When Ireland voted No to the Nice Treaty they just made us vote again until they got the answer they wanted. The EU Constitution is too long, it's too wordy, it's too detailed. A Constitution is a core document, a declaration of intent. It's supposed to clarify things. They've gone the wrong way about pleasing everybody, by including far too much instead of making a simple, relevant-to-everybody document.
The US Constitution has survived so relatively intact for so long because it says what it bloody well means. Compare the opening lines:
US Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. "
That's nice. It's formal but lean, it says where we're going with this, and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. And if it gets a little murkier further in, well, we've started well. From there, you hit Article 1, which is about the powers of Congress. Off to a flying start.
Whereas, the EU Constitution, not including the two page table of contents, starts thus:
EU Constitution:
"DRAWING INSPIRATION from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law,
BELIEVING that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences, intends to continue along the path of civilisation, progress and prosperity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and most deprived; that it wishes to remain a continent open to culture, learning and social progress; and that it wishes to deepen the democratic and transparent nature of its public life, and to strive for peace, justice and solidarity throughout the world,
CONVINCED that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their former divisions and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny,
CONVINCED that, thus "˜United in diversity', Europe offers them the best chance of pursuing, with due regard for the rights of each individual and in awareness of their responsibilities towards future generations and the Earth, the great venture which makes of it a special area of human hope,
DETERMINED to continue the work accomplished within the framework of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and the Treaty on European Union, by ensuring the continuity of the Community acquis,
GRATEFUL to the members of the European Convention for having prepared the draft of this Constitution on behalf of the citizens and States of Europe..."
See what I mean? It's trying to say something reasonably nice, but it's drowning in all the needless crap. There are 50 word sentences in there - and we aren't even into the actual meat of the thing yet. You could have said exactly the same thus:
"United in Diversity, to progress from our past, we the people of Europe hold this as our Constitution, to benefit all member nations equally and secure the rights of each individual. "
That sounds like a moany complaint, but that stuff is important. We need to be on the same page here. If it takes three pages for us to say "This is our Constitution" how on Earth does that achieve anything? If that takes so much effort, how do we make sure we understand the important stuff the same way?
