Abstention the best policy if you want to send them a message

I HAVE decided to abstain from voting in the Lisbon referendum.

Why? First of all, I’m finding it hard to throw in my lot with either side. On the one hand we have the establishment parties which we’ve always suspected to be so similar as to be indistinguishable from each other but now they don’t even persist with the illusion, standing side by side in their efforts to push through an already rejected treaty. We’re told, with supreme arrogance, that they’re doing it for the good of the country. In effect, they’re saying we were very silly to vote No the last time and would we ever just cop on? God, lads, you’re embarrassing us in Brussels.

On the No side, you have a ridiculous campaign run by an invisible interest group calling itself Cóir which peddles half-truths and sometimes lies for a purpose that’s not very clear.