Citizens of the Czech Republic, about to vote in the referendum on their country’s entry into the EU, were shocked to find in their inboxes yesterday an email from their Prime Minister. Is this e-politics? They do not think so and they certainly are not impressed. The Prime Minister spamming, er, addressing the nation.
A Czech blogger comments on AcidLog:
I don’t know who thought up the campaign, but I know that if a commercial product were marketed this way, the company would be doomed.
He also provides the text of the email. Judge for yourselves:
Dear citizens,
The moment of a serious decision is close, which should be made by each of us confidently and independently. It is a decision that is beyond the boundaries of the everyday political disputes and squabbling. We are deciding the future of our country for decades. Those who say that the decision we make this Friday and Saturday is a ‘draft’ one are wrong. This is not the case. The referendum is binding and the result will determine whether the Czech Republic enters the European Union or whether it will chose a long period of isolation. Every one of us has experienced a moment in his life when an opportunity was missed and it never came back.
Vladimir Spidla
Prime Minister
Although the blogger intents to vote yes, he lists a number of arguments used by the anti-EU campaigners: the EU’s murky financial management, scandals regarding selection of agencies (presumably refering to allocation of EU contracts), the idiotic pseudo-documentaries on TV insulting the viewers’ intelligence, the scandal with real EU citizens (perhaps some local affair), leaflets full of newspeak and arguments notable by their absence and concert by one of the divas of Czech pop.
Despite the obvious sarcasm, it seems that the level of anti-EU campaigning in the ‘New Europe’ is pitifully inadequate. They have a lot to overcome as the EU propaganda gives a powerful incentive to the average Czech citizen. Tomas Kohl explains:
People from UK or abroad know little about the quality and range of arguments presented here to convince the public to say Yes. Instead of focusing on heavy issues like economic and monetary policy, questions about sovereignty, foreign relations, the government plays the game of nonsense issues and tries to lure us with sweet promises of a better tomorrow.
Following are the main selling points of the ongoing pro-EU propaganda, paid by taxpayers:
The borders will disappear, people will be able to travel freely
We’ll be able to study in EU countries for free
We’ll be able to work anywhere in the EU
We’ll get a large chunk of money from Brussels
More security
Tomas’s appeal to the British is touching:
I just pray the Brits won’t accept that damn Constitution that is coming their way. Britain has been the most prominent power player holding Europhile madmen from doing the worst things for some time. If they lose, we can elect conservative party in 2006 and it won’t matter anymore. Guys, wake up!
Yeah, let’s wake up and do something… It might be a good idea to notice the countries that we know so little about and care even less. After all they did come out in support of the Anglosphere, incurring the wrath of Chirac in the process and jeopardizing the candies he was graciously considering handing out to them. The civil societies there are still very fragile and without a heavy-weight ally they stand no chance against the EU Federasts.
Another Czech blogger sums up his thoughts on the issue in a graphic succinctly named “Entry to the EU”.
After reading this fantastic article I was reminded that Kafka was a Czech. He was a bit mixed up too.
So the Checz blogger doesn’t like the EU but he is going to vote “yes” anyway. One worries how such a critically rational man can argue the facts to such a conclusion. I suppose communism has an awful, lasting effect on the mind although I suspect the real reason for his vote is economic.
Europe represents (is!) the largest single market in the world. Failing any other offers – he is left with choosing the “best” of what is available however unpalatable some details may then be.
Our friend Tomas goes on to add,
“I just pray the Brits won’t accept that damn Constitution that is coming their way.”
Well, its alright for him to say that. Unlike the Czechs, the British are still waiting for a written consititution. At least the eurocrats have got as far as writing one and asking if we like it. After paying taxes for over 1000 years the British have yet to enjoy a domestic variety of this luxury. (maybe we should privatise it…)
As for “electing the conservative party and it would not matter”, well he’s probably right. That Ian Duncan Cough is next to useless.
However what I want to know is how did this Czech president get all the email addresses in the first place? Don’t tell me someone is saving all the email addresses in the Czech republic for political reasons. Heaven forbid… another thing to add to the consitution, methinks!
