Stealing one another's policies

There is nothing wrong in with one party adopting the policies of another, since it shows that democracy is working.

The trouble is that the policy concerned is a bad one. Unfortunately, the in question is surrounded by a thick fog of confusion, as was evident from almost every comment made on the subject by politician, journalists and the public at large in forums such as Comment in Free.

No sensible policy could have possibly have emerged from the public debate in the terms that it was being discussed and what this affair shows is that our democracy is working badly.

For it to work well would demand that the public raise its level of understanding on matters of principle.