The Lesson of David Cameron for American Politicians

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron risked everything on the BREXIT Referendum. Whether it was the bare-naked politics of appeasing his own right-flank, or an attempt to finally silence them, allowing this vote is now Cameron's legacy. His loss forced him out of office, like it or not.

The impact of Cameron's mistake (calling this referendum), will be felt far and wide. The market will suffer badly. Scotland and Northern Ireland will seek independence, and to join the EU. The EU will probably see other countries try to leave. The next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is likely to be a much further right, anti-immigration MP. This will be painful.

How we interpret Cameron's motivations is key to what lesson we learned. Was he trying to silence the crazy-right by holding the referendum, thinking he could beat them? Or was he appeasing them by giving them a reckless vote in an effort to win a second term as Prime Minister? If you accept the first, the lesson is that you increasingly can't predict that voters will do sane things, and leaders should not assume that the views of the connected and the general public will match up at all. If you believe Cameron is a panderer, well, you are seeing the dangerous consequences of appeasing the loudest and least thoughtful voices in your own coalition.

You can make your own assumptions about Cameron's rationalizations for this- it's clear either way there are lessons to be learned for American political leaders. In an era where voters in both parties simply seem to want change for change's sake, this should be a big caution to all political leaders, regardless of how you view Cameron.