John Sheaff states in a letter to the Times (02 June 2005) states that the American constitution can be read and understood in half an hour. True, but greater study of it seems to diminish understanding. It is an article of faith at the law schools of American universities that the constitution promises a right to legal abortion but nowhere contains the phrase "right to keep and bear arms".
If a document as clear and concise as the US constitution can be interpreted in such a counter-intuitive manner, it gives me real concerns as to the diverse meanings that might be found in the 400 page document emanating from Brussels.