A YES vote for Lisbon is a YES vote for ushering in the New World Order.

Mahatma coat wrote: »

tell ya what, seein as your such a fanboi for the Lisbon Treaty, why dont you outline its benefits to the average joe on the street, a couple of short paragraphs explainin it all to us please, I'm sure we could benefit from your 'Logic' & 'Critical Thinking'

Article 2 states: "The EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a Society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail."

Article 3 (5) states: "In its relations with the wider world the Union shall uphold and promote its values and interests and contribute to the protection of its citizens. It shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular, the rights of the child as well as the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter".

Under Article 8 "every national of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to national citizenship and shall not replace it".

Article 8(b)4 states: "Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may table the initiative of inviting the Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties".

Thus the Lisbon Treaty provides any citizen or group of citizens with an independent mechanism for placing an issue on the EU Agenda.


Lisbon Enhances the Role of the Dáil
For the first time National Parliaments of the Member States will have a direct role in framing EU legislation. At present the EU Commission proposes legislation and the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament frame it. Under the Lisbon Reform Treaty the Dáil and Seanad will play a key role in determining new EU laws.

Lisbon Protects Public Services

Article 136a makes legal provision for social dialogue and for recognition of the Social Partners. What this means in practice is that all EU laws will be "socially proofed" to ensure that they do not impact adversely on people's rights, on employment or on the wider community. For the first time there is a clear legal basis for EU laws to protect public services.

Lisbon Fights Global Poverty

Article 188 (d) states that "Union development co-operation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long-term, the eradication of poverty".
In Article 188J a strong commitment is given to Humanitarian Aid "for the purpose of third countries which are victims of natural and man-made disasters".

Lisbon Tackles Climate Change
The Lisbon Reform Treaty gives a legal basis for combating climate change for the first time. Thus the EU is taking on a leadership role in tackling the most serious environmental problem facing the world, namely, climate change.

Article 174 of the Treaty is amended to commit the EU to "Promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems and, in particular, combating climate change".

Increased access to European Markets
A yes vote on the Lisbon Reform Treaty means that the single market project will be more efficient and Irish business can secure further business opportunities.

Ireland will retain a veto in key areas for Irish Business
A yes vote on the Lisbon Reform Treaty means that any member state will have a veto on decisions in relation to Taxation, including Corporation Tax, key areas of Social Policy and Foreign Direct Investment

Improve our ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)
A yes vote on the Lisbon Reform Treaty will enhance Ireland’s reputation as being a good place to do business which is at the Heart of Europe.

Increased access to international markets and power to shape the rules of international trade.
A yes vote on the Lisbon Treaty improves our chances to secure access to international markets and will increase Ireland's weight in shaping the rules of international trade. Ireland is a small open economy, which exports over 80% of every product and service it produces. Through our membership of the EU and the creation of the single market Irish business can now sell many of its products and services to 486 million customers throughout the EU on an equal footing to any other company in the EU. In the past 10 years Irish companies have doubled their exports into EU member states from €44 billion to €87billion.


New business opportunities for Irish companies
A yes vote on the Lisbon Reform Treaty creates the potential for increased opportunities for Irish business particularly in areas subject to increasing liberalisation such as Transport, Energy and the Environment.


Irish business will continue to develop highly skilled jobs
A yes vote on the Lisbon Reform Treaty means Ireland’s employment measures can be further developed and our ability to develop highly skilled jobs will be enhanced.


Now when you're finished digesting that, come back to me and I'll give you some more reasons. If you have any questions I'll be happy to explain the pro's and con's to you.