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AYEAR of decision-1964 must inevitably be that if only on the political front. Whatever the date of the General Election, blueprints of brave new worlds—real or imaginary—will soon be issuing from party headquarters. But though policies will differ widely, both major parties willinsist that democratic principles must be preserved.
Yet this very basic agreement could be a reason for a reluctance to take another look at democratic procedure as distinct from democratic principles. Whether, for example, what was acceptable even in the immediate post-war years—incidentally nearly two decades away—is good enough now.
Reassuringly there are signs at last that the electorate, conservative all at heart, at least with a small "c ", are reluctantly realizing that comforting insular standards will no longer do. Statistically higher output and living standards have a hollow ring if we learn that our neighbours have done even better.
So not only is there a demand for change but, also, that it should come soon. And as we enter an automation age, leaders in education recognize that academic impartiality based on scientific ignorance is no longer a recommendation for leadership.
Transport is not lacking in blueprints completed or in the pipeline. Rather is there a danger that there could be a traffic jam of plans at the successive stages of formulation, acceptance, authorization and implementation. If plans are not to be ever chasing conditions that no longer exist, there must be a drastic streamlining of procedure. To this extent, at least, minority interests must recognize the urgency of impending changes.