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Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Young people are becoming increasingly authoritarian
'It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms', Winston Churchill once declared in the House of Commons. Britain may not feel like much of a free country at the moment, with protestors being arrested for holding placards and the police hauling people away in the dead of night for choice social media posts. But it is still a democracy at least, and an alright one at that. It seems though that many young people do not agree. Polling this week shows that one third of 18-30 year olds are increasingly in favour of authoritarianism. They would prefer an authoritarian system led by a decisive figure, even if it meant sacrificing some democratic freedoms. Dissatisfaction can be found across the political spectrum, with 33 per cent of young Labour voters leaning towards authoritarianism, whilst it is half of the Reform voting youth. As victims of a two-year lockdown, a childhood in the murky waters of the financial crash, and facing the employment Armageddon of AI and a rising jobs tax, is it any wonder that so many young people feel this way? They have had a rum deal of it in a very broken Britain. Not only are their phones and bags increasingly at risk of being pinched, but they can hardly afford to go out, with the price of a pint in London surging to £6.75 on average, or half an hour of minimum wage work (if they can even find a job). Infantilised by a government which seeks to tax, regulate, and throttle their ambition with red-tape and bluster, many cannot even get on the housing ladder after years of working. If democracy isn't delivering, why would you even sign up to fight? One recent survey showed that 30 per cent young people wouldn't don their helmets even if Mr Putin was sending his troops to Dover. Many instead are voting with their feet and moving to to the low-tax Middle Eastern autocracies. However, the radicalisation of young people is not just about the slow immiseration of Britain, with declining living standards and crumbling infrastructure. Myriad videos now appear on people's screens of shop-lifters, bike thieves and illegal immigrants entering the country with ease. And when this immiseration culminates in a young professional having their phone swiped from their hands on their walk to the office, they are told not to worry about it as crime is going down. The lurch towards authoritarianism is not a deep-seated yearning for jack boots, five year plans, or Volkswagen Beetles. It comes from a frustration that the British state, no matter its majorities or might, cannot fix the very basics. When a young person looks down at their Instagram in their ninth hour of their wait in a dingy NHS reception room, at the spotless pavements of Dubai, or the autonomous vehicles of China, is it any wonder they yearn for a government that can actually do something? With the recent spate of headlines about civil breakdown in Britain, propelled by migrant crises, rape gangs, and a neutured government, some politicians have started to listen. Reform's approach is to appeal to this era of youthful discontent with a cabinet made up of professionals, rather than sitting politicians, as in the United States. Likewise, it wants to clear out the top-brass of the civil service to remove bureaucracy. Reform's position is more authoritarian than our current system, but it could feasibly work (if you can find civil servants who are willing to legislate themselves out of a job). Will that be enough for the growing number of authoritarian young people? For many, Britain has been broken for as long as they can remember. It does need 'restoring' as some have proposed, as that would just start the cycle of decline again. For this group, the edifice must be torn down entirely. And they are willing to give up the freedoms enjoyed by previous generations if it means the government works again. Should this happen, blame would lie squarely at the feet of the inhabitants of Whitehall and Parliament. For those in favour of classically liberal values, as well as free expression and fearless journalism, it is essential that we win over this growing minority of young people. But for our side to be victorious, we must push for government to work, urgently, before it is replaced by something rather more authoritarian.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Every car has a tale to tell' at Bay Area's world-famous showcase of vintage vehicles
Mark Zagorski surveyed the fleet of classic cars on Lorton Avenue in Burlingame on Saturday morning before his gaze fell on his 1976 BMW 2002 sitting among them. He was a little nervous, he admitted, wondering what spectators would think. He has spent more than 10 years working on this car, a jalopy fading into decrepitude when he found it rusting away on a repair shop lot in Merced back in 2013. The car was one of dozens being featured this weekend at the 69th annual Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, the region's longest-running vintage car show and the world's oldest continually running classic car parade and contest. 'Every car has a tale to tell,' said Glen Egan, the world-famous car contest's chairman. 'That's a big part of what I love.' The event began with a kickoff party Friday, followed by a meet-and-greet with car owners Saturday, followed by a two-hour road rally through Bay Area back roads, and then a group lunch. The final event is Sunday's car show at the Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, highlighting about 200 vintage sports cars built before 1993. Organizers expect 3,000 to 3,500 people to attend, with proceeds from the event supporting several Bay Area nonprofits. Zagorski's story — and that of his BMW — is a saga that stretches back half a century to his first job, as a teenage apprentice at an auto mechanic on Long Island back in 1979. Then 16, Zagorski spent his afternoons and weekends at Little Cars LTD, learning from his old boss, Ivan Snyder. They worked on Volkswagen Beetles and Plymouth Valiants, and the occasional Volvo. He learned how to change oil, rebuild engines, and smooth out dents and dings with Bondo body filler, sanding the work smooth until it looked good as new. He loved taking an engine apart, trying to figure out what was wrong, and putting it back together. 'I was super curious,' he recalled. 