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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/05/your-opinions-brexit-relish-southern-rail-chaos-and-the-decline-of-democracy
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| Your opinions: Brexit relish, Southern rail chaos and the decline of democracy | Your opinions: Brexit relish, Southern rail chaos and the decline of democracy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Welcome to our space – open every Wednesday from 10am-2pm – for discussing the day’s top Opinion articles. We’d like to begin today with three articles. | Welcome to our space – open every Wednesday from 10am-2pm – for discussing the day’s top Opinion articles. We’d like to begin today with three articles. |
| First off is Rafael Behr on how an excitement for Brexit has gripped the Conservative party’s grassroots, affirmed by Theresa May’s embrace of it this week. Behr likens her to a preacher, leading the party’s reformation, with ripples of ecstasy washing across members as the prime minister affirmed her commitment to Brexit. He writes: | |
| The Tories do not speak for all of England, but in the absence of credible opposition they feel as if they do, and will act accordingly. To those millions who did not vote to leave the EU, the message is clear: you are free to pray for whatever you like. Your antique rites will be tolerated. But do not expect your concerns to be represented in the court of Queen Theresa. | The Tories do not speak for all of England, but in the absence of credible opposition they feel as if they do, and will act accordingly. To those millions who did not vote to leave the EU, the message is clear: you are free to pray for whatever you like. Your antique rites will be tolerated. But do not expect your concerns to be represented in the court of Queen Theresa. |
| What do you think? How do you feel about May’s zeal for hard Brexit? Are we witnessing a reformation in the Church of Conservatism, with the authority of Brussels cast as a modern-day Rome? What did you make of May’s remarks this week? | What do you think? How do you feel about May’s zeal for hard Brexit? Are we witnessing a reformation in the Church of Conservatism, with the authority of Brussels cast as a modern-day Rome? What did you make of May’s remarks this week? |
| Read the full article here. | Read the full article here. |
| Elsewhere George Monbiot has expressed concerns about whether direct democracy in fact works anymore. He said that people power can challenge the status quo, but only if we understand our political system has inherent flaws. He writes: | Elsewhere George Monbiot has expressed concerns about whether direct democracy in fact works anymore. He said that people power can challenge the status quo, but only if we understand our political system has inherent flaws. He writes: |
| Direct democracy – referendums and citizens’ initiatives – seems to produce even worse results. In the US initiatives are repeatedly used by multimillion-dollar lobby groups to achieve results that state legislatures won’t grant them. They tend to replace taxes with user fees, stymie the redistribution of wealth and degrade public services. Whether representative or direct, democracy comes to be owned by the elites. | Direct democracy – referendums and citizens’ initiatives – seems to produce even worse results. In the US initiatives are repeatedly used by multimillion-dollar lobby groups to achieve results that state legislatures won’t grant them. They tend to replace taxes with user fees, stymie the redistribution of wealth and degrade public services. Whether representative or direct, democracy comes to be owned by the elites. |
| What do you think? What if democracy doesn’t work? What if it never has and never will? What if government of the people, by the people, for the people is a fairytale? | What do you think? What if democracy doesn’t work? What if it never has and never will? What if government of the people, by the people, for the people is a fairytale? |
| Read the full article here. | Read the full article here. |
| Finally, Catherine Shoard wrote about Southern Rail, saying now is the time to stand up for the conductors, guards and station staff as more rail operators chase greater profits. She writes: | Finally, Catherine Shoard wrote about Southern Rail, saying now is the time to stand up for the conductors, guards and station staff as more rail operators chase greater profits. She writes: |
| If the Southern Rail fiasco has taught us anything it’s surely that travellers need to stand (conveniently) shoulder to shoulder against operating companies, rather than maintain their usual mutual aloofness. An attempt by Southern to get passengers to tweet angrily against the RMT union backfired spectacularly when 90% of the responses called Southern out for their own incompetence. Such groupthink points the way, for as more companies chase greater profits, conductors, guards and station staff will be endangered across the network. If we value them, we need to pull together. Budging up a bit is also appreciated. | If the Southern Rail fiasco has taught us anything it’s surely that travellers need to stand (conveniently) shoulder to shoulder against operating companies, rather than maintain their usual mutual aloofness. An attempt by Southern to get passengers to tweet angrily against the RMT union backfired spectacularly when 90% of the responses called Southern out for their own incompetence. Such groupthink points the way, for as more companies chase greater profits, conductors, guards and station staff will be endangered across the network. If we value them, we need to pull together. Budging up a bit is also appreciated. |
| What do you think? Do commuters need to stand together? What can we do to improve the rail systems? What are your experiences? | What do you think? Do commuters need to stand together? What can we do to improve the rail systems? What are your experiences? |
| Read the full article here. | Read the full article here. |
| This page will be updated throughout the morning with new articles for discussion. Get involved below the line now. | This page will be updated throughout the morning with new articles for discussion. Get involved below the line now. |