Brexit and Trump and PiS and Bolsonaro and AfD and Le Pen et al are all signs that representative democracy is utterly unfit for purpose. In a complex globally interconnected world, most people are far too ignorant and simple-minded to have any worthwhile input into important matters of governance. But we continue to fetishize democracy and fail to think forward to more adequate approaches. Saying that democracy is better than kings is like saying the Wright Brothers’ Flyer is better than a Montgolfier balloon. True enough, but who said we have to stop at the Flyer? Everything around us is the product of continuous improvement and game-changing innovation. We now drive immensely safe and comfortable cars instead of riding in buggies drawn by a horse. Our quartz wristwatches are accurate to a second a year and cost a few pounds; yesterday’s Grandfather Clock cost several months’ wages and was accurate to a few minutes per day. For some reason we’re clinging to the Grandfather Clock when we desperately need a far better timepiece.

Because, let’s face it: the Brexiteer lies and promises were so pathetically obvious and simple-minded that only the really stupid and ignorant could ever have swallowed them. And guess what….?