'What's in front of me — and how do I get it back to how it should be?' Zagorski paused. No, he said. He wanted to be an engineer. He went to school, got a degree in mechanical engineering, and then spent his career as a sales engineer, working with industrial manufacturing firms. After his sons went to school, however, he began looking for a hobby and in 2013 spotted a BMW 2002 like the one his old boss had owned back when he was getting his hands dirty at that first job at Little Cars. All the wheels were flat. There was a ding on the passenger-side door where a Cadillac had driven into it, the paint was oxidizing badly, the engine block was sitting in the trunk, and the transmission was hanging on the car frame by a coat hanger. He fell in love anyway, and bought it on the spot. He began restoring the car slowly — but the process would ultimately send him to Los Angeles and San Diego, and working with businesses on the East Coast and as far as Germany as he sought to return the car to its former glory. During COVID, his employer grounded all its employees, and Zagorski and his son, Josef, redoubled their efforts. He learned to weld, rebuilding damaged sections of the frame bit by bit. He sent the transmission to specialists on the East Coast, and tinkered on the engine with a neighbor who worked at a nearby machine shop. He found a whole community online of other BMW enthusiasts who helped him source parts and track down experts who could help. During the pandemic, he drove to Los Angeles for business meetings — and picked up an original set of seats and door panels — then drove even farther, to San Diego, to have a specialty upholsterer work on them. Every so often, he called his old boss, talking about the project and asking for advice. He still uses the tools he bought while working for Snyder, a ratchet handle set he got when he was 17. Sometimes, Snyder said, Zagorski's questions were too complex, and he didn't have much to offer. But when Zagorski told him he needed some machining done, he told him not to show up at the auto shop empty-handed — he should take some iced tea with him. 'If you have something in hand, he'll have to stop and talk to you,' he said in a phone interview Friday. 'Because of that, they became good friends.' 'He was a great pair of hands, I wish I had 10 people like him,' Snyder continued. 'I hope his car gets a little recognition.' Zagorski sent the dashboard to a shop in Los Angeles, ordered a carpet kit from another in Texas, and ordered 'a bunch of stuff' from businesses in Germany. He swapped out the engine for a better one and had another auto shop modify the frame to allow for modern shock absorbers. The difference was 'night and day,' he said. Faster. Smoother. Quieter. At 70 mph and 3,000 rpm, the engine purred. 'I just love the way the car drives.' For Vince Chiaro, another concours attendee who was showing his Porsche, the story began as a college student 25 years ago, when he and his landlord bonded over their mutual love of cars. They attended car shows regularly together for more than a decade. A few years ago, the Burlingame resident, now 46, learned that before his landlord died, he'd told his relatives to offer Chiaro the option of buying his treasured 1960 Porsche 356 Roadster. Chiaro didn't hesitate. 'It's a time machine from a simpler era,' he said Saturday, standing in front of the bright red convertible as spectators trickled by. 'It's the intersection of cars, culture and technology,' Egan said. 'There's a level of care and attention these folks put into getting their car to concours level. … It's great to see that.' Saturday's event included nearly 100 classic and luxury vehicles from across the globe: vehicles from Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, McClaren. There was a meticulous VW bus, lovingly restored, a vintage Ford Bronco. Spectators oohed and aahed as they gazed at the vehicles. 'I want that one!' cried 2½-year-old Elliot Schmidt, pointing at a Ferrari SP2 Monza from the arms of his 34-year-old dad, Chris Schmidt. 'It's the Batmobile!' The supercars sell for $1.8 million. A surprise star of the show was the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, looming over the low-slung sports cars. Show organizers had requested the Wienermobile for 10 years, said 22-year-old Zoe 'Zoweenie' Smith, one of the vehicle's two drivers. 'We finally made it happen,' she said with a laugh. 'It's amazing to be here with all these amazing classic cars, and everyone is excited to see the Wienermobile.' Steve Turtzo, 42, drank in the cars with his 7-year-old son, Duke. The pair try to go to car shows on weekends, Turtzo said, because Duke loves cars so much. 'It's exciting to see all these cars in pristine condition in our town,' he said as Duke waved at the cars. Just after 10 a.m., the tour's organizers ordered drivers to their vehicles. They had a two-hour journey ahead of them before lunch. Zagorski walked back to his car with his wife, Stephanie D'Ornellas. He climbed in and turned the key. The engine growled to life, joining the hum of motors from dozens of others.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Experience the charm of vintage VW Buggies with the Wild Buggers Club
Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club plans to host their annual run Image: Supplied If you've ever spotted a colourful beach buggy cruising along the West Coast, chances are it belongs to a group called the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club — a Cape Town-based club made up of people who love old Volkswagen Beetles, Buggies, Bajas and anything with a bit of vintage charm. This month, weather permitting, they're inviting other vintage VW lovers to join them on their next group run — a scenic drive full of stops, photos and a traditional South African braai to end it off. If you've got a Beetle, Buggy or even just a half-finished project in your garage, you're welcome. The club started in the early 1990s when founder Anton Kleyn bought his first buggy. 'I was hooked,' he said. 'A few years later, I decided to build one myself.' At the time, there were no buggy clubs in Cape Town, so in 1995 Anton started one. It took a few years to get going, but by 1998 — with the help of fellow member Ron Metz — the club began to grow. Today, the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club has more than 70 members and over 30 working buggies on the road. Andre Rohm's British Fairthorpe Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading So, what do they actually do? 'We get together, we drive, we laugh, and we help each other fix things when they break,' said Anton. The group meets up on the second Sunday of every month for a drive, and they also take part in charity events and car shows. But mostly, it's about enjoying the ride and spending time with people who share the same passion. The cars come in all shapes and sizes — from shiny, restored Beetles to rough-and-ready beach buggies. Some are rare and special, like Jacques La Grange's 1962 Lolette, the oldest buggy in the club, and Andre Rohm's British Fairthorpe, one of only four of its kind in South Africa. There's also Hugo Kogelenberg's 1971 T-Bug, another rare find that turns heads wherever it goes. 'It's not about perfection,' Anton said. 'If you love it, that's enough.' Hugo Kogelenberg's 1971 T-Bug Image: Supplied
