Paris. The French went ahead and did it. Despite being lectured by government and party leaders, media pundits and foreign leaders flown in from neighboring countries, all telling them that they must vote ‘yes’ to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European Union or the sky would fall, a solid majority of 55% voted ‘no’! The high turnout of 70% gave the rejection indisputable credibility.

This was essentially a vote against dogmatic free market policies, and the type of economic globalization being pursued by the ‘neo-liberal’ free marketeers.

The ‘non’ was resounding, and, for those who were listening, the message was clear. But who was really listening?

The day after the vote, mainstream politicians and media were all scurrying to misinterpret the event to suit their own repudiated agendas. No wonder, because the referendum result amounted to an extraordinary rejection not only of a bad text, but also of the whole political class — newspaper and television commentators included — who had zealously resorted to every possible exhortation, deception and threat to sell the ‘oui’ vote.

And it was not only the ardent salesmanship of the familiar faces on the screen that was rejected. The ‘non’ was also an expression of exasperation with the whole lot of mainstream politicians and media stars, the ‘oui-ouistes’ as they were dubbed, for years of preening self-satisfaction and unfulfilled promises as more and more businesses shut down leaving employees out in the cold. Part of the satisfaction of voting ‘non’ was to watch television and see the consternation on all those familiar faces, and listen to each one’s frantic attempts to blame the others for the disaster in

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