In which we agree with Mr. Chakrabortty

Right in front of our eyes, Britain’s entire political order is being demolished

That sounds rather excellent, doesn’t it? A political order that taxes supply in a time of dearth - the only criticism being that it does not do so enough - would seem ripe for demolition.

From housing to health, the institutions are crumbling. This could be a historic chance to craft radical change from chaos

We are radicals so, yes, bring it on!

What turns these symptoms of acute crisis into a chronic national breakdown is, as Lord Hill says, the rottenness of our political institutions. So profound is their decay that they can no longer properly face the problems, let alone tackle them.

Super. So, to borrow a phrase, What is to be done?

Which is where we disagree with Mr. Chakrabortty. For his clear intent is that we should have a different politics, driven by different politicians. This, to us, doesn’t make sense if it is the institutions themselves which are rotten and undermined. The answer is to stop using the institutions - to stop using politics as a method of societal management.

Yes, of course, there is still a role for government, someone must organise the bins being taken out and so on. But our radical vision is that we simply stop using those rotten and undermined institutions. Return the management of life to where it always should have been, the subject of voluntary interaction among the people, not something demanded nor directed from on high.

That is, Mr. Chakrabortty is arguing for a different politics. We demand less.