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Except that the real power is with the Commission, not the MEPs. It's the opposite of the UK parliamentary system, where the (elected) House of Commons initiate

Except that the real power is with the Commission, not the MEPs. It's the opposite of the UK parliamentary system, where the (elected) House of Commons initiates legislation and the (unelected) House of Lords occasionally returns it with small suggestions for change. Here, the MEPs effectively rubber stamp the legislation initiated by the Commission (who knows, they may even make it to the Commission one day if they behave). It's all very well trotting out the line that "they can can shortcut Parliaments and pass the sort of laws that any right-thinking person should support, or the proles on the street might not understand", but that's the crux of my objection. The democratic rights of the populace were never yours or theirs to subvert or give away. As Tony Benn wisely said, "I'd rather have a bad Parliament than a good King".

ben_w 9y ago
I have never understood why proposing, rather than analysing and modifying, laws is considered more important. Every so often the UK House of Lords gets in the news for “wrecking amendments”. There is enough power in each domain that I am comfortable with only the MEPs being directly elected in the EU, and with leaving the Lords unelected in the UK until (like this will ever happen) there is enough time to replace them with a carefully thought out alternative.
- timrichard 9y ago
  I have to disagree about the House of Lords just as a point of principle, because I don't agree with a higher authority made up of the clergy, aristocrats, and political stooges. There are some exceptions, but I don't think it's an unfair caricature by the British people that the HOL are symbolic, senile or sedated.
  - ben_w 9y ago
    Although I agree with you on the principles, I regard this as the constitutional equivalent of refactoring: it’s a part of the system that smells fishy and was written on punched cards, but it works and there are always more important problems to solve. Also, there is so much more that also needs to be refactored…
gadders 9y ago
And this article [1] on how Jean-Claude Junker made his chief of staff general secretary of the commission will tell you how corrupt it is. [1] https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/a-very-eu-coup-martin-selmayrs-astonishing-power-grab/ https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/a-very-eu-coup-martin-se...

ben_w 9y ago

I have never understood why proposing, rather than analysing and modifying, laws is considered more important. Every so often the UK House of Lords gets in the news for “wrecking amendments”. There is enough power in each domain that I am comfortable with only the MEPs being directly elected in the EU, and with leaving the Lords unelected in the UK until (like this will ever happen) there is enough time to replace them with a carefully thought out alternative.

timrichard 9y ago
I have to disagree about the House of Lords just as a point of principle, because I don't agree with a higher authority made up of the clergy, aristocrats, and political stooges. There are some exceptions, but I don't think it's an unfair caricature by the British people that the HOL are symbolic, senile or sedated.
- ben_w 9y ago
  Although I agree with you on the principles, I regard this as the constitutional equivalent of refactoring: it’s a part of the system that smells fishy and was written on punched cards, but it works and there are always more important problems to solve. Also, there is so much more that also needs to be refactored…

gadders 9y ago

And this article [1] on how Jean-Claude Junker made his chief of staff general secretary of the commission will tell you how corrupt it is. [1] https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/a-very-eu-coup-martin-selmayrs-astonishing-power-grab/ https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/a-very-eu-coup-martin-se...