I deeply wish Brexit was a singular phenomenon; sadly it’s merely one example of the wave of mindless populism that is destroying the thin veneer of Western civilization. Brexit, Trump, Bolsonaro, Orban, Babis, Le Pen, Salvini, Duterte, Modi… all merely symptoms of the same underlying cause.

We accidentally created a complex inter-connected world and it was too much for the average person. We’re a tiny-brained group primate species so we naturally see things in terms of “our” group versus every other group. Populists exploit this hardwiring by pretending that stupid insularity is “patriotic” and it always works. Every single time.

What this means is that while personally I’d love to see the UK return to the EU, the more likely outcome is that 31st January 2020 is the day historians will designate as the day Western society truly ended. Because today Brexit triumphed and a supine Senate ensured Trump will never pay for any of his crimes. And in both nations the ignorant and foolish actually applauded their own demise.

With these lessons in full view, other demagogues will feel secure in their own undermining of their nations. QED, the West is over.