Out of the Wreckage: a new politics for an age of crisis: by George Monbiot
Verso, 2017
GM shows how new findings in psychology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology show humans as the supreme altruists and cooperators. He then proposes how democracy and economic life can be reorganized to take back control from the forces that now dominate our society.
I found this a fascinating read and a book to re-read. The following points are my notes.
1. A story of our times. Stories are the way humans navigate the world - myth, legend and history all tell stories that help us interpret what is happening. You cannot take away someone's story without giving them a new one. We may hold information as data and figures but our beliefs about it are held in the form of stories. To understand a complex issue, we do not look for consistent and reliable facts but a consistent and comprehensible story. Even if told something is untrue we still cling to it if it is a good story and we hear it often enough: the only thing to displace it is a better / stronger story.
Values are the bedrock of effective politics. Most people prioritise intrinsic values (compassion, connectedness and kindness) and are inclined to understanding in independent thought. ; extrinsic values (a desire for self-enhancement) . The smaller number of people favouring extrinsic values (prestige, status, image, fame, power and wealth) are strongly motivated by the prospect of individual reward and praise.
2. A captive audience. Neoliberalism - the belief that competition and individualism are defining human features - was refined in the 20th century and still dominates our political and economic systems. A coherent alternative is needed.
3. Don't look back. Recent history can be summarised as a conflict between neoliberalism and social demoncracy. Neither is the answer.
4.
Alienation. People feel loss of: control over the work they do; connection with community; trust in politicians and institutions; sense of power over their own lives. Today in two-thirds of 28 countries surveyed, fewer than half of respondents trust mainstream business, government, media and non-governmental organisations to 'do what is right'. Only 15% believe 'the present system is working'.
Alienation begins with education teaching and testing to a limited specific curriculum but intelligence is varied - analytical, language, numerical, spatial, and more. This leads to feelings of failure, followed by resentment of the professional classes (regardless of their value to society) and of the 'liberal elite'. Millions retreat into virtual worlds of fantasy and imaginary self-creation.
Activities that once drew us together (e.g. travel by public transport, walking to shops and school, hot-desking, irregular shifts, etc.) now drive us apart. We used to make our own entertainment watching others dancing, playing sport, cooking, dancing and singing. Those following celebrity gossip are far less likely to be involved on local organisations or to volunteer. Social media is double-edged - great at both making and breaking connections.
Shifting Baseline Syndrome: we perceive the situation that we experienced in our youth as normal and natural, and use it as a baseline against which to measure change. Over generations, populations then adjust to deprivation or oppression, thinking it to be normal.
5. Belonging. State provision had reduced community life but this its now being revived at local level with community activities and opportunities. Neighbourhoods become more interesting, distinct and vibrant.
6. Our economy. Some really interesting points on how assets are taken into the hands of the few - difficult to summarise.
7. Framing the economy. More interesting stuff.
8. Our politics.
The least accountable political system is that of the USA. A "winner takes all" electoral structure deprives many of effective representation. The president, in some areas, has almost autocratic powers. Rules effectively deter parties other than Democrat and Republican from competing in elections; the entire political system results in a plutocracy financed by corporations and the very rich supporting their own interests.
In the UK, campaign spending is limited, but donors giving is unrestricted - many end up in the House of Lords. The first-past-the-post system creates two constituencies: (a) safe seats and (b) marginal seats, resulting in large numbers of people who are effectively denied representation.
Constitutional convention: this would determine the principles that govern our politics. Convention members should be based on professional politicians due to vested interests, and nor volunteering to serve due to unrepresentative sample. Instead choose most delegates by lot, within social category (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, class and religion) to represent the character of the population. if a person refuses to serve, a replacement is also chosen by lot. There is an argument for a proportion of delegates being politicians so they can champion the convention in parliament.
While all voting systems have disadvantages, the least flawed is the Single Transferable Vote (STV).
Politics needs fair funding. For example, every party or independent candidate can charge the same small fee for membership (independents forming a supporters club) of perhaps £20, with this matched by the state on a fixed multiple. For referendums, the state should provide an equal amount for those campaigning on each side. Stop treating organisations set up for public advocacy as charities, and require them to declare all donations over a certain amount (
my note: and within a set time period - e.g. all donations within a year?) When people from these groups appear in the media, the group's financial interests relevant to the discussion must be mentioned.
Having won an election, governments pushing through some manifesto policies, forgetting others and introducing some new ones. Referendums work effectively in Switzerland, around 10 per year, clustered into 3 or 4 voting days. This encourages public engagement and a sense of political ownership. Using referendums on too many small issues, however, would lose their power; properly conducted online consultations may be the answer to avoid the risk of empowering one group (the tech-savvy) over other groups.
Some countries have good programmes for providing objective materials about key political issues: Germany's Federal Agency of Civic Education materials include the online seervice Wahl-O-Mat and Switzerland has a Smartvote platform.
Other things impact on national politics. Transnational corporations push nation-states into destructive competition. The IMF, the World Bank and the UN Security Council are controlled by a minority of nations. Some issues can only be resolved by global action (e.g. climate change, nuclear proliferation, international crime).
Nation-states are a recent phenomenon, before the late 18th century there were no clear national boundaries or border checks. People's attachment was to their village or town. Conflict best avoided by giving power to the smallest appropriate unit.
9. Making it happen. Some of the policies in the book could be implemented immediately but most would need regime change. The example of how Bernie Sanders presidential campaign focused on small donations from supporters, volunteers instead of paid staff, telephone and doorstep conversations and lots of small meetings could be a way forward.
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