is nothing else than a milder and softer version of communism), it is human-rightism (based on the idea of mostly positive rights applicable all over the world), it is internationalism, multiculturalism, europeism, feminism, environmentalism and other similar ideologies.
Communism is over, but attempts to rule from above, are still, or perhaps again, here.
The second main challenge I see is connected with our experience with the EU, but goes beyond it because it is part of a broader tendency towards denationalization of countries and towards world-wide supranationalism and global governance.
The special sensitivity, that I (and many of my countrymen) have, makes me view many current trends in Europe rather critically. My opponents do not seem to hear my arguments and a priori keep rejecting the views they don’t like. To understand my criticism requires familiar knowledge of the developments in the EU, its gradual metamorphosis from a community of cooperating nations to the union of non-sovereign nations and prevailing supranationalistic tendencies. This is not the standard knowledge in America.
I have always been in favor of friendly, peaceful, and for all of us enriching cooperation and collaboration of European countries. However, I have many times pointed out that the move towards an ever-closer Europe, the so-called deepening of EU, the rapid political integration, and the supranational tendencies without an authentic European identity and an European demos are not only necessary for the freedom and democracy in Europe, but damaging.
Freedom and democracy, these two, for us so precious values, cannot be secured without the parliamentary democracy within a clearly defined state territory. This is exactly what the current European political elites and their fellow-travelers are attempting to eliminate. And it bothers me.
Or, kick back and see for yourself.
Writing in the Financial Times June 13th, Klaus stated that,
As someone who lived under communism for most of his life, I feel obliged to say that I see the biggest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity now in ambitious environmentalism, not in communism. This ideology wants to replace the free and spontaneous evolution of mankind by a sort of central (now global) planning.Amen, brother!
The environmentalists ask for immediate political action because they do not believe in the long-term positive impact of economic growth and ignore both the technological progress that future generations will undoubtedly enjoy, and the proven fact that the higher the wealth of society, the higher is the quality of the environment. They are Malthusian pessimists.
The scientists should help us and take into consideration the political effects of their scientific opinions. They have an obligation to declare their political and value assumptions and how much they have affected their selection and interpretation of scientific evidence.
Does it make any sense to speak about warming of the Earth when we see it in the context of the evolution of our planet over hundreds of millions of years? Every child is taught at school about temperature variations, about the ice ages, about the much warmer climate in the Middle Ages. All of us have noticed that even during our life-time temperature changes occur (in both directions).
Due to advances in technology, increases in disposable wealth, the rationality of institutions and the ability of countries to organise themselves, the adaptability of human society has been radically increased. It will continue to increase and will solve any potential consequences of mild climate changes.
I agree with Professor Richard Lindzen from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who said: “future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early 21st century’s developed world went into hysterical panic over a globally averaged temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree, and, on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer projections combined into implausible chains of inference, proceeded to contemplate a roll-back of the industrial age”.
The issue of global warming is more about social than natural sciences and more about man and his freedom than about tenths of a degree Celsius changes in average global temperature.
As a witness to today’s worldwide debate on climate change, I suggest the following:■ Small climate changes do not demand far-reaching restrictive measures
■ Any suppression of freedom and democracy should be avoided
■ Instead of organising people from above, let us allow everyone to live as he wants
■ Let us resist the politicisation of science and oppose the term “scientific consensus”, which is always achieved only by a loud minority, never by a silent majority
■ Instead of speaking about “the environment”, let us be attentive to it in our personal behaviour
■ Let us be humble but confident in the spontaneous evolution of human society. Let us trust its rationality and not try to slow it down or divert it in any direction
■ Let us not scare ourselves with catastrophic forecasts, or use them to defend and promote irrational interventions in human lives.
Also at JammieWearingFool
RadicalRon
in EU, Environment, Education, Economics, Logic, Meteorological Madness, Global Warming Lunacy, Moonbattery, Religion of Environmentalism, The Goracle
|
35 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Reader Comments (35)
The talented and united Czech nation are indeed fortunate to have Vaclav Klaus.
He looks and sounds like a great statesman.
