Tuesday
(0)I am reminded of an old, inscrutible Oriental saying: time is a slow but fair judge:
Less than half the population in the European Union's member states now support the EU project, according to polling results yesterday.The latest Eurobarometer to be released this week found that just 48 per cent of EU citizens viewed membership as a "good thing", down from 54 per cent last spring.
Britain was by far the most negative state, with positive feelings tumbling to 28 per cent, but even the French were below half for the first time after months of battles with Brussels over tax cuts and illegal aid to ailing firms.
How long until George Bush scores a higher approval rating among Europeans than Brussels does?
Britain was by far the most negative state, with positive feelings tumbling to 28 per cent
Less than a third. Mmmmm. I like the sound of that.
Posted by S. Weasel at December 9, 2003 10:36 AM
Less than a third. Mmmmm. I like the sound of that.
It's closer to one quarter than a third. :)
That's those with "positive feelings". Wonder how many have outright "negative feelings" rather than simply "neutral" ones. Apathy here's just as dangerous as gullibility...
What's with the viscerality of all this "feelings" business anyway? I prefer my political opinions to come from my head rather than my heart. Feelings! Pfeh!
Posted by Will at December 9, 2003 11:53 AM
Unfortunately, as EUrope is not a democracy, it doesn't matter in the least what the populace thinks.
The ruling elite will continue with the plan, as they always do and always have.
Posted by Andrew Duffin at December 9, 2003 12:20 PM
And how many people being positive are on some sort of EU gravy train? Alas, Andrew's point is a valid one, Brussels doesn't give a toss about what its citizens think.
Posted by Andrew Ian Dodge at December 9, 2003 01:45 PM
How long until George Bush scores a higher approval rating among Europeans than Brussels does?
About the time when we can expect to be saddled with socially subsidized research on porcine aerodynamics.
Posted by toolkien at December 9, 2003 05:08 PM
"How long until George Bush scores a higher approval rating among Europeans than Brussels does?"
It has always struck me that that stridently anti-Bush elites and media in the US and Europe pounding the drum for Bush's unpopularity in Europe (something I'd guess is vastly overrated as most Euros probably dont care) - have the SAME problem with Bush that they have with their own people.
It's elitism. They really dont think certain views are legitimate.
They hate the 'cowboy' Bush for supporting the death penalty for certain heinous crimes. A death penalty that the majority of EUROPEANS also support.
As an American, I'm tempted to send back our Declaration of Independence to a few Euro folks - just cross out "George III" and pencil in "Brussels" or Giscard D'Estang and it'll do for you.
Posted by Patrick at December 10, 2003 06:12 PM
