Brexit has chaos theory written all over it. While some of the principal players and systems may be predictable with a degree of confidence better than a coin toss, anyone who professes to know the myriad of consequences on society as a result of whatever exit the UK manages to make is an expert only in crystal balls.
- Dr. Ian Malcolm, well known expert
I’ve namechanged for this, otherwise it might be too
outing.™
• I voted Brexit.
No, this isn't another
Pumped for Trump bait-and-switch. I do swear and solemnly affirm the above bullet point.
I'm not a Tory. Nor do I automatically support Labour, or any of the other parties. I simply don’t belong to a political party, and never shall. I believe the UK took a vote, and it should be honoured; what’s more, I’m glad that mad bad Boris is trying to make it happen, for whatever reason, including democracy.
Parliament has been worse than useless. I’m sorry they were apparently unlawfully prorogued, but that’s a better fate than I would have meted out, which would be to set them on a barge for a Viking funeral. They’d be free to jump off, but I doubt they could reach a consensus.
You could of course take the view that they’ve been a useful roadblock. I might be looking at it that way too, were I a remainer appalled at the outcome of an advisory referendum.
Mark Twain wrote: "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Duly noted and appreciated.
Nasties backed leave, and nasties backed remain. Bedfellows don't matter. I had my own reasons for ticking that box – as did everyone else for choosing as they did – and it wasn’t on the side of a bus, or implanted into my head by [pick a villain]. Nobody should be ashamed about exercising their right to vote.
It is worrying and ridiculous that so many people seem unable to discuss Brexit, at least online, without spitting bile and splitting into tribes camped in echo chambers (one of those phrases now groaning with overuse, but no less applicable for that). Even making this available for theoretical public consumption gave me pause.
Well, it's done. If we exit without a deal or a bad one and the world comes crashing down, you know where to find me. I'll be here at my little printing press, perhaps
quoting the prince of the humanists: "No Man is wise at all Times, or is without his blind Side."
Spoiler
What Corbyn Got Wrong About BrexitThis debacle has important lessons for the left everywhere. In an era where traditional left and social-democratic parties have dramatically weakened ties with their erstwhile working-class bases, they will very rarely, if ever, get to decide the terms on which people revolt against the neoliberal order, precisely because they are not leading the people. The people are, in fact, out in front of them. If the left then reacts in horror, and recoils from the people and the prospect of fundamental change, the leadership of anti-establishment revolts will fall, merely by default, to the right. 