More European Madness

This report has garnered a lot of attention on UK-based blogs of late. It's an EU report on what certain MEPs see as the pervasive and worrying scepticism expressed by various blogs, especially in light of the recent Irish no-vote to the EU Constitution (let's not hide behind the farcical spin of the "Lisbon Treaty" moniker).

It's a disgraceful report, of which the authors should be ashamed. But I have no problem at all with them writing it. What I want to know if why on earth my taxes have gone towards its production. The Labour Party pays for its brand of nonsense, loosely defined as research and policy. The LibDems do the same. Even the Tory Party pays for its own (often terrible) policy documents.

Why on earth are we paying MEPs to produce this sort of bilge? And when did I get a chance to vote for (or against) it?

The European Parliament lacks a vital component. An Opposition. Democracy works by having new ideas and initiatives challanged, weighed in the balance, and ultimately approved by the electorate. Can anyone tell me who is in power in Europe? And who in opposition is challenging their plans, or at least scrutinising them?

How are Commisioners appointed? Did I get to vote for any of them? What impact does my vote for the Conservative Party have in the European Parliament? How do I get rid of them? Who questions them on their actions? Who even cares that their accounts haven't be passed in over a decade?

The EU is not only trying to suppress debate and opposition on blogs (thankfully, they have no chance of doing that, since they can be very easily moved out of EU jurisdiction), but is fundamentally an undemocratic institution. When it has a government, a mandate, and offers a choice, it might be worth taking seriously. But until then, it is a glorified gravy-train, an anachronism, an instition to be derided and opposed, rather than something which which we should engage or - more importantly - a body to be given billions of taxpayers' money.