Hmm, you are probably right on that one. I've already stated that most of this problems are created locally. And yes, it seems to be common that people do not feel that they are being represented by their government... => another problem.

As for the french, I should really proof-read my comments a bit more, I didn't want to express what came out... I am aware that the constitution and the treaty of lisbon are different ones... but if I remember correctly the lisbon treaty is set to push into service the same set of rules... and is, according to the limited research I've done, treated as the successor of the consitution bill. Hence my mistake with saying the french rejected "this" treaty. Sorry for that.

The constitution itself was a lot more readable then that 300 page treaty we're now facing. I find it generally a bit disturbing that it's so tight-packed that no amateur can ever figure out what's written inside... many of ministers and members of parliament seem not to know that either...

Yeah, the EU is us, that's true. I do not really refer to the EU as them, even though it feels like they are something you don't really have immidiate contact with, especially as you do not hear much about anything in the EU here in germany unless you try real hard.