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Samizdata quote of the day – UK fraying democracy edition Britain is also eerily emulating a pattern of democratic backsliding; from India to Mexico, authoritarian governments “test-drive” what they can get away with at local level first. By conveniently delaying elections at a time when council tax is set to rise, Labour risks setting a wicked precedent for “taxation without representation”.
– Sherelle Jacobs, Daily Telegraph (£).
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“when council tax is about to rise” – Council Tax, in councils that have responsibility for Adult Social Care and Children’s Services goes up by the maximum allowed by law (4.9%).
The statement quoted in the post implies that Council Tax increases are subject to local democratic control and who people vote for makes some sort of fundamental difference – that does not fit the facts.
There is also the point that these councils, the ones that are having elections cancelled, are being abolished anyway.
However, all the above being said – I am still AGAINST cancelling these elections.
Partly because the local government reorganization is pointless – the line that it will “save money” and “deliver better services” is Moonshine.
But also because people should have the opportunity to register a protest – against both the local government reorganization (the creation of bigger councils) and a protest against the national government.
As for Mexico and India.
The government of Mexico is not to my taste, it is a government of the left and I am person of the right.
But, just because I do not like it – does not mean it is not democratic, the majority of Mexicans seem to support it.
And why attack India?
I do not understand why India is being attacked – the last government in India that (arguably) attacked democracy was Mrs Gandhi’s “Emergency Rule” – but that was 50 years ago.
British people, at least in political circles, often talk about our liberty and democracy.
We can argue about the liberty to keep and bear arms (the old definition of a free person), but can we at least agree that liberty includes Freedom of Speech? We have not had Freedom of Speech for quite some time – thousands of people are arrested for their statements, every year.
And is not democracy about electing people who have actual power? Rather than just having elections?
I can tell people, in advance, exactly what their Council Tax increase (from County Councils or Unitary Authorities) will be – regardless of who they elect.
Is this not a bad thing?
And it is not “just” taxation – it is also regulations and basic policies.
Should it not make a difference who you vote for?
Or is “democracy” just a matter of having elections – even if it makes no great difference who is elected?
Insult President Trump as much as you like – and most British people do insult him (endlessly), but electing him makes a difference – he does not just sit there totally unable to change any policies. For example, he has secured the border – and has got the United States to leave various (leftist) international organizations.