One of the points made in favour of electric cars is that they will be – if they are not already – the best buy from a consumer perspective since they are more efficient and cheaper than other vehicles in the service that they provide.

Although part of the reason for this follows from the ways by which taxation schedules are being changed so that the expense to drive and run “traditional” cars is increasing, there are some who still hold that electric cars carry disadvantages that are not being clearly spelled out. Among which problems associated with the battery – like that if it is exhausted or if it develops some major fault, there would be no other alternative to that of buying a new battery. Which would upend all cost calculations.

Another problem which gets mentioned is that the demand would grow for quasi rare metals required for the production of batteries. This will eventually unleash price increases. The matter of how cars are going to be charged gets less attention. For those who do not have a garage, will it be really so easy and cheap to get service wherever?      

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SOCIALISM IN EUROPE

A claim that has gained traction among socialists is that in order to achieve the aims of democratic socialism for the redistribution of wealth and the promotion of equal opportunities for all, European unity needs first to be reinforced. In this way, it would be possible for public governance to regulate major social conditions. At a time of rampant globalisation, this cannot happen if social reforms are undertaken only as national initiatives.

The argument has just been made in an interesting book written by a Spanish MEP, my friend Jonas Fernandez. He starts from the premise that the machinery set up to run European economic union alone carries the potential to empower socialists to renew their proposals for economic reform and to implement them. So, they should be at the forefront to develop this potential.

Yet it seems to me that Fernandez adopts his basic premise much too fast. He considers it to be self-evident, but it is not. Also, his thesis contradicts in some instances what European electorates have actually opted for, as in France.

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THE RULE OF LAW

The debates held to emphasize the rule of law continue to be held. Obviously they have merit. The European construct cannot serve to lever fascist or anti-democratic movements. On the other hand, how observance of the rule of law is to be measured can apparently be stretched quite widely, providing scope for political manipulation.

The process is also subject to double standards. Complaints raised by Turkish President Erdogan about how Europeans showed little haste or commitment to condemn the military coup which almost toppled him still resonate. But then, Europeans were more forthcoming to criticise the measures he took against the putschists.

I am not saying that the Turkish President was correct in his criticism but it was clear that in this case, many Europeans did adopt a strange (to put it mildly) approach. Other similar cases could be mentioned, even if they would not stand out as much.