Word: membership
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...your statement about Blair being "curiously reticent in talking about his own faith ... characteristic of British politicians, not American ones": American politicians who loudly tout their faith are usually touting membership in one of the Christian sects, and rarely Judaism (and even more rarely Islam). The political climate in the U.S. makes it useful to boast about one's belief in Jesus and the Christian God, and political suicide to mention any faith that is focused in a different direction. Can you imagine a candidate for President glowingly referring to an uplifting feeling at a full-moon ritual or celebration...
Many Europeans are surprised that 53% of the Irish, who have done so well out of E.U. membership, should vote against the treaty. All their political leaders bar Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, and all the mainstream newspapers, called for a yes. But Ireland's voters reacted against the establishment telling them what to do by giving it a kicking. A slick no campaign played on fears that the treaty would lead to higher taxes (untrue) and deprive Ireland of its right to appoint an E.U. commissioner (true). The yes campaign failed to provide good reasons for supporting a document...
...unraveling. That leaves two options. One is to bury the Lisbon treaty but try to save some of its key provisions. A few of them, designed to improve cooperation in matters of justice and foreign policy, could perhaps be introduced without a new treaty. Furthermore, the prospect of Croatian membership, expected in two or three years, offers opportunities. Every time a country joins the E.U., voting rules need to be adjusted. Croatia's accession treaty could include the simplified procedure ("double majority voting") that is in the Lisbon treaty...
...Some officials say it will simply be business as usual in the E.U. The treaty, like the abortive constitution that preceded it, was often defended on the grounds that the E.U.'s half-century old institutions, designed for a dozen states, couldn't cope with a membership that has burgeoned to 27. Yet decision-making has improved in some cases, as officials and ministers adapt to their new numbers. Indeed, the Czech government, which will take over the E.U. presidency on January 1, 2009, has already prepared a provisional plan on how to deal with a "no" vote by working...
...your statement about Blair being "curiously reticent in talking about his own faith ... characteristic of British politicians, not American ones": American politicians who loudly tout their faith are usually touting membership in one of the Christian sects, and rarely Judaism (and even more rarely Islam). The political climate in the U.S. makes it useful to boast about one's belief in Jesus and the Christian God, and political suicide to mention any faith that is focused in a different direction. Can you imagine a candidate for President glowingly referring to an uplifting feeling at a full-moon ritual or celebration...