tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post1854416922989432692..comments2018-04-19T19:03:14.429-07:00Comments on in deniall - The blog of Niall Farrell: The Lisbon Treaty: The CYM ViewNiall Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-26107371070751450562009-09-29T02:29:29.863-07:002009-09-29T02:29:29.863-07:00Well I can safely say that the CYM is not in favou...Well I can safely say that the CYM is not in favour of unregulated free trade (look up http://www.cym.ie/). Neither am I for that matter. <br />I don't want Ireland to go the way of Pinochet-era Chile or apartheid South Africa (as detailed in Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine")Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-39735074840403937942009-09-28T02:14:37.069-07:002009-09-28T02:14:37.069-07:00I share your concern about the erosion of sovereig...I share your concern about the erosion of sovereignty emobodied by any strengthening of the political union over member states. It inevitably follows that more distance is created between those forming policy and those that policy affects - ie an accountability deficit.<br /><br />However, I'm a little confused about your support for the "needs of the people" over "big business". Surely businesses cannot become big unless they are supplying the people with a need or service in demand. Hence supply and demand economics.<br /><br />My main gripe with the EU is the lack of conviction it attaches to its free trade principles. The European Court of Justice keeps handing out rulings (see 1999 Zenatti case or 2009 Bwin vs Portugal)which fail to provide EU citizens with unrestricted access to services and goods from across the continent. Yet in France, taking as an example online gambling and sports betting, the government runs a monopoly over the industry, preventing French citizens using non-French bookmakers and agencies. This is protectionist, leadign to less competition and higher prices for punters everywhere. <br /><br />There's a petition at www.right2bet.net to challenge the European courts to uphold the basic free trade mantra. Otherwise the organisation fails its most basic objective.Richard Websternoreply@blogger.com