I read this speech back in the summer, but it got barely a mention hereabouts.
too many people even on this site refuse to see the obvious right in front of their face.
Those that embrace the religion of Environmentalism are the same that refuse to acknowledge the damage that socialism has done in their countries and the failure of communism through out the world.
You can not call yourself what you are, a bolshavic so instead you call yourselves enlightened environmentalists. You are sheep and fools.
Those who lived under the enlightenment of communism recognize the threat and are reviled by it. Yet the sheep refuse to listen to the warnings that the butcher is at the door, and insist that we all lined up to be sheered.
>>Yet the sheep refuse to listen to the warnings that the butcher is at the door, and insist that we all lined up to be sheered.<<
Maybe that's the difference between European and American sheep, Troll.
The Europeans line up to get sheared, you lot line up to get slaughtered.
LOL! Mixed metaphors sometimes get real mixed!
We must make allowances for Troll on this Thanksgiving day. He probably had a bit too much wine at lunch before posting that comment.
Troll, please don't take this the wrong way but.....I'm rolling on the floor laughing my turkey fed ass off at your last sentence. That is the funniest thing I've seen in ages!
Happy Turkey Day Dude!
RadicalRon, really excellent first post on ATW. Serious and meaty. Forgive me for not digging in properly tonight, I'm full of feast and wine - no mood for serious topics tonight. I'm glad you're here though and if this post is any indication, I think we're going to get real value from your contributions to ATW. Welcome!
**Dallas has kicked some serious football butt today!!!!
too many people even on this site refuse to see the obvious right in front of their face.
im looking. what is it again?
Those that embrace the religion of Environmentalism are the same that refuse to acknowledge the damage that socialism has done in their countries
what are you talking about troll. have you ever been to europe? your hatred of anything remotely social in public policy has basically come round to mean support for zero policy for the benefit of the people. the elites of this world couldnt wish for a more perfect useful idiot.
>>Amen, brother!<<
It should also be remembered that Klaus was elected President (not by the people BTW) only with the votes of the Communists, and they gave him, and continue to give him, their support simply because he is a Eurosceptic and they consider him the best tool they have in this regard.
klaus is another myth maker. he is trying to present all these "isms" as monolithic. they are not. which makes his talk "a milder and softer version of" past speeches exposing the 'zionist bolshevik conspiracy'.
would be nice if he took a pop at the right too for its wanton excesses and ideological lean towards fascism. on can only assume he knows what side his bread is buttered.
Here's a question for you, daytripper: By not having an abortion, does that mean your mother had an ideological lean towards fascism?
This guy, Vaclav, well. I think I love him. lol. He is right on the money about the EU and right on the money about the environMENTALists, too. God bless him forever and ever.
Troll IS tired! lol. God bless him, too.
Troll IS tired! lol. God bless him, too.
im not surprised. pagan rituals can be exhausting. ;)
Tripper
Socialism, Environmentalism, etc, etc, NEVER benefits the people. Why is it that every nation in the world has adopted capitalism in one form or another? because of some big corporate conspiracy?
No, how about the truth because it is the only system that works and benefits the "people"
Tripper when you are born the only thing you OWN are the Rights that GOD has given you. Thats your body, your freedom, and your soul.
The Rest you have to EARN...
Tell me if a countries resources belong to the "people" and are theirs by birthright, who or how is it determined what percentage of each resource is yours?
and don't fall back on everyone gets an equal share besides the fact that that NEVER happens (ask the chi-coms or the Russians)
because what your advocating is the man or woman who goes to work and sweats their ass off drilling holes in the earth to get the oil out deserves no more than the load that sits home and does nothing.
Name for me where you get somthing for nothing a) it's worth anything or b) you appreciate it.
I know God dealt you a hand that is lacking that's the way it is. Some are better at things than others. Each to his own strengths.
You have to earn your way in the world. Nobody owes you anything. You are not entitled to anything other than the right to try. If you fail you fail, if you win you win.
90% of the people get by on their own efforts. The 10% that can't are always helped by the rest of us.
