December 14, 2003

In other good news... the EU Constitutional Convention Collapsed.

And it collapsed over the issue of the big countries want a bigger voice in voting than the little countries. Hmmmm. Where have we heard that argument before? Hmmmm. In the 1780's? How'd we settle that one? With a true, bicameral legislature. The type that several parliamentary systems ape the the shape of, but not the true power distribution of, our two-tier system. Tony Blair has been busy reducing the Lords' power and stacking it with his cronies by appointment, and the canadian system works in a very similiar fashion.

Here's a thought - develop a true Senatorial body. Prime Ministers will hate it when it gets in the way, just as Presidents hate it when it gets in the way here in Washington.

Which of course, is why I like it. I think that it should always be very very very hard for politicians to get things done that don't enjoy a very broad already-existing consensus. I don't mind divided government because it usually means no one gets as much as they wanted - which tends to keep outcomes centered.

Note to Patrońs who just wanted the peons to lay back and take the received wisdom... building a truly useful Constitution - one that will endure and not just be hacked, whacked, and slashed and added to at whim - is a long process of consensus building, full of compromise, so that no one interest gets everything it wants. Just like a government should be.

The article is here.

John | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | General Commentary
Comments on In other good news... the EU Constitutional Convention Collapsed.
Jack briefed on December 14, 2003 09:02 AM

I agree with you 100% that not only is Constitution writing a long process of consensus building requiring compromise along with democratic government. I am beginning to fear that we in the United States are losing our ability to compromise with each other.

I believe in the system of government we have here in the United States, it is one of the few things I believe in deeply. What I see in the news and in the blogosphere is troubling to me. Extremism seems to dominate over those of the center who are willing to try to understand "the other side". With accusations of "traitor" flying left and right, I think we are forgetting that we are all Americans.