The left must call the right's bluff – and challenge the EU

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/13/left-right-challenge-eu

All the criticisms have focused on Cameron abandoning Britain's place at the negotiating table. Those on the left should have no truck with Cameron's position. It was about defending the pre-eminent power of the City, whose firms provide more than half the Conservatives' funding. Despite empty government rhetoric about Britain going back to "making things", the City still calls the shots.

But that does not mean the left should be applauding the EU treaty. It could hardly be more disastrous for the European left. At a stroke, it effectively abolishes social democratic governments in the eurozone. As Paul Mason put it, "by enshrining in national and international law the need for balanced budgets and near-zero structural deficits, the eurozone has outlawed expansionary fiscal policy". Furthermore, all eurozone budgets must be submitted to the unelected European Commission for approval.

There will be those who believe that a fiscal stimulus in the current economic climate would be disastrous, and they are entitled to that view. But it is up to the people of Europe to decide at the ballot box. As Economist columnist Bagehot points out, it would become "pointless" to vote for a party that advocates "Keynesian stimulus policies or tax cuts". It's difficult to disagree with his understated conclusion: "That feels politically very dodgy to me."

But more broadly, now is an opportunity for the left to stop abandoning the EU debate to UKIP and Tory rightwingers like the NHS-hating Daniel Hannan. It is a travesty that highlighting the EU's palpable lack of democracy has become a rightwing issue. Why should European commissioners nobody elected issue diktats? Here the left can call the right's bluff. Why not call for the abolition of the commission in favour of an administration made up of elected members of the European parliament, for example?

[reggie the dog]

1. a great article

i will use this with my french university students next month