I really approve of the work you have done and that you are stepping up to propose some solutions to do something about it. The elephant in the room for me is the money system.I read a lot about inflation but I think I missed any references to our current financial system. Apologies if I did. I know we are being moved into another system with its own dire ramifications but the debt based Ponzi scheme we are in, skewed as it is to the benefit of those who make the rules and their cronies has to be one of the major contributors to the shit we are in. Attempting to reform that tends to get you regime changed. I don't think I have any of the practical qualifications you are asking for currently but would like to be of use in the future.
Richard — spot on. Without removing the manacles of the credit/debt system (which to my mind is modern slavery) all of the good ideas in this article are mute. The banksters will not tolerate such reform. It is likely a return to a gold standard would also be required to prevent government deficit spending and the slow creep back into the current predicament.
In order to achieve much of what you outline would necessitate the removal of most of the institutions mentioned and some that were not. Bank of England? The monarchy? The OBR? The aristocracy? Parliamentary democracy itself? They will not go quietly.
As I read, I was also wondering who decides who the “experts” are? Does anyone trust the “experts” any more? I am no expert, but it is plain to me that humans are corruptible, and those who are the most corrupt are attracted to power and they are the ones who end up making the rules (policies).
I’m sorry for the rather negative tone, but those with power, money and control will not simply roll over. They will never revoke their exorbitant privilege. As history teaches us — the things we want must be taken, not asked for. And which political party do you imagine would turn their backs on their former pay and puppet masters? I recently noted Reform have finally thrown the towel in following Jenrick’s speech and pledges of allegiance to the BoE, and OBR, confirming they are just another establishment party.
I’m not suggesting citizens resort to violence (where did that get the French?) Perhaps, instead, Britons should turn their backs on its institutions and form their own. Mass civil disobedience (No, I’m not paying your taxes. Yes, I’m withdrawing my labour) A complete shunning of the establishment. A society within a society. A parallel system. But I cannot imagine enough people willing to make the sacrifices required of such action. We have not yet exhausted our capacity for suffering.
Take my comments with a pinch of salt. I’m on my second Guinness and cynical! 😂
I wish you luck, and if you want a forensic, detail-oriented, and sceptical opinions on your ideas, drop me a line!
Oh, and maybe you should speak with Dominic Cummings about this to stress test your ideas.
The problem is there are so many wishing to protect their own interests. Interests in this case refers to whatever bit of largesse the current system affords them. A referendum today would not achieve Brexit yet getting away from Europe and its communists should be in everyone’s self interest. I think half the country would vote for a party offering them a carve out rather than resist the bribe and vote for individual rights and self reliance. Even here in the States we are fighting the communists and not winning (at least on the left coast, NYC, and much of New England).
So, while I thoroughly support the endeavor, i am hopelessly pessimistic. How do we vote in a strong leader (Trumpesque?) and drain the swamp, without the majority supporting and actively executing the strategy (passion, voice, activism, etc)?
It does seem to me that more people are starting to rebel against the extent to which their preferences are ignored by the blob. The first step to recovery is open and honest discussion. This essay and your project should contribute, I hope, to shifting the Overton window.
We are just beginning that journey in Australia.
That said, I also think you under-estimate the role of politics in course correction. What if we had US-style primaries for candidate selection in each constituency? Could the existing elite consensus survive that shock to the political system?
Great initiative. I wonder how you will avoid your app being swamped by bad actors in the way Wikipedia has been taken over by the left. This will not be an insignificant challenge. Also think of the disastrous Citizens Assemblies. Another fundamental challenge is that making arguments with logic and common sense will be almost impossible when so many are brainwashed, the climate emergency being just one example. Your solution is essentially a technocratic one that won’t be welcomed by those in power - and I don’t mean our government. On a smaller point as the population falls over time the housing crisis will necessarily sort itself out! If you are ever in Manchester we would love you to talk to us about this at our free speech group Politics In Pubs https://politicsinpubs.org.uk.
This is great. One of my biggest frustrations with the current times is how politics now avoids real policy discussion (I don't count the technocratic measures coming out of central government and imposed without mandate as 'policies'). The average person is either switched off from what you rightly characterise as theatre or falls for the performance - hence the rise of the Greens. But real politics requires people engage with policies, which far from being the exclusive domain of experts, are simply collective decisions about how we live together.
So if there was a mantra for what's needed now it would be something like MAKE POLICY SEXY AGAIN.
