Re: Germany welcomes euro

[Doug Henwood <dhenwood@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chris Burford wrote:

> According to the German polling organisation, Emnid, the popularity
> of the euro has leapt up with its introduction in Germany.
>
> Last quarter last year only 33% thought it right to introduce the
> euro. This month 65% support the decision.
>
> Three quarters believe that the intoduction of the euro will also
> lead to close political union.
>
> This is an interesting lesson in guided democracy, since a
> referendum in Germany at any time up to this month might well have
> derailed the euro project. But the interests of large capital
> prevailed, and once achieved the mass of the people see the
> advantages of a large market and a large state.

It's not just that - it shows how polls operate within the status
quo. Slavoj Zizek has an analysis of this somewhere making the point
that while some policy may not poll well at first, if a politician
were to make a big case out of it, it could change the whole frame of
debate.

Doug