Hi ,

This might sound a bit harsh, but the overriding sense from our political figures in the UK is one of helplessness.

You've probably seen this expressed in various forms: ministers starting their term in government by explaining there's a lot they'd like to do, but can't; briefings and anonymous complaints that the government can't do anything because of the civil service or lobbyists or campaigning charities (hello!); politicians effectively shrugging when asked about the bond markets. That's before we get into the war unfolding in Iran or the huge human and economic consequences that will be inflicted by wherever Trump's whims take him.

These things aren't inevitabilities and they shouldn't be out of our control. The inflation, bill hikes, and instability this war will cause aren't economic problems, they're political ones. Like the previous shock, fossil fuel giants and our banks will profiteer obscenely and they will not be fairly taxed; that's a political choice. So to is the choice to leave energy companies in private hands or to heavily cut GB Energy's already very modest goals.

But lets take our political classes at face value. Maybe, when it comes to really changing course, our system actually has left them helpless. In that case, what are they or our entire system for? Writing in several articles recently, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier de Schutter has been pointing out that the endless pursuit of economic growth cannot solve global poverty, but has led to ecological breakdown, social unrest, and vast inequality of wealth. Maybe the purpose of the machine is what it does. 

Speaking to Channel 4 a few weeks ago, economist Clara Mattei argued for an escape from capitalism. Key to her argument is a big question: is this system the best of all possible worlds and, if not, why is no alternative possible? Why have our leaders accepted their helplessness?

In our recent community economist report, person after person reported similar feelings. Take this quote, for example: “I don’t think the government’s going to be responsible for the betterment of this country. And I don’t mean that particularly towards one group of politicians [...] I think the people will be. The everyday person is probably going to have a better chance at actually actively making a positive change."

If we want to get past helplessness, then we need to get beyond growth as an obsession and beyond systems that take power away from people. Huge amounts of people already sense this, as our community economists picked up on. What we need to do with that sense is fight to make our system more participatory at every level, from opening up local government to democratic control of public wealth. Our politicians oppose that – but could they really stop us? After all, they're helpless.

Is economic growth a good thing? Do you think you'd benefit from it personally? Plus: how could we get beyond it? 

How could we better protect human rights in law and in practice? You said:

• "Not allowing the elites to use immigration / refugees as shields to hide from their tax avoidance and profiteering. There are very few strong voices especially in the mainstream pushing back against this narrative."
  
  

• "We need to educate people about these rights. Lots of people do not realise how precious these laws are. People won't fight to save what they don't know about. More fact-checking on the outrageous media coverage and bizarre claims by Reform. We need to offer a better narrative than theirs. We need better protections from the erosion of our rights. It is not just the risk of repeal, it is the erosion of rights we have seen for years and governments get away with it in more subtle ways than full repeal. Better enforcement."
  
  

• "Possibly by incorporating them in a written constitution. Also ensure that equality legislation is contained in every school curriculum."
  
  

• "Better educate the public on both acts and how they benefit from them. Also, campaign for both equality and human rights to be included in a written constitution with an effective enforcement mechanism."
  
  
• "I have a background in law but I think that's precisely why I wouldn't overrate the importance of these laws & treaties/conventions: they matter, but such instruments can never fix the deep, structural social injustice of a society like ours. Only more real democracy leading to more egalitarian social & economic policies can."