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| Local democracy in a post-democratic age. |
The peoples of Europe have been involved in a massive shell and pea game. I’m not quite sure when exactly the switch was made, but it was definitely made sometime, because when the shells stopped moving and we took our pick, there was no pea to be seen. The democracy we thought we were getting had dematerialized into rules, regulations, dictates from Brussels, "human rights" legislation, mind-control from the media, and supranational bodies telling us what to do all the time about everything!
“Where is our democracy?” we feebly ask, confused that, having jumped through the hoops and done the little dance with the ballot papers and boxes, we are still not getting it. Instead we get what they decide to give us. We get what we don’t want – exactly what we don't want. Then, when we complain, we are shown our signatures on the order form. "Yup, that's us," we meekly concur, scratching our heads. "I guess we did vote for that after all, but...but..." No buts. Welcome to post-democracy.
“Where is our democracy?” we feebly ask, confused that, having jumped through the hoops and done the little dance with the ballot papers and boxes, we are still not getting it. Instead we get what they decide to give us. We get what we don’t want – exactly what we don't want. Then, when we complain, we are shown our signatures on the order form. "Yup, that's us," we meekly concur, scratching our heads. "I guess we did vote for that after all, but...but..." No buts. Welcome to post-democracy.
