POLITICAL CAPITAL
Ten years ago today, the United Kingdom began a summer romance – with, of course, itself. A few Olympic opening-ceremony nods to the NHS – naturally, featuring more than one patient to a bed – and suddenly, austerity and the hostile environment disappeared, structural racism, sexism and classism vanishing with them. In a surge of collective ecstasy, the nation came together as one, sharing a memorable fortnight of peace, love and unity. And though ticket-pricing made the actual competition inaccessible to almost everyone, happily, the post-Games era of unaffordable homes, worsening poverty and an ailing healthcare system is far more democratic.
