Brexit: Technocracy vs. Democracy
Does the EU referendum and #brexit debate boil down to a simple choice between a EU technocracy or British democracy?
Did anyone watch Newsnight last night? Steve Hilton, author of 'More Human', was interviewed on Brexit. It was the first honest dicussion on the EU referendum that made me sit up an think about the real issues at the heart of this debate. He made the point that the EU has become a technocracy and is not a deomcracy. It is run by a technological elite that have become unaccountable to the electorate. He made the point that Brexit is an opportunity for the electorate to redress this problem and take back power from Brussels so that we can make decisions locally that affect us. What do you think? Is the EU referendum an opportunity to protect our democratic principles? I was firmly in the REMAIN camp; I may now change my mind.
If you haven't read Steve Hilton's book 'More Human' I would recommend it. You may not agree with everything he promotes in the book, but each page is full interesting ideas and concepts and challenges the status quo.
Did anyone watch Newsnight last night? Steve Hilton, author of 'More Human', was interviewed on Brexit. It was the first honest dicussion on the EU referendum that made me sit up an think about the real issues at the heart of this debate. He made the point that the EU has become a technocracy and is not a deomcracy. It is run by a technological elite that have become unaccountable to the electorate. He made the point that Brexit is an opportunity for the electorate to redress this problem and take back power from Brussels so that we can make decisions locally that affect us. What do you think? Is the EU referendum an opportunity to protect our democratic principles? I was firmly in the REMAIN camp; I may now change my mind.
If you haven't read Steve Hilton's book 'More Human' I would recommend it. You may not agree with everything he promotes in the book, but each page is full interesting ideas and concepts and challenges the status quo.
Great to see you thinking outside the box. How will this affect the NHS? You seemed to think staying in the EU would protec the NHS. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRe: "...staying in the EU would protect the NHS."
DeleteYes, that is what I have been led to believe. I will need to check out the facts. Jeremy Corbyn was using the NHS argument yesterday to support Labour's REMAIN campaign. He was not very convincing.
My biggest concern is if we leave the EU we will become 'Little England'. Leaving will almost certainly trigger a second Socttish referendum and this time Scotland will almost certainly leave the Kingdom. If that occurs what will happen to Northern Ireland? And Wales?
DeleteWhat is my indentity London, English, British or European? I like to think of myself as a Londoner living in Europe. I am definitely not English.
Interesting... Hardly hear a word about it here in the USA. Media is completely blanketed by elections and the news cycles. Hopefully we get some real assault weapons legislation.
ReplyDeleteUS Federal Reserve says Brexit a factor in rates hold decision: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36544022
DeleteYes, the economic consequences of a brexit are an unknown, but potentially very problematic for the US and world economy. For example, it may lead to the break-up of the EU that will unsettle the world economy.
DeleteMy personal thoughts towards a more global scope that really stretches broadband is that globalization really needs to have the brakes applied some. The march has been going on for many years now. Its time for a break, a step back with a granular review and appropriate adjustments.
ReplyDeleteMany many aspects of what many many a nation has struggled through thus far and will need cope with and overcome in the future are direct and indirectly caused by the march to globalization.
Globalization is perhaps the most complex goal that humanity has ever faced. We all as individuals have little control over its forward or backwards movement. We as world citizens do however have a voice as a global community. A voice needs to exist to allow individuals to be both informed and advocate the masses.
I didn't watch the Newsnight with Steve Hilton and I haven't read his book either.
ReplyDeleteHere are a few of my thoughts, as a Greek living and working in London, while it happens to be a PwMS.
On one hand, I believe that the EU is undemocratic and it shows its worst face the last few years. The interventions, especially the financial ones by the EU, and even worse by the ECB (European Central Bank) into the politics of multiple countries are clear. Especially the governments of the so-called PIGS (i.e. Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain) have had to pass many laws against their peoples' interests in order to satisfy the EU and the euro-zone.
Moreover, we shouldn't forget that the EU started back in 1951 as the European Coal and Steel Community, which was a cartel. Its administration was the one of a cartel, and it still remains the same.
The idea of uniting the European people was a very nice project, but I am afraid it has failed. In that sense, I would think it would be better for the UK to leave the EU. Nobody wants to be a member of a failed project and I cannot see the reason why the UK would like to be a member of it.
I would be happy to see the UK giving a black eye to the EU. Not as a revenge of what it has done to my country, Greece, but because it is undemocratic and always favours the interests of corporations even if they are in conflict with people's interests. The EU turns a blind eye when families of refugees are dying in the Mediterranean Sea and when the younger generations from Southern Europe have no future in their countries and are forced to emigrate, therefore it deserves to get a black eye now.
However, I am afraid that if the UK leaves the EU, then it would be because of xenophobia and the paneuropean rise of extreme right-wing parties. The majority of those supporting to LEAVE are the ones being scared by the Polish plumbers and the Romanian builders.
I will be disgusted with the scenario of Johnson/Farage formulating the British policies, Marie Lepen doing the same in France or the nazis of Golden Dawn in Greece.
Europe has had enough with that and with hatred among different countries. And indeed, the EU has helped significantly in soothing the hatred and the differences. Jo Cox's murder shows us how the future will be if we give ground to those who don't tolerate anyone thinking/acting differently than them. Anything that is different from their race, religion, interests, sexual preferences has to be killed.
On a different note, one should not neglect that the foundation of many European organizations/bodies has greatly improved science, technology, medicine, engineering, etc. It will be a shame if the UK stops contributing to them (and being benefited by these advances).
As a foreigner in the UK, I have been benefited a lot by coming from another European country. At the same time, the UK has been benefited by getting a big chunk of my salary through taxation, while it didn't spend any money on my education. I am not sure then whether the UK will be really better off by imposing restrictions to thousands of skilled and high-educated people who want to live/work here. And yes, the NHS is losing money because of my monthly infusions for MS, but until recently, just before I was diagnosed with MS, it was gaining a lot of money from me.
I would have preferred it if this referendum didn't take place. Simply because a definitive answer cannot be given. If REMAIN wins, does it mean that the British accept/legalize the fundamental EU's problem, its undemocratic behaviour? If LEAVE wins, are we confident that the UK will be stronger and it won't turn xenophobic? Such complex questions cannot be answered by an oversimplified YES/NO or REMAIN/LEAVE.
Anyway, the EU disassembly won't be caused by Brexit. The EU is falling apart on its own and a potential Brexit will only accelerate it.
Thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree the way the EU has dealt with the Greek economic crisis is a very good example of a technocracy at work and not a democracy. Maybe the Brexit movement, and the rise of extreme parties in most EU conuntries (right and left wing parties) will trigger much needed reform within the EU? If not I agree it is doomed. We need the EU to become democratic and to allow its citizens to have a real voice.
DeleteJust arrived in Rome for a meeting. Came through the EU passport queue in less than 5 minutes. The non-EU passport queue was very long and was being processed slowly; computer checks, stamps, etc. I assume in the event of a Brexit we will end-up in the non-EU queue. Not good.
ReplyDelete