Socialism only benefits the lazy and the corrupt. So which one are you?
>>I know God dealt you a hand that is lacking that's the way it is. <<
Perhaps, but God at least gave him a brain that works.
Why is it that every nation in the world has adopted capitalism in one form or another? because of some big corporate conspiracy?
if that is so then why is it that most of the world is poor, and getting poorer? as for corporate conspiracies, they abound. noone is less likely to take more and give less than a corporation. thats why they trawl the world for cheap labour and maintain their headquarters overseas.
Tripper when you are born the only thing you OWN are the Rights that GOD has given you. Thats your body, your freedom, and your soul.
thats your take on life. not mine. its a pity you dont stand up to those rights as you see them though.
The Rest you have to EARN.
i mostly agree with you. but feel free to ignore this fact if it doesnt fit with your preconceived notions.
Tell me if a countries resources belong to the "people" and are theirs by birthright, who or how is it determined what percentage of each resource is yours?
we can debate about that. but in essence yes i would be of the opinion that a nations natural resources whould belong to the state and that revenues from those resources should go directly into the economy. Such as building projects, infrastructure, health education etc etc. On the flip-side why not privatise air as a commodity? Create an oxygen grid and sell of chunks to the highest bidder, who can then charge everyone in that area a premium for breathing. They did it with water in many parts of the western world, why stop there?
because what your advocating is the man or woman who goes to work and sweats their ass off drilling holes in the earth to get the oil out deserves no more than the load that sits home and does nothing.
no. thats you assuming again.
Name for me where you get somthing for nothing a) it's worth anything or b) you appreciate it.
why would you think im asking for something for nothing?
I know God dealt you a hand that is lacking that's the way it is. Some are better at things than others. Each to his own strengths.
*shakes head* /mood: bemused
You have to earn your way in the world. Nobody owes you anything. You are not entitled to anything other than the right to try. If you fail you fail, if you win you win.
again you pick up the wrong end of the stick. which i guess is the more familiar end for you.
90% of the people get by on their own efforts. The 10% that can't are always helped by the rest of us.
actually you have that turned on its head. even less than 10% of the worlds people reap the vast majority of reward from our system that the remaining 90% odd of us generate.
Socialism only benefits the lazy and the corrupt. So which one are you?
unfortunately for you neither. And certian social policy is of great benefit to people. and it has proven to be the case in many countries with some social emphasis in their model. infact many of them put countries like the US to shame on important metrics such as infrastructure, education or healthcare coverage.
Perhaps, but God at least gave him a brain that works.
lol noel, not always. i predict partial failure within 48 hours.
Tripper you attempt to dazzle with your answers but as usual fall far short.
"if that is so then why is it that most of the world is poor, and getting poorer? as for corporate conspiracies, they abound. noone is less likely to take more and give less than a corporation. thats why they trawl the world for cheap labour and maintain their headquarters overseas."
Most of the world are only just now embracing capitalism after shucking socialism due to it's failure. There is NO part of the world that is getting poorer. Africa in certain areas is on the down turn economicly Where the DICTATOR is butchering half of their population, but besides that Nations are shucking socialism and starting to exert a new found joy of a growing economy. Example would be China and Russia.
I love this you contradict yourself
"The Rest you have to EARN.
i mostly agree with you. but feel free to ignore this fact if it doesnt fit with your preconceived notions.
Tell me if a countries resources belong to the "people" and are theirs by birthright, who or how is it determined what percentage of each resource is yours?
we can debate about that. but in essence yes i would be of the opinion that a nations natural resources whould belong to the state and that revenues from those resources should go directly into the economy. Such as building projects, infrastructure, health education etc etc."
You say you agree that people need to earn, but then in the next paragrapgh you say everything belongs to the state.
You also fail to carry that out to the conclusion that it has been carried out to in every nation that has adopted that pholosophy. That is that the people themselves are also a commodity that belong to the state.
Not to mention Who decides who controls the usage of those resources? Who decides what revenues get spent on what projects? Who decides which resources are used?
You live in a fantasy world tripper. You refuse to see the proof that even modern history has proven. Socialism is a FAILURE it can't work on any level.
