Category Archives: Ireland

My vote has been cast. I voted no to the Lisbon Treaty half an hour ago in Blarney. Why? It wasn’t to be aligned with Sinn Fein or the Socialist Party who I’d never vote for. It wasn’t because I wanted to piss off Brian Cowen and the main parties. It was partly because I didn’t know who to believe.

Both sides of the Treaty made wild claims. There were the usual dire warnings that Ireland would suffer badly if we rejected the Treaty, there was the extreme claims of the No side. Abortion, the death penalty, armies marching to their deaths. Who’s half truths and exaggerations do you want to believe? What are their biases?
The first “debate” I heard about the Treaty was over a month ago. A TD and a representative from Libertas were on Today FM to fight for their corners. Boy did they fight! Within minutes there was a slagging match with mud and names flying. Accusations were made, and I didn’t learn a thing about this important treaty.

I was almost convinced to vote yes a few days ago. All the resources of the Government couldn’t convince me but The Spoofer’s Guide to the Treaty, written by Jason O’Mahony, a PD candidate, almost did. Even that was too long however, and I only read the first few pages before I had to leave the computer and attend to the baby. Like most people, I simply don’t have time to read and digest everything about the Treaty. Top that off with the with half truths and exaggerations I mentioned above and it became even more difficult.

I know it’s my own fault for not reading the 400 odd pages of the Treaty and being ignorant, but I won’t sign my name to a contract I haven’t read. The Spoofer’s Guide is probably the equivalent of the Readers Digest version of the Treaty but even that was too long. I blame life for getting in the way. tl; dr (thanks Matt!)

I wonder will the Irish Government rerun the referendum if the Irish Population vote no?

Some links I read, and some I commented on:

• Thanks, but no thanks
• Lisbon Treaty – Vote No.
• Lisbon Treaty – still voting No…
• Weighing in on Lisbon
• JIm Corr didn’t do the No side any favours when he went on national radio talking about the New World Order. Bloody idiot. I hope Tony Fenton was cringing when he heard what “his friend” was talking about!
• The No Side didn’t get any more loony than a particular Catholic group who campaigned on very conservative and close minded issues, including equality of men and women.
  

  As conscientious Irish Catholics, we cannot but reject a Treaty that imposes on our country and on the whole of Europe an unnatural equality between men and women which opposes God’s plan for society and for His Church.

  It was not to be aligned with them that I voted No.

• Paul Browne was convinced to vote Yes after he read the Spoofer’s Guide. He makes very good reasons why he’s voting Yes today.
• Still undecided? Here’s a quick way to clear up the confusion.
• Finally, Tom is holding an exit poll. I voted there, but the Yes vote is still winning. It’ll be interesting to see if that reflects the national vote.

Images from Biffsniff.com. Lolmartin created by Frank based on an idea by Walter.