The EU s supposed democratic deficit is a corollary of the technocratic imperative that has emerged as a favorite scapegoat in the ongoing European drama.

Busy with domestic political affairs, they do not hesitate to use Europe as a scapegoat to avoid breaking bad news to their fellow citizens.

Have you forgotten the monopoly of Ahmed Ezz, who everyone asserts was the front for Alaa and Gamal Mubarak who have now discarded him as a scapegoat, and escaped to London leaving their father for us?

While it is tempting to scapegoat the common currency, the fact is that the euro has brought huge economic and financial benefits to Germany, owing to increased trade, greater price stability, more competition, and improved efficiency.

It distracts the ECB, adds to the impression that Europe is bad, and, more importantly, will be used by ineffective governments as a scapegoat for their failings.

A Yes vote, on the other hand, would encourage a reassured Chirac to continue his policy of no reform and scapegoating the ECB.

It's also sad and worrisome to see all sides using culture, tradition and, of course, religion as scapegoats, when the real issue has to do with the deeply ingrained desire of practically all societies to control women.

In these difficult economic times, Switzerland serves as a handy scapegoat, enabling financially challenged states to discharge their frustrations and divert their citizens attention from shortcomings in their own complicated and inefficient tax systems.

Following the events leading up to the Iranian Revolution, he was arrested in the autumn of 1978, together with many other former officials whom the monarchy tried to use as scapegoats in order to prevent its own eventual downfall.

The generalized official verdict, and the use of Lin Piao (once Mao Zedong s Vice President and designated heir, who rebelled against him) and the Gang of Four as scapegoats, obscures the crimes of Mao and the Party, as well as the entrenched flaws in the system.

So, in this scenario, unmasking Luzhkov as corrupt and incompetent, and using him as a scapegoat for Russia s systemic inefficiency, is intended as a way for Medvedev to sway public opinion behind him and make Putin appear out of touch.