Turning And Turning

[poliphilo]

One thing that's become clear from the Brexit process is that our oppositional, two-party political system is no longer working for us. The ideologies we've carried over from the 20th century were appropriate to a civilisation in its industrial phase- and that's no longer who we are. Membership of the EU isn't an issue which divides us along the old lines of left and right. Neither is climate change. Neither is globalisation. I don't know what our democracy will look like after it emerges from its present state of confusion but if it's to survive it will have to change...

"And what rough beast...?" But who says it has to be rough, perhaps it will be gentle.

Comments

[cmcmck]

The tribalism of UK politics makes it very hard to break the system enough to force a rethink!

[poliphilo]

I think the tribalism is diminishing. And it's been sorely tested by Brexit.

[oakmouse]

The US is in much the same condition, and it's not going well at all.

[poliphilo]

I think it's happening across the Western World. Democracy as we've been practicing it is in crisis. Look at France: President Macron has something like an insurrection on his hands- and is telling his police to use live ammunition against the gilets jaunes.

[oakmouse]

Dear gods, I knew that Macron has the worst judgment in western Europe, but I didn't know he was quite that bad.

Yes, democracy as practiced is in a deep crisis and I don't see a way clear as of yet. We may stumble into one, but I suspect it'll be by accident.