Clippings- 14 Jan

The EU Needs a great compromise. Where is Ben Franklin when you need him? Although it makes you think- is the two-house system employed in our congress effective enough to warrant our reccomending it to a body such as the EU?

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=600670

Brussels delivers blow to EU referendum hopes

By Stephen Castle in Brussels

14 January 2005

Tony Blair's battle to win a referendum on the European constitution suffered a setback yesterday when the European Commission said the document might have to be revised within the next decade.

The comments from Jose Manuel Barroso, the EC President, undermine one of Downing Street's central arguments: that the constitution will finalise the relationship between the UK and the EU.

At issue is the question of the voting system in the constitution which is based on the populations of member states. Projections show Turkey will be the EU's most populous county within decades, so giving it greater decision-making weight than Germany, the UK or France.

In the French daily, Le Figaro, Mr Barroso sought to reassure French opinion by trying to separate the constitution from the question of Turkish membership. He said: "If there is a need to change the rules later we will do it. But that is not the issue today." His spokeswoman, Francoise Le Bail, added: "When the time comes to change the constitution we will discuss it but the time has not come."

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"Eau de Paris." Is there a market for Parisiene tap water in Paris? The government is trying to convince you that there is.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=600264

Even teachers can't put stickers in our textbooks. The judge said that would be unconstitutional. Guess it just goes to show what happens when you get all uppity.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/13/evolution.textbooks.ruling/index.html