In the aftermath of the historic British vote to leave the EU, openDemocracy is asking for our readers' thoughts on Brexit and what needs to happen next in 350 words. We've had an extraordinary response and you can read them all here.
The Brexit vote like the Greek referendum last year is portrayed as a racist, xenophobic “anti-European” (whatever that means) vote. The lines are clear; rich people voted in the EU, poor and unemployed voted out (yes, the poverty levels are much higher amongst retired people and yes, voters under 24 who have mainly benefited from the freedom of movement within the EU and don’t see much point in national identity but at the same time have not seen any benefits cuts, did not have to use the health care system or have not looked for permanent employment, voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU).
The “Left” in Europe (and in N.America) has been co-opted by the neoliberal capitalist dogma for more than 25 years now. It never crossed their minds that authoritarianism, centralisation of power and quantification of the human condition and life, are at the centre of the failure of such “systems” to inspire a sense of social security, solidarity and contentment to people.
