What is that so many leavers want to leave? What is that the remainers want to remain in? The world has changed. Many leavers want to return to a world that never was. Many want a world that has never existed. Some wish to leave so that a new society or economy could be created. Perhaps a chance to return to an Eden that once was or might be.
For the remainers the world has moved on. For many that world ended in 2008 with the crash. For others it's a return to the world of Blair and Brown. Capitalism has hit crisis. Neither Remainer or Leaver can go back to what was or to what was once imagined. Too many leavers want a binary, white male answer. Too many remainers want a centrist solution when simply the middle of the road has shifted significantly to the left.
But what amazes me is the blank look in the eye of some leavers when you ask them about changing your mind. It's as if you can't do it. It's as if you argue that once you have made up your mind it is forever and that you can never change it again. It's a mark of maturity and reflection that often leads to it. We elect our parliament very frequently. we change our mind regularly. We fall out of love with people we once loved. Often we fall back in love with them again. Change is part of life it's only the rigid and narrow who think otherwise. it is the hobgoblin of the closed mind.
To remain in a situation without change is also a poor place to be. Another world or situation is always possible.
. I would still vote remain because of my love of European culture, history and literature. I have travelled widely and know the feelings in the ancient places of Europe. I love Florence and Rome and the way the sun shines on the marble of Venice. I love the taste of the food and the wine of the Mediterranean. When I say these thing some blue kipper leavers tells me that they are not against Europe. Yet when I ask them about these things they go blank and their eyes glaze over. I see their loathing of all things European They know nothing of its history culture or outlook I look at the bland empty faced Nigel Evans and Mark Francois and I see that they have no idea what I am talking about. And that's why I am European and Welsh and proud of it.
Brexit is a psychological event. It's an ontological and epistemological problem of security or identity. Research suggests that it is effecting our health both physical and psychological. It's an essential reflection of our internal state, experienced under late capitalism in our schizoid society. The remainers still do not understand the feelings and not think appeal of the Brexit Party. The leavers do not think about the implications of the simple message of openness and connection. When Salvini quoted Chesterton he went right back to the fascist roots. Farage knows like all populists exist to drag down and destroy that's why he is successful. But the world will turn as it did before and he will go the way of Mosley into obscurity. This is a moment of chance change .. perhaps the British state is cracking. Perhaps we stand at a moment as significant as the repeal of the corn laws. But this moment will pass as a new paradigm emerges. Perhaps the Brexit Party must choose between the destruction of the Tory Party or Brexit. There is no easy choice Farage which one will it be? I can no longer describe myself as a remainer. I must see myself as an activist who will write new thoughts ion new tablets and help others break out of the limitations of binary thinking. I feel both repulsion to the centrists and the blue kippers. The problem for me is neither teleology or determinism. It is about numerous possibilities and positions and it's a celebration of paradox and not pastiche. The system is rotten it's about the breaking of idols...its rather Socialism or barbarism as the true binary choice
In their obsession on remaining both Caroline Lucas and Jo Swinson reached positions where they obscured or obscure reality. Caroline Lucas without thinking created a white middle class female cabinet who were predominately centrists. The danger of obsession led her to the right partly by whom she ignored and partly because since may the Greens have inherited a section of former Lib Dem voters who left because of austerity.
The leave position has transported a section of the white working class to economic and political conservatism. The populist right and the populist Left now face one another in the political Ragnarok that is the next election
Jo Swinson so keen to gain the votes of Tory remainers could so easily have played it better. She had no problems working in coalition with the Tories for five years yet could not support a temporary government led by Corbyn. She might even have gained from it and clearly shown that above all she wishes to prevent a no deal Brexit. Yet her ambition was revealed and made apparent for all to see. There is no simple position where Remain or leave are the only issues and we see clearly the Shadows and the Id of both Remain and Leave positions. The belief of both sides resemble a tenet or confession of religious belief. A confession of faith and fundamentalism lurks behind both and each side is still unable to see the reality. I trust you will forgive me my agnosticism that is tending more and more to atheism as we near the end of October.
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