I have noticed that one of the big attractions for everyone is that if they join the EU they’ll get “a large chunk of money from Brussels”.
But that’s not even a zero-sum game. Taxation comes into the government, some of it is consumed, and then the remainder goes back out. It isn’t possible for everyone to get more from the Eu than they pay into it. Just who is it that everyone thinks is going to be the loser in this shell game?
As I understand it, right now Germany is. France is a net winner and Germany’s getting soaked. But if the German economy tanks, where will the money come from? (And if taxes are raised even further for all this, how in hell can the German economy avoid tanking?)
Steven Den Beste: I think you underestimate how the ability to travel and work in Western Europe matters to the Czechs and other East Europeans. Until they can do that, there will be two Europes – the West and East.
I don’t think they are naive enough to believe they will get a lot of money. The conditions under which they are allowed to join, they are not entitled to any of the major subsidies and other goodies that are a major drain on the EU budget. Just allowing Polish farmers to benefit from the CAP would bankrupt the EU very quickly. Hey, there’s a thought!
Stefan is right, Germany can’t pay for French foreign fantasy policy for ever. Gabriel is right – it’s the freedom to work in the West Easterners want, though of course they’d like money for nothing much much more.
And yes, mad dog, where did the Czech government get all those e-mail addresses, eh? Do Continentals even consider that kind of stateist databasing insolent?
Actually, the Czech government BOUGHT those 2 million email adresses via its PR agency. They’re downplaying it right now, saying it was a mistake.
Yeah, whatever.
Now, even though I am known for opposing the current form of the Union, I must confirm that the ability of working and traveling the continent freely is a major thing for those of us who feel like doing it. Earning big bucks and drinking Guiness at night sounds like fun 🙂
‘m not uncritical of a lot of what the EU does, but it makes more sense to join for those countries who can.
In Poland, which recently voted to join the EU, the debate was very lopsided.
The only public voices against the EU were from extreme religious and rightwing parties like the fascist-lite League of Polish Families or populist demagogues like Self-Defense movement leader Andrzej Lepper.
Having born the brunt of WWII and almost 50 years of Soviet-satellite-hood (with a martial law period thrown in for good measure) Polish people are not nearly as frightened of the EU as your average Samizdata writer here seems to be. I think the general opinion is that if things don’t work out, Poland can leave the EU. (nb: it’s extremely difficult to get Poles to do something they don’t want to)
Another thing to think about: Why don’t you Samizdata people have more imagination?
What makes you think the EU with half-a-dozen-plus new members from Central and Eastern Europe will be the same EU that exists now?
Polish people are not nearly as frightened of the EU as your average Samizdata writer here seems to be.
That is because they do not understand it and have been subjected to a great deal of propaganda.
Another thing to think about: Why don’t you Samizdata people have more imagination? What makes you think the EU with half-a-dozen-plus new members from Central and Eastern Europe will be the same EU that exists now?
Oh we have lots of imagination… and of course it will be a very different EU. For a start, it will end up costing Britain a great deal more as pressure mounts to end Britain’s rebate. Still, there is always the joy of knowing that eventually the inefficient Eastern European agricultural economies will completely bankrupt the Common Agricultural Policy, and hopefully eventually lead to the EU’s economic implosion. Likewise, as pressure from Western trade unions to impose the same regulations to the eastern labour markets mounts and above all, similar wage levels (something that of course eastern organised labour will enthusiastically and suicidally support as well), Eastern Europe business will discover far too late that its one solitary competitive advantage will have been eroded and that too will lead to anti-EU sentiments that may prove fatal. I have the imagination to think up all sorts of nice nightmare scenarios. Yes, it will certainly be a ‘different EU’ than the one which exists now.
“Why don’t you Samizdata people have more imagination? ”
“…and then Pandora paused to wonder what was in the box. Ignoring the advice so recently given to her she turned the key and pushed open the lid. In a moment her curiosity was answered…”
…and similar famous moments from history. Of course the quote above was not written about the EU. But it could have been.
Now if you want us to be really imaginative…
..but that’s another story.
Goodnight!