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The fact that a clearly beneficial policy is hindered by the democratic process proves that democracy itself has real limits.

ZeroGravitas 3y ago
The story about the vote was obvious BS, it was just a talking point to distract from them losing in other votes and very nearly losing this one. If you add the Labour and Green party votes they exceed the "winner", so really it's about a lack of democracy holding back progress.
truculent 3y ago
> A watchdog group called Valent found evidence anti-ULEZ posts may have been boosted by thousands of alleged fake Twitter accounts. No source of funding to buy the accounts was identified. > The online campaign was matched with a blizzard of leaflets, delivered through doors in West London. One, from the Conservative Party, falsely claimed that air pollution had increased during Khan’s tenure. Some of these, of untraceable origin, promoted conspiracy theories that claimed ULEZ was part of a plot to lock Londoners into their immediate neighborhoods. > The ULEZ expansion was facing a legal challenge, and the mayor’s office, as a party to the case, was advised that it risked losing if the court felt it was trying to sway public opinion. At the same time, rules governing communications by public bodies during elections forced the city authority to suspend much of its advertising in Uxbridge aimed at dispelling common misunderstandings about ULEZ. Doesn’t sound much like the Democratic process is the main issue here
nickserv 3y ago
It's not beneficial for working class people: they are more likely to have old, polluting vehicles, and can't afford an extra tax when already dealing with rising living costs. This is in a way very similar to the Gilets Jaunes protests in France. Why should the poorest have to foot the bill for the excesses of the richest?

3 ms·

The fact that a clearly beneficial policy is hindered by the democratic process proves that democracy itself has real limits.

by janandonly 3y ago

ZeroGravitas 3y ago
The story about the vote was obvious BS, it was just a talking point to distract from them losing in other votes and very nearly losing this one. If you add the Labour and Green party votes they exceed the "winner", so really it's about a lack of democracy holding back progress.
truculent 3y ago
> A watchdog group called Valent found evidence anti-ULEZ posts may have been boosted by thousands of alleged fake Twitter accounts. No source of funding to buy the accounts was identified. > The online campaign was matched with a blizzard of leaflets, delivered through doors in West London. One, from the Conservative Party, falsely claimed that air pollution had increased during Khan’s tenure. Some of these, of untraceable origin, promoted conspiracy theories that claimed ULEZ was part of a plot to lock Londoners into their immediate neighborhoods. > The ULEZ expansion was facing a legal challenge, and the mayor’s office, as a party to the case, was advised that it risked losing if the court felt it was trying to sway public opinion. At the same time, rules governing communications by public bodies during elections forced the city authority to suspend much of its advertising in Uxbridge aimed at dispelling common misunderstandings about ULEZ. Doesn’t sound much like the Democratic process is the main issue here
nickserv 3y ago
It's not beneficial for working class people: they are more likely to have old, polluting vehicles, and can't afford an extra tax when already dealing with rising living costs. This is in a way very similar to the Gilets Jaunes protests in France. Why should the poorest have to foot the bill for the excesses of the richest?