Brown Americanizes Britain

New PM Gordon Brown has floated a series of "reforms" designed to introduce "accountability" into British government; these would include

giving members of parliament the final say on declaring war and the ratification of international treaties, allowing US-style confirmation hearings for certain public officials, consulting with the public and other political parties on a possible "British Bill of Rights and Duties" or a written constitution, moving election days to weekends and creating a national security council. Some of the reforms address complaints made over Britain's commitment of troops to the Iraq war; others continue the governing Labour Party's turn toward US-style political and administrative institutions. All appear to be in response to criticisms over Labor's apparent centralization of power.

Yikes. They're facing the prospect of a low-level (or worse) civil war and Brown's suggesting they essentially hamstring their ability to wage such a conflict effectively. Our founders gave the ability to declare war to both chambers, understanding that a more deliberative body than the mob-like mass of the lower house. Of course Britain long-ago unjustly castrated their House of Lords, many of whom must be spinning in their graves at these recommendations.

J.A.R. means "Republican" - but could also be "republican" or "reactionary." Brown wants to take Britain down a dangerous road; a complacent government and seething masses in the street isn't a good time to be introducing these sorts of reforms.