I really approve of the work you have done and that you are stepping up to propose some solutions to do something about it. The elephant in the room for me is the money system.I read a lot about inflation but I think I missed any references to our current financial system. Apologies if I did. I know we are being moved into another system with its own dire ramifications but the debt based Ponzi scheme we are in, skewed as it is to the benefit of those who make the rules and their cronies has to be one of the major contributors to the shit we are in. Attempting to reform that tends to get you regime changed. I don't think I have any of the practical qualifications you are asking for currently but would like to be of use in the future.
Richard — spot on. Without removing the manacles of the credit/debt system (which to my mind is modern slavery) all of the good ideas in this article are mute. The banksters will not tolerate such reform. It is likely a return to a gold standard would also be required to prevent government deficit spending and the slow creep back into the current predicament.
In order to achieve much of what you outline would necessitate the removal of most of the institutions mentioned and some that were not. Bank of England? The monarchy? The OBR? The aristocracy? Parliamentary democracy itself? They will not go quietly.
As I read, I was also wondering who decides who the “experts” are? Does anyone trust the “experts” any more? I am no expert, but it is plain to me that humans are corruptible, and those who are the most corrupt are attracted to power and they are the ones who end up making the rules (policies).
I’m sorry for the rather negative tone, but those with power, money and control will not simply roll over. They will never revoke their exorbitant privilege. As history teaches us — the things we want must be taken, not asked for. And which political party do you imagine would turn their backs on their former pay and puppet masters? I recently noted Reform have finally thrown the towel in following Jenrick’s speech and pledges of allegiance to the BoE, and OBR, confirming they are just another establishment party.
I’m not suggesting citizens resort to violence (where did that get the French?) Perhaps, instead, Britons should turn their backs on its institutions and form their own. Mass civil disobedience (No, I’m not paying your taxes. Yes, I’m withdrawing my labour) A complete shunning of the establishment. A society within a society. A parallel system. But I cannot imagine enough people willing to make the sacrifices required of such action. We have not yet exhausted our capacity for suffering.
Take my comments with a pinch of salt. I’m on my second Guinness and cynical! 😂
I wish you luck, and if you want a forensic, detail-oriented, and sceptical opinions on your ideas, drop me a line!
Oh, and maybe you should speak with Dominic Cummings about this to stress test your ideas.
The problem is there are so many wishing to protect their own interests. Interests in this case refers to whatever bit of largesse the current system affords them. A referendum today would not achieve Brexit yet getting away from Europe and its communists should be in everyone’s self interest. I think half the country would vote for a party offering them a carve out rather than resist the bribe and vote for individual rights and self reliance. Even here in the States we are fighting the communists and not winning (at least on the left coast, NYC, and much of New England).
So, while I thoroughly support the endeavor, i am hopelessly pessimistic. How do we vote in a strong leader (Trumpesque?) and drain the swamp, without the majority supporting and actively executing the strategy (passion, voice, activism, etc)?
Thanks Richard - much appreciated. One of the solutions the GBRP will be working on is the replacement of the 'elephant in the room' as you call it.
A thoughtful, interesting and sobering analysis. Coincidentally, my own article on the declining quality of UK democracy was published overnight (by my time down under): https://brownstone.org/articles/is-the-uk-still-a-liberal-democracy/
It does seem to me that more people are starting to rebel against the extent to which their preferences are ignored by the blob. The first step to recovery is open and honest discussion. This essay and your project should contribute, I hope, to shifting the Overton window.
We are just beginning that journey in Australia.
That said, I also think you under-estimate the role of politics in course correction. What if we had US-style primaries for candidate selection in each constituency? Could the existing elite consensus survive that shock to the political system?
Great initiative. I wonder how you will avoid your app being swamped by bad actors in the way Wikipedia has been taken over by the left. This will not be an insignificant challenge. Also think of the disastrous Citizens Assemblies. Another fundamental challenge is that making arguments with logic and common sense will be almost impossible when so many are brainwashed, the climate emergency being just one example. Your solution is essentially a technocratic one that won’t be welcomed by those in power - and I don’t mean our government. On a smaller point as the population falls over time the housing crisis will necessarily sort itself out! If you are ever in Manchester we would love you to talk to us about this at our free speech group Politics In Pubs https://politicsinpubs.org.uk.
This is great. One of my biggest frustrations with the current times is how politics now avoids real policy discussion (I don't count the technocratic measures coming out of central government and imposed without mandate as 'policies'). The average person is either switched off from what you rightly characterise as theatre or falls for the performance - hence the rise of the Greens. But real politics requires people engage with policies, which far from being the exclusive domain of experts, are simply collective decisions about how we live together.
So if there was a mantra for what's needed now it would be something like MAKE POLICY SEXY AGAIN.