I think you can make a reasonable argument that the American Revolution was a civil war, as it was basically English people (and those they colonized / immigrants from elsewhere) against more of the same. And that brought us America!
Which brought us Trump, so, I guess, never mind.
In the long run, even the best things can turn to shit.
Another day, another Commons defeat for HMG - and this time the Government’s own motion was defeated.
And yet she’s still there, clinging to office.
Insane.
More on that defeat: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/brexit-theresa-may-defeated-as-tories-refuse-to-back-her-plan-g2xxplnvv
She’s not so much clinging to office as stranded there, as no one else wants the job, and so no one will put her out of her misery. Also, the only potential replacements for her, either if she’s replaced as leader by another Tory or loses an election and C*rbyn gets in, are (astonishing as it may seem) worse than she is.
I’m honestly not sure what the way forward is now. I will say that I’m nostalgic for Tony Blair, and that is not somethign I thought I’d ever say.
Paywalled for me. Does it say anything interesting?
Try this one:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/14/theresa-may-defeated-on-brexit-again-as-erg-tories-abstain
Still there is deadlock and seemingly no way to break it without someone making a dramatic reversal. Neither she nor Corbyn is up for smashing their party apart, but this tortoise race towards March 29th is increasingly forcing them towards such a choice.
"And those behind cried ‘Forward!’
While those in front cried ‘Back!’ "
May has accused Labour of putting party interest ahead of national interest, but this is exactly what she has been doing all along. She’s refused to reach out to other parties and find a compromise, in the hope of keeping the Tories united, but this has backfired.
A split in both Tories and Labour, and a completely new alignment would make a lot of sense now. The ERG and right-wingers under Rees-Mogg in one party, the Corbynistas in another, and the bulk of sensible, competent and moderate MPs in a new party.
Amen to that, brother. (Or sister.)
j
Another Amen.
j
…with an instant majority.
I dunno - how many MPs could really be considered to be “sensible, competent and moderate”?
Well.,… Having only one credible option open to the centre is not good for democracy in the not very long run (e.g., French Fourth Republic, Weimar Republic).
Besides, the time is ripe for a paradigm shift away from split-the-difference centrism, when it comes to tax and spend policies, not to mention the radical shift that’s needed in the face of climate change.
Moderation for its own sake is not enough - arguably, it’s one of the reasons why so many voters chose the referendum to revolt against the political status quo.