Yes, mine is clearly a Marxist interpretation of democracy, but I don’t see that it follows that this draws on Hegelian idealism; indeed it was my understanding that one of Marx’ key points was to reverse the ‘idealist’ conception of Hegel’s world spirit to base it on materialism. Which is why I asked for clarification. All you have done is repeat what you said.

As for the wisdom or politeness of ‘cordoning off the very complex concept of democracy’, or the definition of what is Left, using my own assumptions, whose assumptions would you prefer I used? With what democracy is, at least, I don’t think that’s what I did; I offered an explanation, you made an objection and I explained why I don’t think you’re challenging my explanation at all. To which you haven’t offered a reply.

On “what is Left”, I offered my own definition as to what is Left; you’re entitled to offer yours, but all we’ve done is just that. So why should either of us feel inclined to change our position?

Re Hegelian idealism: yours is clearly a Marxian interpretation of “democracy”, ergo it is, at root, one which draws upon Hegelian idealism.

And I’m not sure it’s a very wise – or for that matter, polite – strategy that when you are challenged about your definitions of what is “left” or otherwise, and whether it’s appropriate for you to cordon-off the very complex concept of democracy under your own definitions which may be exclusive of fellow travellers, you then proceed to offer a reply which consists, essentially, of the words “fuck off”.

Hmm?

As for ‘facing down the reality’ of this referendum, it’s all very well to say that sometimes democracy results in undesirable outcomes but that takes us no closer to understanding why it does this. Thus your comment is operating on a different level of interpretation to my article, because I’m positing an explanation as to why.

Whether or not you consider your viewpoint to be “Left” or not, and feel insulted if told differently, is a matter of complete indifference to me. Suffice it to say that on this blog, I choose to use “the Left” as short-hand for those who will defend popular movements against the encroachment of the State and Capital. I don’t think the campaign of the People’s Party qualifies, on the grounds I have laid out above.

Incidentally, “The Left” is one of those amorphous terms which different people use in different ways; if you don’t like the way I use it, might I introduce you to the “Back” button on your browser window?

Nice to see Hegelian idealism is alive and kicking.

Not so nice to assume its hegemony on the Left.

I’m on the Left, and I’d rather not define democracy in terms of uniting the people (the proletariat?) in (class-based?) solidarity contra authority. No, I’d rather say that the Swiss vote was a democratic outcome, but that in this case, we didn’t like the democratic outcome. In other words: I’d rather face-down the reality that although democracy is the best system, it sometimes results in bad/undesirable outcomes.

And I’d rather not be told that this viewpoint is either not of ‘the left’, or that secretly I know that democracy is really about Marxian-Hegelian idealism.

Cos that’s sort of insulting to me.

As the call to prayer is already barred under noise pollution legislation, what functions as a minaret? There are plenty of structures that are Italian in origin very similar to what we traditionally regard as minaret-like, but not attached to a Mosque.

So what is it this law will ban? I think it’s pretty clear that it’s a sign of Islamophobia, part of the wider culture war spreading across Europe; whether its directly anti-immigrant as in the Netherlands, portrayed as a defence of secularism as in France or whatever.

And that’s where my article comes in; this is a departure from the ‘real’ situation, since only four minarets even exist in Switzerland, as Paul said – and it’s that ‘real’ which we need earnestly to look at.

Your comment reminds me a bit of the West Wing where Jed Bartlett says “is there an epidemic of flag-burning going on that no-one told me about?”

Minarets are clearly not springing up all over the place. We’d have noticed.

In a funny sort of way, this vote is useful in that it highlights where liberal democracy, expressed as ‘the will of the people’ or whatever, stands in relation to real power relations.