Curruption is the core of socialism it is the tool of dictators. Those who believe they know better than anybody else what is good for everybody.
Even Medical socialism, ask the woman in your country who was just in the paper who is over 100 and has to wait for 9mths before she can get treated. or the people that are pulling their own teeth because they can't get a dental appointment.
You are Brainwashed coolaid drinker. Willing fodder for the failed socialist system that is crumbling all around you.
This last exchange shows the depth of your delusion
90% of the people get by on their own efforts. The 10% that can't are always helped by the rest of us.
"actually you have that turned on its head. even less than 10% of the worlds people reap the vast majority of reward from our system that the remaining 90% odd of us generate."
The only thing you generate is what you create, You barter your days work for a salary that you ACCEPTED for that work. If you chose not to take your job at the pay you are recieving NO ONE held a gun to your head and forced you take it.
If you want to be a millionare go out and provide a service or services that people are WILLING to GIVE you their money for in trade that can earn you that money. As Steve Jobs, or Branson, or the Microsoft wacko. Hell the kids who came up with youtube just became gazzilionares.
Opportunity under capitalism is there, even though YOU are incapeable of seeing it....LOL
whats the matter Trip no witty come back?
You say you agree that people need to earn, but then in the next paragrapgh you say everything belongs to the state.
no troll i did not say everything. thats a figment of your imagination. again. and by state i do mean the democratically representative government of the people. you know, that thing the founding fathers gave you. infact if the original authors of the US system were around today they would probably be socialists to you also.
You also fail to carry that out to the conclusion that it has been carried out to in every nation that has adopted that pholosophy. That is that the people themselves are also a commodity that belong to the state.
not true. socialism doesnt always come in extreme form. just like conservatism. historically when it looked likely to be successful and the oppurtunity was there, it was replaced ASAP. think chile, guatemala or iran. though even europe wasnt immune either, as operation gladio clearly demonstrated.
Not to mention Who decides who controls the usage of those resources? Who decides what revenues get spent on what projects? Who decides which resources are used?
yawn. i refer you again to the quaint notion of democratic representation.
Curruption is the core of socialism it is the tool of dictators.
corruption and dictatorship are not unique to socialism. the current whitehouse and GOP in general is testament to this.
The only thing you generate is what you create, You barter your days work for a salary that you ACCEPTED for that work. If you chose not to take your job at the pay you are recieving NO ONE held a gun to your head and forced you take it.
back to the stick again. im talking about greedy capitalism, which is getting out of control. the "robber-baron" corporatism we were discussing a few days ago. it is parasitic and destroys free markets. ever stop to wonder why average wages remain relatively flat yet the still economy grows? its only when the shisim hits the fan and these people get caught that the game is exposed. they are ripping everyone off. the US economy is hanging by its fingernails and if recession comes even the economist is wondering whether there is much scope for recovery, especially considering the likes of china doesnt need the US any more.
Opportunity under capitalism is there, even though YOU are incapeable of seeing it.
my portfolio is doing just fine and im considering my next move. :)
whats the matter Trip no witty come back?
was wondering whether to bother to be honest. you just default social politics to communism, so theres not much traction to be had.
which is kinda sad really. and i missed this doozy
Even Medical socialism, ask the woman in your country who was just in the paper who is over 100 and has to wait for 9mths before she can get treated. or the people that are pulling their own teeth because they can't get a dental appointment.
no system is perfect, and neither is the USs. 40 odd million people without medical cover is a fairly damning indictment.
LOL.... you do provide great comedy
see, you wont even respond with any substance. just your preconceived notions wrapped up in new language.
you refuse to see any imperfections in the system, the soviets had the same problem. and we know what hapenned there.
Dt - I've got links somewhere on that figure - disputes it of course. ;-) here's a quick stat, maybe on the next health care post we can have at it on America's uninsured. I think the bigger topic is the cost of health insurance which is driven up by government mandates.
