Harmonizing England and Europe

This is indeed an odd historical moment. A democracy that people often take for granted is challenged by a “soft” authoritarianism that is barely recognized by the public at large. If there was a referendum or several such referenda that would be one thing, but, in fact, most of the anticipated regulations will occur below the radar.

It is remarkable that Britain, the lodestar of democracy, may have its most essential tradition trampled by decisions in Belgium and largely unrecognized by the population it is designed to affect.