This week’s reader comments: Time to abolish the IMF and UK royal family

Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. We receive so many carefully considered messages about our work, it seems a shame to keep them to ourselves!

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These comments have been edited for clarity, accuracy and length, and aren’t necessarily a reflection of openDemocracy's editorial position.

Re: Let's abolish the colonial IMF on its 80th birthday

The abolishment of the IMF is long overdue! It's about time the world realised that neoliberal economics only ever benefited the elite, oligarchs and corporations. Hope the world comes to its senses. –Robert Mawson

I fully agree, it has never accomplished any of its goals; a complete waste of money. –Rick Baldwin

I disagree with some of what you say about the IMF. No one is forced to borrow from the IMF. Those countries that do so obviously have to repay the loan over time and they have to be able to find the money to make those repayments. It is up to them to convince the IMF that they can do this and will not default. –Peter Somerville

I have long thought we should cancel crippling debts for poorer countries so this article is refreshing and I agree with what it says. The UN could control the situation but would it have any teeth? Even the International Court of Justice seems to have no power when dealing with Israel, so I am not sure who could cancel the activities of the IMF, or how they could do so. –Clare Sandercock

Totally agree: cancelling debt for poorer nations will allow them to develop their economies and public services and give their citizens a better standard of living. It would be one way for former colonial powers such as Britain to offer reparations for colonialism and slavery. –Jan Macleod

I am appalled that the rich countries have encouraged such actions. I can’t believe that according to the IMF set-up, the USA has veto power! Either all countries should have veto power – or none! The UN should be the running system. –Peter Foreman

Read the original article here.

Re: King Charles’ property empire earns £334,000 from housing benefit

Not my king. Maybe the Labour government could have spent that money on getting kids and families out of poverty. –Freckles

One rule for them and another for me and you. –Paul Roberts

Labour Party, we want a republic. The royal family must be gotten rid of, their assets seized and used for public funding. –Rachelle Corker

I am not a subject! I do not pledge any kind of allegiance to this farce! I demand he returns the crown land to common land. It doesn’t belong to him. His family stole it and bequeathed it to him. Other countries want their stolen diamonds and artefacts back too. –Nell

Read the original article here.

Re: US voters want change, Biden’s exit hasn’t fixed that

Kamala Harris is not left-wing by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, she is slightly to the left of Joe Biden – but still firmly on the right. American politics is totally broken and owned by big business. Sadly, the UK under Keir Starmer is heading in the same direction. –Mick Miles

Read the original article here.

Re: A new environmental movement is quietly shaking up UK politics

I thought this article was outstanding. I've been an Extinction Rebellion member since I first heard about it in the summer of 2018, but on account of age (I am 86) I don't join as many events as I used to.

As you describe in your report, I'm a despairing grandmother and worried for the next generation. Our eldest grandkids have cats – not children – and I think the destruction of the environment around them has something to do with it.

I am greatly cheered by the rise of the Green Party vote overall (as you describe) and also that Oxfordshire, where I live, has lost all its Tory MPs. –Caroline Roaf

Read the original article here.