'According to the US Census Bureau, 17 million of those without health insurance live in households having over $50,000 in annual income. That's 38% of the uninsured in America.(2)
In fact, 9 million - 20% of the uninsured - reside in households pulling down more than $75K a year. (3)'
thats not the entire point though daphne. health care is actually denied to many people and even the service can be inadequate and expensive. Also do such statistics, as you provide, take into account standards of living?
Have a read of some of these articles
Such as this and
this
Tripper
The website your getting your information from is Think Pogress? no wonder it explains and shines a brighter light on the depth of your gullability and brainwashing.
Think Progress is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Which is an arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign bought and paid for by George Soros....
In your hate and lack of ability to view the world in reality you get sucked into propaganda paid for by a man who's goal is to destroy Americas standing in the world...LOL your a git
Tripper - if you 'trip' back this way and the thread stays alive i'll point you to some other sources. The issue fascinates me :)
troll. is it possible that for once you could take the meat of an article on merit and discuss the content?
as opposed to referring to the GOP "no fly zone" list.
The website your getting your information from is Think Pogress? no wonder it explains and shines a brighter light on the depth of your gullability and brainwashing.
you will get more actual news on TP than you will from most other news sources in US. especially main stream sources. another sad indictment of your nation.
Think Progress is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Which is an arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign bought and paid for by George Soros
So what? They shine light on much of americas political world. something your MSM doesnt do. your just pissed at them because they expose daily the litany of lies that spews forth from the whitehouse and the GOP.
In your hate and lack of ability to view the world in reality you get sucked into propaganda paid for by a man who's goal is to destroy Americas standing in the world...LOL your a git
americas standing in the world? destroyed by george soros and one a website? i never realised the iraq war plans were written in HTML. what a deluded man you are troll.
Tripper - if you 'trip' back this way and the thread stays alive i'll point you to some other sources. The issue fascinates me :)
ill be about alison. :)
Tripper
it is sad that you think Think Progress gives you "news". You say so what that they are part of the Hillary campaign and paid for by Soros. That shows how little You are willing to due in the name of research.
I read about 15 newspapers a day left and right european and american and god forbid even jewish. The fact that a propaganda site with a known agenda falls into catagory you call news belittles your ability.
I don't think of you as a dumb man just someone that has been taught a load of crap. You would be more convincing in your comments if you didn't quote sources that are designed propaganda arms of Soros.
Doesn't it bother you that he tried to collapse the British economy?
it is sad that you think Think Progress gives you "news".
it does. not all the news, but a good slice of political americana.
I read about 15 newspapers a day left and right european and american and god forbid even jewish.
good for you. what do you want, a lolly?
The fact that a propaganda site with a known agenda falls into catagory you call news belittles your ability.
and that you read a broad spectrum of 15 of the worlds newspapaers and still have a meagre grasp of the world doesnt say much about you either. ofcourse all of this irrelevant. aslong as we are talking about anything but the salient issues its a win in your book.
I don't think of you as a dumb man just someone that has been taught a load of crap.
freedoms awful isnt it. everyone having different opinions and aspirations. wouldnt it be easier if everyon conformed to the troll norm.where do we start, Fox News? (as close as one can get to a state/party controlled media outlet, an a free country)
Though back to TP. Could you show me examples of Soros propaganda?
Doesn't it bother you that he tried to collapse the British economy?
people with very large amounts of money can do that. he is far from alone in having such ability. hook me up with some links of this story,
cmon troll. lets have it.
Could you show me examples of Soros propaganda?
Tripper. Please. Could you just try, just once, to not sound so ignorant?
That scumbag Soros bought my 'new' lefty state rep a seat. He's impacting American politics with loads of money and a horrible political agenda. I despise that bastard and have no respect for the politicians who take his money.
Tripper. Please. Could you just try, just once, to not sound so ignorant?
monica, for the purposes of the exercise consider me ignorant. now can you or troll show me examples of his propaganda. im not denying its existence. im asking that it be presented.
He's impacting American politics with loads of money and a horrible political agenda.
again, as with most things like this. he is not alone. there are plenty of other people and companies with political budgets that lobby your government to further their own agenda.
Troll, Monica, im waiting.