EJ Dionne on Brexit

[MBS]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lessons-to-learn-from-the-brexit/2016/06/26/2642481e-3a4b-11e6-8f7c-d4c723a2becb_story.html

One of the few good things about Britain’s vote to leave the European Union is the rich curriculum of lessons it offers leaders and electorates in other democracies. History is unlikely to be kind to British Prime Minister David Cameron. Last week’s referendum was not the product of broad popular demand. Cameron called it to solve a short-term political problem and get through an election. His Conservative Party was split on Europe and feared hemorrhaging votes to the right-wing, anti-Europe, anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party (UKIP).

Cameron figured that kicking his troubles down the road by promising a future plebiscite on Europe could make them go away. Instead, he turned a normal electoral challenge into a profound crisis that could lead to the breakup of his country while threatening Europe’s future. The devastating complaint of Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament: “A whole continent is taken hostage because of an internal fight in the Tory party.”

. . . .
Don’t trash democracy or the voters. Where complicated choices are involved — and Brexit defines complexity — leaders in representative democracies need the guts to make hard calls and submit themselves to voters afterward. They should not use referendums purely to evade responsibility. Ethno-nationalism is on the rise across Europe, and this vote will only intensify the trend. But in so many nations, including our own, technological change, globalization and financialization force the left-out to stare at prosperity from a great distance. In their justified frustration, they often see immigration as of a piece with the other changes in the world that they deplore.

Responsible officials should always be ready to denounce racism. But their job description also requires them to provide realistic policy answers to quell the rage. If center-right and center-left politicians fail to do this, their parties will remain suspect. Yet if Britain’s vote is understandable, it’s also a cause for sadness. It’s a vote against a more open world and a rejection of the idea that democracies can actually gain power by pooling sovereignty and seeking goals in common.

[BlueMTexpat]

2. Spot on, E.J.!

[n2doc]

3. But will they learn?

That last point is spot on :Responsible officials should always be ready to denounce racism. But their job description also requires them to provide realistic policy answers to quell the rage.

Mostly what I see are insults- stupid, bigoted, racist, etc. Over 50% voted to leave. Maybe they are all xenophobes. If so, the politicians better figure out why this is so and work damn hard to reverse it. Insults won't do the trick. Insults and ignoring the problem will lead to worse.

[fasttense]

4. The neoliberal EU does NOT seem to carry favor with most working people

This is the 2nd time a country has voted to escape from the EU. When Greece voted for it nothing happened. I think the people's opinion will be ignored yet again.


"A new multi-nation survey from Pew Research Centre finds that Euro-scepticism is on the rise across the EU. It found the EU’s image and stature has been in rapid decline in recent years. In a number of nations the portion of the public with a favourable view of the Brussels-based institutions have fallen markedly in recent years as the economy collapsed. Nevertheless, dogged by defeatism and despair some on the left are terrified of Tory mavericks Gove and Boris. They should recognise that by voting to Remain, these buffoons will still be around. Moreover, they should ask why Cameron, Osborne, the CBI, IMF, WTO, World Bank, US and the entire armoury of finance capital want Britain to Remain. To improve workers rights? Don’t think so. From Yannis Varoufakis to Caroline Lucas—there is no shortage of postmodern opportunists lining up to claim it is better to stay in the EU and try to reform it. What they don’t have—and can’t have—is a strategy. The EU constitution doesn’t allow it."

http://www.alternet.org/world/eu-neoliberal-nightmare

[TomCADem]

5. If not liberal ideals, then do you advocate RW policies?

The label of the moment appears to be neoliberal, which has the word liberal, but the word neo, which reminds folks of the neocons.

What is the difference between liberals and neoliberal? And if neoliberal is just another word for right wing, then why not just say right wing or conservative?